Diagnosis for Lyric's tiny puppy

[Ginny Nightingale]

Well, unfortunately, it is not good news. I brought my little "squirt" to my vet today and we found a sizeable cleft palate. But she is still very active and healthy-looking despite a lack of weight gain, so we decided to look into some solutions rather than just euthanizing her. One of the vet techs there raises kittens and has saved several squirrels using tube feeding and was very anxious to take "Squirt" on for a few days to see if she could get her weight up. (For free! I have such nice friends around here!) If she improves, we will cross the next bridge of teaching me how to tube feed. She has a special nipple that may help also and if that works, i don't have to use the tube.

There is a surgical specialist nearby that the vet called today about repairing the palate at the age of three months, and his charge was not so crazy that it isn't worth doing. So, I may have a very busy three months keeping this puppy healthy until the surgery can be done.  I'm up for it though! She has impressed me with her spunk! If she makes it past this weekend and is growing, we will give it a shot--I can take her up to the surgeon for evaluation in a few weeks. 

My daughter, who will be a vet in a few months, used to run a sheep farm and saved several very tiny lambs by bottle feeding them herself. All four made it to adulthood (she kept them and took them to vet school with her) and they turned out to be lovely sheep and all have since had babies of their own. So, there is hope!

The rest of the puppies are so fat and happy! The milk came in today and they are very satisfied. Lyric feels great and is romping around the yard during her "breaks"--she got a nice warm shower today and feels like a new bitch! LOL! I will post new pictures as soon as i can find my camera. I seem to have misplaced it---hmmmm, maybe I need more sleep.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Sending kind thoughts, prayers and "you go girl' to both you and squirt.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I have my fingers crossed and Cooper has her paws crossed for squirt - it sounds like shes a fighter!

[Kyoko]

I hope the baby Squirt make it through!! Charlie and I will send our thoughts and prayers!!

[Dori & Rua]

My nephew had a cleft palate.  We all thought he was a keeper too!  :-)  Because of that, he ended up with speech problems and quite a number of ear issues too.  As a result, when he was 4, he was way more socially developed than his twin sister.  I remember being out in California and we went to BK.  He already had whatever the "kids meal" toy was and he went up to the counter (which he barely could reach) and asked if he could trade in his toy for another.  He is 18 now, graduated from HS with great grades (even though he started out in special education).  We'll keep Squirt in our prayers.  All things happen for a reason...Squirt was picked to be a a special puppy!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Special thoughts going out to you and "Squirt".  BTW, when my daughter was little, I used to call her "Squirt", so there's a special place in my heart for Lyric's little one!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Ditto for Rooney and I adding prayers for your special little one. 

[Phoebe's Mom]

Sending lots of prayers your way for both you and your spunky little puppy. I hope it all works out.  Please do try to get some sleep as I am dying to see some photos--you really ned to find that camera!