"Miracle" was the 8th puppy born to Takeia, weighing
in at one pound, one and one-eighth ounce. A beautiful dark color like her first brother and sister, Toruk and Neytiri.
I had walked outside to my car for less than two minutes, and when I returned, there she was. Takeia was doing
her motherly thing, cleaning her up. But I noticed the little one was not moving to much, so while Takeia continued
cleaning, I started rubbing vigorously as well. I then picked her up and continued the rubbing to get the little girl
to whimper. Her breathing was labored, so we did several things to make sure her lungs were clear, including using the
bulb syringe and performing 'mouth to mouth'. As I was working on her, I promised her that I wasn't going
to let her die and if she survived I would call her "Miracle".
As the rubbing continued, she started to make some squealing sounds,
and she was breathing better. Within about half an hour, she was doing much better, and eating with the rest of the them.
Calling her Miracle was great in theory. Except, knowing that I was calling this the Avatar litter, where would 'miracle'
fit in? Then it came to me... Pandora's Little Miracle, named for the planet Pandora and the miracles that
took place there and this afternoon with this little one.
She did wonderfully the first and second night, gaining one ounce
each night. But Monday morning, when they were weighed, she had dropped back to her birth weight and she had stopped
eating. I tried to give her some fortified goat milk, but her nursing action was labored as well. When putting her on
Takeia's teat, she just wasn't grasping, and when she fell off, she would not fight to return.
The
pups were scheduled to have their dewclaws removed that morning, so we all went to the vet clinic (the dogs' personal
vet was not in, as it was her day off). We did not touch Miracle so as not stress her any more. We returned home,
and despite attempts to get her to eat, she was still not eating. I noticed too that when Takeia would clean her little
bottom, she cried and screamed in pain. Her little butt was red and raw, and her poop was very liquid-like. So,
I contacted our vet at home. She offered to come in to the clinic and see what we could do for Little Miracle, so we
met her. She showed me how to tube feed so that Miracle could at least get some sustenance and strength so we could
examine her further and try to figure out the issue. She also showed me how to stimulate her to potty. I also
had to get some diaper cream for her little bottom to help soothe her.
I wound up tube feeding Miracle the rest of that day and night and
applying the cream. While still attempting to get her to nurse, it was always the same result. But, now, between
feedings and short little naps, our little girl would cry. It was heartbreaking to say the least, and a very tearful
day. She would settle after a feeding due to a full belly, but nothing was really helping her.
She slept with me that night
on the couch. Actually, neither of us really slept; the longest stint she had was about an a hour and a half.
Finally, in the morning, I called the vet again (another of her usual days off). As we spoke, she could hear our little
one writhing in pain. (To describe her cries ... I can't even explain; and so I cried with her.) I asked her
if she thought there was anything else, but told her that it would not be fair to 'experiment' while she was in so
much pain. I realized that it was unfair to let this little one suffer any longer. So, the decision was made at
7:30 am July 6, 2010 to put our Little Miracle to rest.
It was a very painful and difficult decision, but the best thing
for Miracle. Our little one was in so much pain. Even now, I can hear her little cries.
After
the procedure, the vet told me that it appeared her intestinal track was not properly formed. So, had she lived, she
probably would have been a sickly puppy or may have died later anyway. Despite the reality and knowing it was for the
best, it was not an easy thing to contend with at all. But, despite the loss, it was a learning experience and she will
never be forgotten.
Rest In Peace
Pandora's Little Miracle
July 2 - 6, 2010
