Tim's Story
This is Tim or Squirt as I called him.
It all started out like all my other litters of pups, but by day 2 I knew there was something different about this litter.
1 of the biggest puppies was not doing so well. Tim would not suckle; it was like he could not keep the teat in his mouth.
By day 3 I knew I had to do something or Tim was going to die.
So I got a bottle and tried him with that. Tim did not suck it but chewed it and sneezed the milk out of his nose. Zara the mother did all she could for him she would clean and keep him warm. But Tim could not feed from her. I was now feeding him with the bottle about every hour or so, Tim was very slowly gaining weight. Every time I went to check on him my heart was in my mouth, was he going to still be alive.
I had no idea what was wrong but I could not give up on him.
When Tim was four weeks old I took him to the vet and was told he had a soft Cleft palate and to put him to sleep, as he would die.
I was very upset and decided to take him home with me as he was now eating some solid food and starting to lap water, but Tim was not doing as well as his brothers and sister. I needed time to think. I did some research on cleft palates, and I found out that some puppies can live with a cleft palate, but they cannot suck as the liquid comes out of the nose and may go into the lungs. We got through all this and at eight weeks old he was still alive and could eat and drink, Tim was very small he only weighted 850 grams. He was doing everything all the other pups did, play; eat small amounts, sleep, run and bark. His brothers and sister all weighed over 2kg.
I had a very hard decision what was the best thing to do for him.
If I keep him how could I give him a special diet and not give it to my other dogs.
So I decide to try and find a home for him which I did. He went to live with my sister in-laws old school friend, Amanda and her family near Melbourne.
He left on my birthday and I had my heart broken. I knew I had done the best I could for him. Tim is now over two years old and doing great and he eats anything.
He was desexed at about 7mths old and when he was asleep the vet had a look in his mouth and he now has a full cleft palate soft and hard.
Have a look at these photos and see what you think.
I would like to thank Amanda and Family for taking great care of my special boy, I will never forget him. (Squirt will always have a special place in my heart)
It all started out like all my other litters of pups, but by day 2 I knew there was something different about this litter.
1 of the biggest puppies was not doing so well. Tim would not suckle; it was like he could not keep the teat in his mouth.
By day 3 I knew I had to do something or Tim was going to die.
So I got a bottle and tried him with that. Tim did not suck it but chewed it and sneezed the milk out of his nose. Zara the mother did all she could for him she would clean and keep him warm. But Tim could not feed from her. I was now feeding him with the bottle about every hour or so, Tim was very slowly gaining weight. Every time I went to check on him my heart was in my mouth, was he going to still be alive.
I had no idea what was wrong but I could not give up on him.
When Tim was four weeks old I took him to the vet and was told he had a soft Cleft palate and to put him to sleep, as he would die.
I was very upset and decided to take him home with me as he was now eating some solid food and starting to lap water, but Tim was not doing as well as his brothers and sister. I needed time to think. I did some research on cleft palates, and I found out that some puppies can live with a cleft palate, but they cannot suck as the liquid comes out of the nose and may go into the lungs. We got through all this and at eight weeks old he was still alive and could eat and drink, Tim was very small he only weighted 850 grams. He was doing everything all the other pups did, play; eat small amounts, sleep, run and bark. His brothers and sister all weighed over 2kg.
I had a very hard decision what was the best thing to do for him.
If I keep him how could I give him a special diet and not give it to my other dogs.
So I decide to try and find a home for him which I did. He went to live with my sister in-laws old school friend, Amanda and her family near Melbourne.
He left on my birthday and I had my heart broken. I knew I had done the best I could for him. Tim is now over two years old and doing great and he eats anything.
He was desexed at about 7mths old and when he was asleep the vet had a look in his mouth and he now has a full cleft palate soft and hard.
Have a look at these photos and see what you think.
I would like to thank Amanda and Family for taking great care of my special boy, I will never forget him. (Squirt will always have a special place in my heart)
