I guess it is time that I update you on all the good things that have happened. I am now the official owner of Bella...her name will be "Momma's Little Miracle". The owner came over the other day and agreed to let me keep her. She apologized and cried and said Bella would not have been here if it wasn't for me. So that part is finally closed and this little girl is home now.
Now for more good news.........She is nursing the puppies!!!!!!!!!! It started out as getting the boy to latch on which he has no problems. He is a boy right. LOL She would let him nurse for only a short period of time. Wasn't sure if he was getting anything or not and after a few minutes she would nudge him off. Then another dog started. This morning I fed the babies at 4. Most of them had a belly that already felt full. They did eat some but no where near what they were yesterday. The next feeding was getting close and I noticed all 4 puppies going to her to nurse. After they were done I felt their tummies....all felt somewhat full and I did offer bottles to them just in case they were still hungry. No takers. Stayed that way all day today so I can only assume that she now has some milk. Still checking all the babies at feeding time to make sure no one is hungry and only have a few that will take a few more bites before they are done and belly is full. I have not been able to get any milk out but wouldn't that be the only thing that they are getting to make their tummies full. There has been NO weight drop in 24 hours and I know they had 2 full feedings and a couple of partial ones so she has to have milk in there otherwise I should have seen it by now...right?
Still too early to tell if she will continue but things are looking real good today. Just think...1 week ago this morning we were welcoming the new little puppies and didn't know we were on the edge of saying goodbye to mom. She was saved with all the prayers that she received.
We also got a call from the ER vet yesterday. He went back to the hospital on Wednesday night (after her 2nd surgery) to check on her even though it was his day off and when she was not there he thought she passed away. Finally yesterday he decided he had to call so he pulled out her file and there was the note that I left for him letting him know she was alright. We talked on the phone for 20 minutes and he told me he did not expect her to make it which was why he went up there. He wanted to oversee her care and save her if possible. If not he wanted to just be there if things got bad. Now how many vets would do that? I am just so thankful that GOD lined up the best people to take care of her. Between showing us this site and giving the vets the knowledge to know what to do and when, this little girl has survived.
While our story is looking like it will have a happy ending, that is not always the case. Too many dogs die while giving birth. Please protect your babies and have them spayed or neutered. By doing that, you are giving your baby a chance at life and not a money maker. There are 2 things that I hope our story has shown. First there is a GOD and miracles do happen!! Second, tragedy can occur in the blink of an eye so avoid that and don't let your dogs breed just for the sake of having puppies or selling them for money.
My love will always be with the members here at YT for helping us through our difficult time. |