Pets and Other Animal Friends II

[killersmom]

Yes. She is feeling well enough to bark non stop at the guy working on my car this morning.

Oh I am so glad. I have been worried about her! I know you have as well!

[doodler]

Well, now I've got another problem. Diamond, my miniature Poodle, is in season. I bred her to Boon on Thursday and when they were finished, she immediately started throwing up. It lasted for a couple hours and then the next 8 hours or so, she acted like she had a belly ache.  Friday morning she was feeling enough better I decided to take a wait and see approached and by that afternoon, she was back to normal. Usually, I breed the dogs every day or every other day... it's the only fun the girls get each year... but I skipped Saturday as well as Friday. Put them together earlier today. She was eager to be in the pen with him and both friendly and approachable. The breeding went normally. But as soon as they were done, she started throwing up again. Same scenario as Thursday, vomiting, belly drawn in, back hunched. She's even whimpering off and on. So now, SHE's got to go to the vet first thing in the morning because this is just not right. I've never had a girl act like this before. If it's not one thing it's another!

[doodler]

Diamond is feeling somewhat better this morning. At least she's on her feet and able to walk. So she's going WITH me to my vet appointment this afternoon (rather than me dropping her off first thing this AM.) That means I'm taking her, Keogh and the two pups who are leaving Wednesday. Esther is going to have to wait until Thursday when I'm taking in the two pups leaving this weekend.


Update
Back from the vet. The only possibility that anyone can come up with... and there are now 7 vets in the practice(they are multiplying!)... is Addison's Disease which is practically impossible to diagnose when you are not in an Addisonal crisis. SO we did some blood tests, just to check non crisis levels, and the breeding is over for this girl forever. Rather than spay her now, we're going to wait, do an ultrasound in 4-5 weeks, and then do some kind of test that uses a miniscule amount of steroids and will give us a better idea if it is or isn't Addisons. If she IS pregnant, then I have to worry about the labor and delivery bringing on a crisis. If she's not, she'll be spayed. And if she IS, I have to decide about what to do. Always something!

[killersmom]

I read about Addison's Disease in dogs, Sherry. Why would the breeding bring on a crisis, if she is not having symptoms any other time?

[doodler]

Stress. That is what brings it on.

My vet called me... WAY after hours (I feel so special! and that is not sarcasm...) with a new idea some other vet came up with. He (maybe she) said Diamond could be allergic to Boon's sperm. The litter she lost the last time, sired by him, could have triggered it or she might have lost it because she was allergic and the two times she's had contact with him last week could have made the reactions more and more intense.
That would be preferable to Addisons PROVIDED we can get passed whatever is going to happen if she is pregnant this time... the pups could cause a HUGE reaction. I would really like to not HAVE to spay her just yet.

[killersmom]

Stress. That is what brings it on.

My vet called me... WAY after hours (I feel so special! and that is not sarcasm...) with a new idea some other vet came up with. He (maybe she) said Diamond could be allergic to Boon's sperm. The litter she lost the last time, sired by him, could have triggered it or she might have lost it because she was allergic and the two times she's had contact with him last week could have made the reactions more and more intense.
That would be preferable to Addisons PROVIDED we can get passed whatever is going to happen if she is pregnant this time... the pups could cause a HUGE reaction. I would really like to not HAVE to spay her just yet.

Wasn't sure about the Addisons and so read about it. This makes sense though, if she is having an allergic reaction to the sperm. Had not heard of this either, but learning a lot about dogs that I did no know.

[doodler]

Actually it happens in most animals, including humans and is a not rare cause of miscarriage and infertility with people.

[CellarDweller115]

Actually it happens in most animals, including humans and is a not rare cause of miscarriage and infertility with people.

Not to take it off topic, but I actually saw a tv show last weekend (I think it was called 'Strange Sex') and it showed a man who was allergic to his own sperm.  Symptoms were similar to what Diamond had, and the only way he was able to have sexual relations with women was to have his testicles removed.

[morrobay]

Ad posted on Austin's craigslist:

i have one puppy he is a FEMALE

[doodler]

Both Keogh and Di are at least ACTING normally. So that is going well.

Today I took two of the 12 weeks old pups and Esther, who is 9 weeks, to the vet. The older pups are leaving this weekend and all my k-9 kids get a thorough and I mean thorough medical exam before they go. I wanted Jane to check Esther out to be sure she is a normal pup considering her seemingly rough start in life. All three passed with flying colors.

But the point of this post is... the difference between placing pups at 12 weeks and placing them at 9.
The two older pups were NOT happy to discover other Two-Leggers in the world. They were pretty freaked out about strangers looking at them, talking to them, touching  them. When we were in the exam room, before Jane came in, they sort of strolled around, sniffing here and there, but came back to the chair where I was sitting every time there was a loud noise or people laughing or a squeal from some kid in the lobby. Once Jane came in, they retreated UNDER my chair. And when Jane finished each one's exam and put her back on the ground, the pup came immediately back to me and stayed put.
 
Esther was all over the place. The only thing she DIDN'T do was climb in the water bowl I asked for (because of how hot it got on the trip over and the wait in the car.) None of the noises impressed her, if she even noticed them. When Jane came in, Esther was sitting in front of the door with the exam table between her and me. She just sat there, even when Jane leaned over and picked her up. And when she was back on the floor, she started exploring the room again.

Obviously, it is much harder for the older pups to adjust when they first move into their new homes. So why keep them to 12 weeks? Because the same mental maturity that makes the transition more difficult makes other things a lot easier... like house training, which is a major consideration especially with people experiencing their very first puppy. AND at 12 weeks, they've had two of the three puppy shots, are started on heartworm protection and one of the most important considerations, have learned how to be DOGS. Younger pups, like Esther, could care less about their environment... they are still infants and as long as they are fed, warm and dry, everything is hunky-dory. Potty training is much more difficult... think 9-10 months old babies versus 2 year old toddlers... and frustrating for their people and one of the main reasons dogs end up in shelters. Younger pups haven't learned they are dogs and in the wrong hands, grow up being treated like children until their behavior isn't cute or tolerable any more and they go to shelters... IF they're not eaten by some bigger/older dog at the dog park because they don't know how to read the dog's silent communications. The fact that the younger pup has had just its first shot means a period of almost 2 months when it can't be allowed to socialize with other dogs and learn all the canine ins and outs the older pup learned at its mom's knee. (The older pup shouldn't be out and about with other dogs either until it is 16 weeks and has finished its shots, BUT if it should be exposed to diseases it is more likely to have some immunity than the younger pup.)

For homes with other dogs in residence or people who have had recent successful puppy raising experience, a younger pup isn't much of a challenge. However, most of MY clients don't fall into either of those categories.

And when we got home, the two older pups immediately collapsed and slept for almost two hours... a pup's way of dealing with stress. Esther is still going strong... thank goodness the pups at home had some rest while we were gone!

[CellarDweller115]

Wow!  I had no idea these matters were so complicated.

[doodler]

A lot of breeders don't know it either!
 

[doodler]

Esther is moving to New York, near "the City," on August 8th.
And no, her eyes are not blue.

[doodler]

Check out the feet on this guy, Esther's 3 weeks older cousin.

[killersmom]

Esther is such a cutie!

Jeez those feet are huge!