Update on "Runt" pup! - Page 1

Hi all, for everyone that was following "Jasper" now renamed "Chip", he is well taken care of, he has a hole in his heart that is not a common one so the vets were not giving him any hope at all for surviving, I have no idea why he is still alive, the lady that has him is giving him the best care and takes him to visit patients in the hospital with her two Whippets that do therapy and agility, he is enjoying life!

He now weighs 36 pounds at 5 months old!

(Below is part of the email update on "Chip")

He is doing well, holding his own.
 
He is still on the medication for his lung hypertension, and so far it is allowing him to have a little more stamina and to recover his breath more quickly when he overdoes it.  We tried adding another medication, but he did not do well on it, so we are sticking with the original one.  He is also on concentrated fish oil capsules.
 
I also took him to a holistic vet, who has him on supplements such as CoQ-10 Plus and a few others which we are gradually introducing into his diet.  These are simply to keep him and his heart as healthy as possible.
 
He is up to 36 pounds, and gaining steadily, averaging about 3 pounds per week.
 
As you predicted, he is getting more and more black on him, and developing the gold spectacles around his eyes. (Pictures attached.) I think he is going to keep the sable coloring around his shoulders like his mother, but that is still to be seen.
 

He is a happy little guy, and loves being with the Longhaired Whippets.  It's fun to watch him prance along beside Gambler and Cassi on our walks.  They can't wait until he grows up and stops being an obnoxious puppy, but still they play with him and protect him.  (We were at another agility trial at the Deerfield, NH fairgrounds for a day and a dog got loose and starting running around.  I was walking the 3 dogs in the nearby field.  Chip was in the middle, in front of me, with a Whippet a foot or so away on each side.  As the dog headed towards us, Gambler and Cassi moved close to Chip's side and made like an upside down V with Chip slightly behind and between them.  The other dog never got that close, but it was cute to see how Gambler and Cassi immediately moved to protect Chip.) 
 
He can't wait to go for rides in the car, and enjoys his walks.  He loves to come with me to run errands, and until it started getting hot, was more than happy to wait patiently in the car for me.  He even came to Boston with me to the Mercedes Benz dealership and waited inside with me while I had my Smart car repaired.  (They gave him his own little gift bag with a MB bandana, tennis ball and treats!)  He sleeps by my bed every night, and lays by my feet when we are watching TV, like a typical shepherd.  He's wonderful!

 

 

Sounds like the heaven on earth for the small one... 
No matter how old he will become, he´ll be deeply contented with his life...

Good to hear that there are people like his owners out there!

Great to hear.

I'd say you couldn't ask for more than that, sounds like he is having a wonderful life, lucky to have found a wonderful home for him.

Is this one that is considered a dwarf GSD?

What a cute fella!  It sounds like he doesn't realize he's small or has a hole in his heart.  That's wonderful that he found a home with someone who is devoted to him and he's living life to the fullest.  What more could anyone ask for?

Mirasmom,

So glad to read the good news for this puppy.  Chip has a beautiful (handsome) face with such a happy expression!  Beautifully dark eyes as well.  May he live a long and happy life!

Fawndallas, he was small due to his health problem, dwarf GSD's usually have thyroid and immune problems resulting in hair loss

and always staying "puppy" sized, I wouldn't say 36 pounds and gaining at 5 months is too small, he still has plenty of growing to do.

Google images of dwarf shepherd's, they sure look different...

Can't wait to see more updates of the little guy, and also go and visit him sometime this summer 

 

Yeah, not dwarf...just runt. I've had the runt grow 'oversized'...beautiful tho, none-the-less