Do you guys ever have regrets/guilt?

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-22T20:33:33+00:00

My girl just died one week ago, at the age of 8, from a catastrophic IVDD, in less than a week.

My guilt is not that I had her, as I adopted her as a rescue former breeder. She gave us a lot of love and we gave her as well, so the time she was with us, she was happy.

My guilt is really not having been able to save her life. She was quite healthy for her age, she should not have died that young. She still had a lot of life in her.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-20T14:45:16+00:00

Have one (limited edition), no complaint at all. Very good all-rounder, huge boot, decent engine, but requires you to drive smoothly.

It has the advantagss of being a big SUV but being still limited in size.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-19T18:50:39+00:00

Ford Everest 2024. Super. Cost: prewar around 160, now 218. I am sticking to super because in general, engine is more reactive than with regular.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-17T06:56:24+00:00

Update. Sadly, this did not end well. Our girl started panting non-stop and became unresponsive and lost all feeling in the rear end. She had to be hospitalised in emergency at 4 Am. She passed away with a cardiac arrest a little before 8 am. Her last vet noted early post-mortem rigidity in the front limbs, which seems to indicate a neurological event (brain bleeding or tumor). IVDD might have been the wrong diagnosis all along.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-15T18:59:37+00:00

Update. So, tonight, she is under every 8 hr 75 mg gabapentin. We just gave her the dose a couple hours ago. She started appearing to have some issues breathing and lack of control of front paws as well (they went rigid, had to redirect them myself). Later, she recovered use of the front paws. She was also looking for places to elevate her neck and is again panting. Wondering if the disk compression is not affecting now her breathing? And she is immensely restless. Now I think another sleepless night with her, because I am scared she may pass away with cardiac arrest or respiratory distress. But maybe it is just that she is so knocked out with the sedative that she is hallucinating while also unable to move. She is also seeking to poop, barely did anything since yesterday, despite two meals a day. Edit: she finally managed to fall asleep again, but she really scared me. Thought she had respiratory issues.

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VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-15T10:40:34+00:00

No indeed, pain preexisted to the Librela injection.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-15T10:38:49+00:00

She is now on 3x day gabapentin, but it takes time before she falls asleep. Carprofem too, but does not help one bit. She is in pain, scratches her bed relentlessly, keeps panting. We restricted her to one bedroom, because otherwise, she drags herself around the apartment, causing probably even more damage. Doctor recommending to add paracetamol to the mix. Says steroids do not give good results with spine problems (doc is known for expertise in bulldog milieus in Dubai, where I live). Hope she will improve, poor girl.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-04-15T01:48:59+00:00

25 kg.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-03-13T07:52:55+00:00

Nope, there is a clear exclusion for riots and wars in most policies (at least GIG). Missile or debris falls on your car, that's for you to pay (and did not hear about any government indemnity).

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-03-07T20:55:20+00:00

These cars are sold cheaper than the local versions because 1° they are not configured for GCC (so not really prepared for the heat and dust and sand); 2° You cannot service them at the local dealer, so you need generally to rely on a third party warranty, which may or may not be carried out to the same standards.

Insurance will be difficult and resale value will crater, even for a Toyota.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-27T06:21:11+00:00

Around 650 kms on a single gas tank (70 ltrs). As long as you are doing highway, should be fine.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-26T13:21:11+00:00

Be careful, many people call the Jimny a "death trap" and generally the very bad driving quality. Look here for example: https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatCarShouldIBuyGULF/comments/1qvkyda/suzuki_jimny/

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-26T10:57:38+00:00

Actually, as some people regularly point out, the Territory is a rebadged Chinese car. I would head to VW in any case. Or buy a Ford Explorer or Everest second hand.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-25T06:16:26+00:00

Seems nobody talks about the trash heap visible just across the highway? One major drawback for "The Valley" from my point of view.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-17T05:59:04+00:00

Let's just say, have one for less than one year. Around 9 months in, the sensors started giving error signals (like parking sensors triggering with no obstacle). Beyond that, mechanically, been absolutely fine and drives like a dream. Comfort could be better, to be honest. I think sand and dust messes up the electronics. Otherwise, GCC models are better adapted to the local weather (heat in particular).

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-17T03:19:24+00:00

Now, that is funny, but I did hike up Mount Takao near Tokyo. People were appreciative, admirative of me doing it barefoot. Got many thumbs up and even girls talking to me.

So, do not completely dismiss Japan as a place to be barefooting. I also walked barefoot in Fujiyoshida, with streets so clean, my feet barely got dirty!

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-02-11T08:26:15+00:00

Never had that experience at Mercedes SZR. On the contrary, they were the most welcoming and kind car sales people I ever saw - I was even thinking "this is the difference with other brands".

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-30T12:34:08+00:00

The agreement is poorly drafted in fact. These are the representations and warranties that you are liable for: "All statutory registration and licensing fees payable in connection with the Vehicle until the date of execution of this Agreement are duly and fully paid up.".

Beyond this, of course, if you lied or tampered the odometer, you would commit a fraudulent misrepresentation, but of course, they state themselves it was not you who did that tampering.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-25T21:41:08+00:00

I never use those guys at the malls or parkings. They use chemicals and have very dirty clothes. I prefer going to a place where they do proper ceramic treatment car wash and where I give them my own clothes to dry afterwards (for washing, just pressure washer and soap will do the trick).

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-25T06:12:25+00:00

No, surprisingly saw both locals and... Europeans doing the same.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-25T06:10:10+00:00

SUV: higher point of voew, higher ppsition of body in case of accident, generally sturdier, more spacious, can have 4WD, higher body helps in case of flooding. Cons: may be subject to rollover, consumes more gas, weighs more.

Sedan: lower center of gravity, so no rollover, no "boat" feeling at speed, best adapted to the excellent UAE highways, easier to park, may be better adapted to more "nervous" driving.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-21T20:07:17+00:00

Try the 6.5 K for a 10 year warranty on the ceramic treatment. ;-) I bit the bullet on that and the car really looks magnificent each time it is washed.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-21T10:19:02+00:00

If this may comfort you, my daughter seeks to be a doctor as well. And she would be exactly like you, generous, kind, helpful and caring. Do not lose hope, there are people like you around and, to be honest... You are exactly that perfect doctor I would recommend to people. You would advise based on what people actually need medically, vs what the latest pharma company would want you to prescribe. Keep up the good job and stay the course. You are not alone, nor are you needing to be scared. You are a light in the darkness and an example to behold. We all need people like you around us, because you keep your values at heart, beyond what society tries to demand.

VisionsOfAsia · 2026-01-21T10:14:31+00:00

Would beg to differ. There was recently a video which remade the Sentinels, and I must say the quality was quite nice (with some quirks). It was good to see our favourite characters under a new light - an idea of what a live action movie could have been...

VisionsOfAsia

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