F E L I N E R S

Hi kitties. Firstly, I'd like to offer some advice to Poosy upon reading (and hearing from Garf) that your four-legged has cancer.

Yes, vets in Malaysia are bogus. I remember clearly how superbly bogus they are when my four-legged friend AJ was battling his liver problem. We were told that he was in an extremely bad condition and the disease was in its critical stage (I can't quite remember if we were told that he was going to die). They didn't offer any insights into the whole diagnosis. Not much explanation. No suggestions as to what you can do to ease his pain, lack of appetite, vomiting etc. No alternative treatment or medication. That is the main problem with doctors and vets alike in Malaysia. They don't seem to want to explain things such as possible causes, alternative treatment and particularly, side effects of prescription drugs etc. That irks the hell out of me.

So, my advice is to get online and do as much research as possible. Read everything you come across everywhere about the diagnosed illness (or, if you doubt the doctor's credibility try reading up symptoms and of course get another vet's opinion). I personally wouldn't claim that I know a really good or reliable vet but I quite like AJ's current vet in Damansara cause they don't give out medication easily. Most times, vets really over-do it (like the one in Old Klang Road) and I remember AJ grew weaker every day. Basically, they didn't help at all la. Sometimes they're just too weak and you're better off looking at holistic treatment. I guess it depends on your pet's condition.

I agree with you on the diet thing. I learnt so much about dog diet- what is nutritional and what isn't- most commercial dog food contains too much sodium and by-products (in AJ's case, the vet should have mentioned things like that- I later learnt from the internet that the high amount of sodium in dog food isn't helping at all). I came across the Liver Cleansing Diet which led to my decision to stop feeding him Eukanuba. I then started the routine of cooking his food besides making the decision to visit a new vet. With the new vet, we were told different things- that his liver readings were high but it wasn't as if he was gonna die on us- and with some knowledge on holistic/alternative medicine, I asked the vet's opinion and received some insightful feedbacks.

His condition improved tremendously and after about 2-3 months his liver readings were pretty much back to normal. I was quite flabbergasted and thrilled at the sametime cause Andrew's mom took AJ to that vet in Old Klang Road for almost one whole year and he never once got better. He was a bag of bones who was constantly throwing up after each meal.

So its worth doing your own extensive research. I also visited forums (they're usually very useful). Try puppy.com or something.. I can't really remember. If ur interested in visiting the vet in Damansara, ask Andrew for the contacts. There is another animal hospital on Tun Razak, Medivet, which is supposedly quite reliable and affordable I heard.

Good luck!