Last week did NOT go according to plan and we had a very anxious and busy week nursing sick pups, as first Kodi and then the pups became sick with a virus.
 |
| The pups enjoying Thanksgiving breakfast |
When Kodi had a day of vomiting and loose stools, we thought it was due to a dietary indiscretion or overeating. She recovered quickly.
The following afternoon, Jan noticed immediately that there was strange white “stuff” in the whelping box and we realized that some of the pups were throwing up milk. We have amazing support from our vet and she gave us directions for supportive care for the sick pups during this short lived virus. As we identified sick pups, we would remove them from the group, doctor them for the 8-12 hours it took them to recover and then put them back with the group. Altogether it took a bit over 24 hours until all the pups showed improvement and rotated through our little “hospital ward”.
 |
| Probie and Ziva had a bath |
Kodi’s milk supply was somewhat affected by her day of fasting, so we have been supplementing the pups a bit with formula as they catch back up. We don’t usually have to supplement our litters and decided to try a technique for feeding the pups using a makeup sponge soaked in formula as an artificial nipple. Pups do not have a gag reflex as newborns so it can be easy for them to aspirate. This technique allows each pup to regulate their own intake and is quite safe.
 |
| Probie, Abby, Kate |
 |
| Ziva |
The pups are getting super cute. They vocalize like tiny dogs with yips and howls now. They can see (although still not terribly well) and hear. They toddle around the slightly enlarged area we set up for them which now includes some potty pads and are even starting to display some play interactions with each other.
 |
| Jenny and Katie |
No comments:
Post a Comment