We Have Sick Puppies

Days 2-4:

The 2:00 a.m. feeding began as they all do, twelve hungry bellies, a very good momma ready to take care of her babies and the Mount Vernon crew standing by to supervise and supplement with bottle feeding. All the puppies ate like champs except for one little girl; she was very lethargic and had no interest in the bottle. There were small traces of blood noted in the stool of a few puppies, everything was charted for the 6:00 a.m. crew and our lethargic girl continued to show signs of anorexia. She was tube fed and wrapped in flannel for extra warmth. Fifteen minutes after her 10:00 a.m. feeding she passed over the rainbow bridge.

By mid afternoon we have another lethargic girl. Amanda drives in for the day to evaluate the situation, puppy #2 has an almost non-existant blood glucose and a very low body temp. Amanda places a jugular catheter to administer fluids, dextrose, and a fresh plasma transfusion from her own bullmastiff, Charlie. She is also placed in the incubator. A feeding tube was placed to allow for feedings directly into the stomach. When this was placed a large amount of bloody reflux was removed. Four hours later we lose her. Based on fecal exams and necropsy on both the deceased puppies, Dr. Reppart and Amanda are confident that we are dealing with a salmonella outbreak. The entire litter is placed on antibiotics. Considering Momma's unfortunate past and lack of prenatal or any other veterinary care, it is not surprising that we are facing this battle. Poor Momma is also heartworm positive.

At the 6:00 p.m. feeding our first boy starts to show signs of decline. A jugular catheter, fluids, plasma, and antibiotics are also administered to this boy. By 2:00 a.m. he is crossing the bridge to join his sisters. It is the end of day four and we have another little boy we are concerned about. They have had 5 doses of the antibiotic, hopefully it is enough to help him make it through the night.

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies!

Day 1: Road trip!

It starts out as just another day in the world of ABA rescue volunteer Sherry Boldt, keep in mind her days are not quite like most of ours! She's on the road at 8:00 a.m. to pick up two owner surrenders, a 5yr old pregnant female and her 18 mo old daughter. Upon arrival Sherry realizes the pregnant girl is in labor, she is enormous, 67 days into the pregnancy and panting heavily. According to the owners she had been panting for two days. Sherry quickly hits the road, swings back to home base for supplies and her own dogs and starts the 4 hr trip to Harcourt Veterinary Clinic in Ohio. One hour into the trip and big momma just can't wait any longer and pup number 1 arrives! Sherry is now pulled over on the side of the road wondering if momma will let her take the pup. Fortunately momma cooperates and Sherry is tying off the umbilical cord and prepping the make shift nursery when number 2 enters the world. Sherry aborts the trip to Harcourt and heads back to home base, stopping to take an international conference call and deliver pup number three.

Seventeen hours later we have an exhausted Momma, 12 pups and a slightly frazzled Sherry Boldt. During this time Sherry not only delivered 12 puppies but resuscitated 2 that were compromised at birth, kept an exhausted momma going, handled multiple conference calls, texted and called me numerous times and took pictures and posted to the list.

Twenty-nine hours later and Sherry is once again packed up in the Sprinter and headed to Ohio. She rolled into Harcourt at 5:45 p.m. with big momma and the dirty dozen. The whelping box, heat lamp and dedicated volunteers were ready for action. Sherry got everyone organized and an hour later was headed back to Indiana.

I am convinced this woman's theme song is Born to Be Wild! Just like the songs says...Get your motor runnin'...Head out on the highway...Lookin' for adventure...And whatever comes our way!

High Five Sherry! You Rock!!