As promised here are some photos of the sweet girl Alma (aka Aza, I felt she deserved a new name for the new life - she did not respond to Aza) from the Pittsboro, NC shelter. Alma means soul in Spanish and I think she has the most soulful eyes.
She was listed as senior - I don't think she is one. However, she looks very pregnant (although the vet did not think so when he gave her the vaccs on Friday). Thanks to the wonderful volunteers, Carrie and Georgia, Alma made it out of the shelter and escaped a death by mass gassing. We are hoping that her abdomen is just puppies and not something serious. Carrie and Georgia pulled off a miracle shelter pull&transport within two days. Alma sends sloppy kisses to all the members who stood by her and offered help.
Her new name is beautiful as is the meaning. Wow, her tummy is really sagging. We're all praying that there are puppies in there and not something else... She's just as beautiful as can be. Good luck tomorrow and we'll be anxious to hear what the vet has to say...
Oh my, Cila, that last image kills me. That photo DOES scream Alma! If she is preggie, may all her puppies look just like her! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/18_thumb.gif
By the way, if she IS eight years old, is pregnancy possible? If her exact age were known, would that add much insight as to what's going on with her belly?
They can be pregnant at 8yo, I believe. On the other hand why not think the obvious? She belonged to a breeder, why wouldn't she be pregnant? She does not act sick and eats like crazy. I think she would act very sick with a mass of that size in her abdomen.
I love those eyes. She is such a good girl, she has not even had an accident in the house. She loves to chew too, like a puppy. Whatever it is, I am happy she is not at the shelter.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/18_thumb.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/18_thumb.gif Ah- she is beautiful- a new name for a new life!! All paws crossed that she is pregnant and not something else- please keep us posted!!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/01_smile.gif, she reminds me of a big lovey puppy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/01_smile.gif. Auntie Cila, you done GREAT!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/01_smile.gif
Thanks everybody, Alma is tucked in for the night after the fourth big meal of the day and she sends hugs to everybody. She loved the fish part of the dinner most.
She is such a sweet, good girl. We are waiting...
I'll be rearranging the guest room for her and for the kids' swimming pool for her and babies.
Holy Moly!! Oh, Cila... I'm glad in a way that's why her belly is so saggy. I'll pass along to the vet that said she was not pregnant, that she was ah... wrong. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/01_smile.gif Please let me know if there is anything I can do. You're an angel. Give Ms. Alma a kiss for me. An estimate on the arrival date?
I believe that she came into the shelter on 1/26, and she was a little saggy then. She's 40 days since then, by my calculation, and 60 days is average gestation. Who knows how far along she was when she came in. My bet is about a week longer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/01_smile.gif
They said 2-3 weeks but I think less, otherwise she'll be dragging herself on the floor. We need the one week to fatten her up - the vet felt that she is way too thin for this many babies. The bad news is that she is also HW+. I am putting her on Heartgard for two months and we'll treat her after the babies are weaned. The HW tretment is toxic for the babies. I am just so happy we got her out this weekend - otherwise she may have ended up having the babies at the shelter. She still needs prayers sent her way.
The good news is that the vet also thinks she is 6yrs tops. more likely 4-6yrs. She has no arthritis on the spine, eyes are clear etc. No way is she 8.
Good to hear about her age. Sorry to hear about her HW status. Those horrible people. Used her for breeding and didn't even bother to give her preventive?? I'm wondering if these puppies may be fathered by her 4 year old son, with whom she was surrendered. Apparantly he wasn't the nicest of dogs and was euthanized. So, you may have some beautiful purbred GSD babies, albeit inbred.
It was fate that she got out when she did and found you, Cila.
OK, Alma is tucked in for the night after the fourth meal of the day. I cannot believe that she has not had an accident in the house considering her size. She was very sweet at the vet's office today and distributed kisses. It is a relief that she is not sick. It just did not make sense - with a mass of that size in her abdomen she was doing too well and was too perky.
I am glad I cannot get my hands on the person who "owned", used, neglected and dumped her. There is a very special place in **** for people like that. Our little Alma has a good chance now and in four months we'll have the troubles behind us. She is so good and sweet that it will be easy to find her a good home.
Mary this is a great idea. I'll get the list ready. I am hosting a visitor from Europe at work tomorrow, so I'll put it together on Wednesday. Alma is so sweet that you could take her to the school to meet the children. A good time to learn about responsible dog ownership. She is a perfect example of the bad things that can happen.
I ordered two cases of special dog food that is made in a facilty in Baltimore (also used for the production of human food). It is a premade raw diet available frozen and this is the best I can think of (quite pricey too, but Alma needs it now). It has veggies and supplements added and it is highly digestable. One of our volunteers will be picking it up tomorrow at the packaging facility. This should get some weight on her.
Just a little update for the Alma-fans. I think she gained a little weight (muscle on her bones not just the abdomen) and she is eating very well (she may have been dehydrated some too). I got two cases of the special raw diet (with top quality fruits, veggies and supplements mixed in) for her (one donated to Alma by our volunteer Jan) and the owner of the company that makes this high quality raw diet gave us a VERY good price on it (and added some hot dogs for the human caretakers). He loved Alma's story and will follow it on her web-page. Alma LOVES the new food and was very happy when she discovered it. I think it will help with her feeding such a large litter. I'll be rearranging the house for the family-to-be this weekend. We need some prayers here that mom and babies end up being healthy (after all they have been through).
Dear God, Cila, I wonder if these pups, and Alma, will ever know how they really stepped into a charmed life when you saved them! Being at your house is every pooch's dream.
I think we better meet up for a good, stiff round of drinks when all is said and done. You'll have earned it, as well as your angel wings. Looking forward to getting you some supplies.
Lucky break with the supplier of that food. Alma and the pups are in excellent hands. Here's to a smooth delivery. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/26_cheers.gif
Thanks guys. Any help with the babies is appreciated, especially when they become active - with my work it is going to be hard. I have lined up my petsitter for extra help. Luckily I have a spring break coming up. The great news is that Mama Alma seems to be doing very well - she seems to be much more happy and perky than five days ago even though she is getting bigger. She loves her meals and her chew bones. The goal is to get her as strong as possible before the babies arrive. I am getting her some cottage cheese for extra calcium for her&babies.
Mary the supplies&stuff on my list
- towels, washable blankets, sleeping bags, sheets
- paper towels, bleach
- kid's plastic swimming pool (I discovered that this is not the season for it)
- x-pen, baby gate
- kennel deck
I'll be rrearranging my house this weekend to make space for the family. This is quite a learning experience I am sure I am missing things.
I like the drink idea after the babies are all there safe and sound.
You're in luck, I have a kiddie pool and a baby gate. I can get paper towels, bleach.
I"m sure I have sheets, as well. I will wash the gate, pool and sheets tonight and can drop them off Sat or Sunday. Please just PM or email me the address and I will drop it off this weekend. No need to be home, I'll leave it on the porch or near your gate.
Wonderful Mary, thank you so much! I'll PM you the information.
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