This is a story of 3 adorable little cocker pups. Unfortunately, the Pet Shop they came from didn't bother to take care of them.
Rescue received a call that 3 pups were being given up from the shop, most likely, because they didn't sell. When pups don't sell, they are often ignored. They became ill and were pulled from the shop by a vet tech, who turned them over to us.
One of our volunteers met the pups and brought them all to our home. This was on a Friday afternoon. It was obvious they were severely undernourished, dehydrated, and had kennel cough.
Three
little males. Two of which, are blue roans, one is a black/tan. We named the two
Blue Roans after the Blues Brothers, Elwood and Jake. Black/tan is named Blarney.By Saturday morning, Elwood was failing. His gums were whitish gray, and he was moaning and falling over. He had to use his brothers to help keep his head up.
After
rushing him to the vet, x-rays showed he had a severe case of pneumonia. He only
weighed 5.5 pounds, and his temperature was 100 degrees. It was suggested I take
him to an emergency hospital, where he would be given oxygen, IV fluids and monitored.
Elwood was given a 30% survival rate. Not very good odds. His odds would have been
increase a bit if put into emergency. My decision was to bring him home, and do the
best we could. There was no way I was going to abandon him. I treated him with meds,
nebulized him 4 times a day, patted on his chest, and hand fed him. We took turns
rocking him to sleep. If nothing else, he would know love and the warmth of human
hands.The other two pups are also hacking, honking and have green stuff coming out of their noses. They were also treated with antibiotics and home cooking.
After one week in rescue, Elwood went from 5.5 pounds, to 5.14 pounds. He is eating a little bit better, but still has no energy. Poor little guy is having such a hard time breathing.
By week two, he is breathing better and starting to play a bit. The other two, Jake & Blarney, are very happy and play constantly.
Elwood now weighs 6.3 ounces, and the vets tell me, he's a miracle. He responds so well to happy talk and is demanding, yes demanding to be picked up. Little stinker is becoming very spoiled. You can't help it though, as he needed all the care he received.