Stumped!!! ??? for experienced breeders!! - Page 1

Where do I begin?  Ok I bred my female to my male in September, she took and was pregnant.  Well, I expected the pups to be born this week, but 2 weeks ago today, she aborted her pups, on that day (Oct 29) I took her to the vet because she was bleeding and had a fever of 104!  Well, I get her to the vet, he thought she was having a false pregnancy, but I told him that she was already showing (she was rather large two days before this) and it has been what I thought to be a normal pregnancy.  Well, he put her on antibiotics for fear of a uterus infection and on the way home from the vet she had a puppy in the car, it was about the size of a tennis ball and was not completely developed, so I called the vet back and he said bring her in for a shot of oxytocin to help flush her out, so I did and assumed that this was over and I lost all of the pups for some unknown reason.  I was so disappointed, and not to mention my poor girl was so confused, she tore blankets up and was looking for her babies.  So last Friday she seems to be fine and doing better so of course I take her and put her back out in the kennel, thinking everything is going to be ok.  Boy was I wrong!!!  I go down this morning to feed, and lord behold there she is standing there holding a LIVE puppy in her mouth!!!  One puppy, a male who seems to be doing fine, considering what he has been through!  He is nursing, squealing, crawling, deficating with help of course!  My vet told me to just wait it out there may be more!  She does not seem to be in any pain, but I believe she may have more in there, she has been panting, and digging ( for about the past hour), as if she might be in labor, but so far nothing else!!  I have been breeding shepherds for about 12 years now, and I have never had this happen.  I am truly stumped!!!  I think I may have a miracle puppy on my hands!!  I am hoping and praying that he makes it through this!  He will never leave here!!  Any one else ever had this happen, or heard of something like this?  A breeder friend of mine has been breeding for years, and he claimed that he has heard of pups being born a week or so after a miscarriage, but never any live ones!!  Thanks for any input!

Liz

I'm no breeder but I think I would get an xray to see what is left in her. I would be afraid there may be undelivered non viable pups that could cause septic shock? Or placenta left and you might not be aware of.

I'm really glad you have a puppy. Maybe you should name him Phoenix? Life from ashes.

never heard of that either.  I'd take her to the vet for x-ray to see if there are any  more pups.  Congratulations on the one live one.  Keep a close eye on the mom for pyometra/uterine infection - unusual discharge, high fever, listlessness, weight loss, any sign of depression.  If she had/has dead pups in there she has a high risk of infection.  Careful of any antibiotics given to her, make sure they are safe for the nursing puppies.

molly

Wow!  He is a miracle!  I like the name Phoenix too....what a good namesake.

My female was delivering anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours apart with hers.  She had the 8th one at 1:30 a.m. and settled down after that.  I waited 2 more hours and she stayed settled, so I went to bed thinking she was done - she was acting like she was, but at 6:20 a.m. she woke me up again and out came #9, approx 5 hours later.

Hope she and the pup and any others will be fine & healthy - best wishes for you.

Well, she was on antibiotics for high risk of infection when she miscarried, my vet told me to wait it out today then bring her in in the morning.  I will have her x-rayed, due to the fact of the whole history of this pregnancy.  I'm thinking, Wunder= which means miracle in german!!  Pronounced with a "v".    LOL  I just can't believe this happened I think I am in shock more than her!  It truly is a miracle that his little puppy made it.   

My next post is help me name the miracle puppy!  I just hope he survives, it really will break my heart if he don't!!  I'm praying!!   

Find a vet and get her x-rayed today.  If there is another viable pup in there tomorrow may be too late for it.

Ok, she IS NOT STRESSED or attempting to push, she is not even having contractions, so when she is attempting to birth another pup and is in distress then I will certainly step in, right now she is lying with her pup quietly, my question is not to have her x-rayed or not, but to see if anyone has ever heard of this type of situation before.  She was panting and digging earlier, but now is at rest.  I am beginning to believe that he is the very last pup, but that will be decided by my vet tomorrow morning. 

I've heard of a bitch whelping additional pups as much as 48 hours after the litter was whelped, but this was an otherwise normal litter, not a spontaneous abortion like your girl went through.

Congratulations on your live pup.  I agree, the name "Phoenix" would be very appropriate in this little fellow's case.

Micky

bitehard,

What was it that made you believe on the 29th the she was aborting?

What was happening besides blood and fever? 

curious.