Vet is even Puzzled.. Can you help ?? - Page 4

Echo, thank you. I do know how very difficult these events are. I have had to say farewell to too many loved animals. Maybe it's the price we finally pay for having been blessed with their presence. Just gotta love 'em, and let 'em go with God.

Echo---Twenty years ago an old breeder friend told me about the week difference in breeding pups. Makosh's statement forced me to do some reading--Yes, apparently there is only about 72 hrs for actual conception time---3 days shouldn't make that much difference, but I also read carrying time can be 65 days from breeding at initial LH surge to 57 days if bred at end of LH surge. Kind of makes me wonder if all the pups were premature. (There still could be two sires, attributing to size discrepancy). If no internal abnormalities (which very well may be the case), I'll offer up another thought---Check the dam's mammary glands and production of milk. Might not be so good, and one of the pups suffered. Clutching at straws here. If she is gaining weight now, you might get lucky---but she will still have to be tested further for physical and metabolic problems. Good luck.

OK, here is my two cents- could be a nutrient absorption issue...or a shunt. Either a portal caval shunt or a kidney shunt.. Either way I wish you the very best.... Theresa

I should add that I am not pulling these out of my arse, I have experience with the shunts and pups.. that would be my guess-- Theresa

Theresa, Thank You I have added these to the list as well. I appreciate you posting this. Thank You. Everyone really, I appreciate you all taking the time to post your thoughts/ideas, As I need all I can get for this little girl. Will know more next week and when I know, I will definately post for you all. Thank You so much, It means alot to me that you have all taken the time to help us with this baby.

I hate to even ask this but here I go? Why cat food? I have been told over and over again by my vets here and in Galveston, cat food is not good for puppies.l..it is designed for the feline who has an entirely differently made up digestion system and because the are suppose to eat meat, the food has much higher levels of Taurine in them, than a puppy can handle safely, and bleeding from the kidneys or bladder will occur......an adult dog that gets into a cat food bowl will usually not be affected.....I pass this along as I could not keep quiet.....I warn every puppy buyer , do not let my puppy eat or get into your cat food......I had a friend show up with a cat at my house 30 years ago and I had only cockers, and they went straight to her cats bowl and she told me not to let them eat the food...and Why and I thought she was crazy so I called my vet the next morning and he said she was correct......and Ive heard this many times later from other sources......Just food for thought....did u get my email a little bit ago?????

My computer decided to crumple, I had to reconfigure much, so several emails were lost that I could not get to open before I figured out what the heck was going on, I missed yours and 3 others. This Cat food from science diet does not have those higher levels from my understanding, The a/d is specially formunlated for easy absorbtion. and The cat food in general has much higher protein than any dog food. Which since her food intake was so low, we made the decision to go with the higher protein of the cat food. Her bloodwork still came back low on the protein. I'll double check with the vet on the Taurine levels in the science diet that we are feeding her. Thank You for bringing it up, I appreciate it !

Just so you know, Echo - a/d IS approved for dogs too. It says on the can that it is cat/dog food. So, the levels should be ok. The AH that I've worked for regularly gives it to dogs that are very ill. Judging by all of your information here, I would have to agree that it is probably a heart murmor/problem that is just not as easily detected in a puppy that age. The white gums and lack of energy are classic signs. It would seem to me that if it were a kidney or liver issue that that would have shown up in the original bloodwork? Or do shunts work differently? Debby

Debby good questions on the shunts, I don't know to be honest. But my gut feeling from the beginning of all of this was heart murmor. I wonder if we've just missed it, maybe an ultra sound would be in order here.

From memory, (it's been a while), I think the shunts will only show up on ultrasound- not bloodwork.... Good luck, and hopefully it is something minor... Theresa