WeAreFibro.org - The Social Support Network for People Living with Fibromyalgia

Puppies...

      The dog that I spent my highschool years with just had her second litter of puppies. Her first litter was a grand total of ten puppies and all of them made it through despite only having eight nursing stations to feed at. We would pull the fat ones away from momma and put the little ones on to eat. This time around we weren't so lucky.

      The first one out was Ok, but the second was born dead. After this the next four were fine too, but the last three were all born dead as well. This was a grand total of nine in the litter. My parents removed the little ones that didn't make it, and the ones that did were looking for momma to feed so they thought all was well. My parents went to bed but woke up to three pups nursing and two laying away from Sammi, the mother dog. They looked just barely alive and my parents knew that there were problems.

      My mom called the vet and he told her that they weren't getting any milk and were going into shock from malnutrition and dehydration. Mom took off to the vet with puppies and momma. It turns out that Sammi(mother dog) is only producing milk in the last for of her little nursing stations. One puppie died on the way to the vet. The remaining puppies got a dose of vitamins and nutrients along with some syrup to perk them up a bit to have the energy to start feeding. The vet gave my parents some milk replacement powder and sent them on there way reminding them ALL puppies need to eat every two hours.

      Once everyone was home and settled the feedings started, but one little one just couldn't hold on any longer and he passed away just within being home for forty minutes. Now we are down to only three out of the nine and two seem to be go-getters at this point and just perk up whenever milk is anywhere near them. There is still one that just seems really weak and we are worried about him. They made it through last night and seem to be doing well but still not getting as much food as the vet would like. These three little ones are just such fighters and I am really pulling for them to make it through this early stage of their life.

These little ones will be on my mind all day - please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they struggle to make it. Thanks!

-Sarah

sarah.little@luminant.com