Sprinkle

October 3, 2015 - Five puppies born normally, then one stuck puppy was held up in what seemed like a blockade and would not come out.  We rushed to the emergency vet's office and ultimately had to have a c-section, in which seven other healthy puppies were born.  Overall, Sprinkle had 12 puppies, but two did not survive the birth.  Sprinkle is doing exceptionally well considering, but we found out through the surgery that Sprinkle has a small more closed in pocket in one of her uterine horns and will not be able to have further puppies without having a c-section.  This is a huge health risk for Sprinkle and we simply cannot put her through that a second time.   Therefore, this is Sprinkle's first and only litter of American Alsatian puppies.  Congratulations, Sprinkle, for your new beautiful babies and thank you for your courage and bravery.  You are a special momma, and we love you to pieces!

October 17, 2015 - Sprinkle's fever broke and she is now back down to 100.5, a normal temperature for a dog.  She is still weak and will still require time to recover, but there is some hope now.  The puppies are getting used to the new routine and are beginning to drink water and use the bathroom on their own.  They eat a LOT every 4 hours and are healthy and growing fast.  

October 16, 2015 - Not everyone can be a dog breeder.  This litter is a testament to that.  If ever there was an emotional and physically challenging litter, this is it.  As you know, we had to rush to an emergency c-section due to a constricted uterine horn and a large pup.  We lost two pups during birth, both males.  Sprinkle recovered well with amoxicillin and her genuine love for her babies and all the puppies have been growing well with lots of milk production and a warm body into which they could snuggle up.

However, in her movements about five days ago, Sprinkle accidentally stepped hard on a puppy's front leg causing a dislocation of the pup's right elbow, which also took us to the vet.  The elbow was reset, and the pup is doing marvelously well now, but the initial pain and trauma was real and so difficult to endure at the time.  

Now, over the last few days, Sprinkle has developed severe and life-threatening mastitis, which is an infection in one of her mammary glands.  It has become swollen and bruised causing her to have an extremely high 106-degree temperature, potentially causing organ failure.  Once again, she was rushed to the emergency vet's office where they gave her Rimadyl, an anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drug to reduce the effect of the infection, in order to save her life.  Unfortunately, this is such a potent drug that she will no longer be able to nurse her puppies.  Thus, the puppies have begun drinking milk replacer and eating ground chicken and beef.  It is a big job taking over a mom dog's duties!  The puppies are doing extremely well, considering.   Sprinkle remains in critical condition at this time with a temperature remaining at 104 degrees.  She will continue to rest and receive life-saving medication and care in the vet hospital until her mastitis ruptures, draining the infection and hopefully reducing her fever to a more reasonable level.  

If that wasn't enough, we learned that a nerve in Sprinkle's back was damaged at some point during the pregnancy or the birthing process and so she is having a difficult time using her back two legs.  She wobbles while walking and must sit to urinate as she cannot hold her back up.  The veterinarian states that this nerve will take time to regenerate and revitalize.  However, she may never be able to walk as well as she did before she had her puppies.  

No one could have predicted these things would occur to Sprinkle.  She was hip/elbow x-rayed, checked for heart and all her blood work was all normal.  She did not give birth until she was 2 years old.  She has the best temperament and is so loving and sweet to all.  Everything that could have been done to make sure that she was ready for motherhood was done before she even bred.  Sprinkle just happened to have the worst time ever giving birth and raising her young.  It is extremely difficult to see her in this much pain and we hope and pray that she recovers soon.  

No, it's not easy being a dog breeder.   It's not that this sort of thing happens all of the time, but it's just the fact that it CAN happen... to even the most conscientious breeders.