Would like to ask advice regarding a Great Pyrenees puppy, 9 wks old. We just purchased this female pup on Monday, today she is at the vet's office with severe pneumonia. When I picked her up at the breeder's place I should probably have been more alert to notice the conditions in which the litter was raised. (Does the word trashy conjure up any visions?) But the pups looked healthy and were active, and the breeder furnished registration papers for me to fill out and send in. When I was holding the puppy before departing for home, I noticed a slight catch in her breath. When I asked if she had a cold, the woman said, "Oh, no, they're fine" but then she gave the pup a shot of penicillin just so "she'll survive the trip." On the way home, the pup threw up 5 times, but lots of dogs get carsick so I didn't connect. By the next morning, she had a definite cough, and the vet couldn't see her till Thursday. He prescribed antibiotics and gave her a shot of cortisone, then this morning I took her back to him as she was worse. She only consumed some chicken broth yesterday, didn't eat at all the day before. The Xray showed terribly cloudy lungs, and she can barely breathe. Sorry this is so long, but - I can't reach the woman who sold her; their number has been disconnected. The place is 3 hours from here, so stopping by is not possible. What should I do? This is a very sweet puppy, and we need her to grow up big and strong to keep the coyotes away from the sheep and chickens, and we already love her. The vet didn't indicate his prognosis but I could tell he's very concerned. Any advice will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance, and sorry to ramble on. I just feel so badly for the little pup to be so ill.

-- Taylor, Indiana (bptaylor@ccrtc.com), November 03, 2001

Answers

Hopefully you paid by check if so stop payment.The breeder should deduct the pups treatment costs from her sale price.I hate to say it but sounds like you bought from a back yard breeder .AKC papers mean crap , the are not worth the paper they are printed on .Now to the important stuff the pup .Get her some plain yogurt and cottage cheese .For the next few days cook rice with chicken .Boil the chicken {1/4 are fine and cheaper} and then cook the rice in the broth add a little cottage cheese to it .Try to give her several tsp's of yogurt thru the day .This will help put the good bacteria back in her belly .A humidifier near her crate may help too .Keep her warm , dry and quiet .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 03, 2001.

Taylor, I am pretty sure that you know, you bought a puppy from an unsavory charactor, who has vanished?, and the puppy is very sick and may not survive? I am sorry that this has happened to you. I hope the puppy just has an infection and it can be cleared up with treatment. Great Pyrenees are wonderful dogs whether for pets or livestock guard. I would give the little girl a chance and unless she has some kind of damage to her lungs, she should get well and grow up to be the best dog you have ever had. My prayers are for the puppy to get well and live a long productive life.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), November 03, 2001.

Well I guess I should give a little advuce for when she is better .She is a large breed which may develop hip problem and from the sounds of it the breeder did not care enough to do ofa's so here is my advice.Do not skimp on dog food get the best you can .Do not feed her puppy food it is way to high in protein and fat .Feed her adult food 2x per day .To it add a tablespoon of cottage cheese and a chicken liver or 2 .You can also give her some yeast , vitamen c and e .You want her to grow slowly puppy food makes them grow way to fast .You also want to limp her on slpippery surfaces and from jumping .If you can avoid stress on her joints while she is growing you will be better off for it.Any questions just ask . Good luck ~ Patty

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 03, 2001.

Patty's advise is great. Another possibility that may be a bit more convenient for you if you are stressed for time is to use organic baby food instead of boiling chicken and rice. When puppies are really down, the soft textured rice and chicken baby food is the equivalent of food that is already chewed, and is a bit easier for them to get down. You may have to spoon feed her if she is really low. Go slow and love her lots. That's what she needs right now.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 03, 2001.

Oh, you may want to put a heat pad on low under a portion of the crate. That way she can get on it if she wants or off it if it is too hot. I would also give the vet h@!$ for not seeing her for 2 days. With a puppy this age, any illness is considered an emergency and the vet should have a decent way to deal with emergencies daily.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 03, 2001.

Hey Patty, The better dog food companies now understand about the protien in puppy foods and are making a puppy food especially for large breeds. Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet and Natural Choice are the ones I know of.

Taylor, I hope your puppy gets better. Definitely cancel that check and don't you dare feel guilty about it. If you didn't pay by check, it's worth the three hours to get a refund since I'm sure the puppy didn't come cheap. Threats of police and lawyers work great.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), November 03, 2001.

Dee , I still find that the "good" dog food companies have to much fat and protein .I have been raising dogs for over 12 years {Golden Retreivers} Very seldom do I keep a pup on puppy food for more than the first 3 months .In doing research there is a direct link to puppies growing to fast and there hips not forming properly .I go for slow and steady growth rate .We have done very well with this approach .Everyone will have to choose for themselfs what is best .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 04, 2001.

Give some vitamin A and C (quite a bit of C) some other good lung suppliments are; colloidal silver, bioflavonoids, grapeseed extract Bvitamin complex, some Vitamin E and zinc.

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 04, 2001.

don't know if your pup is still alive or not but I do hope you have learned your lesson about buying a dog. So sad. Also, hope you have pick a new Vet. I have been a Vet Tech all my working life and I can't imagine a Vet not seeing a sick pup RIGHT NOW unless you were casual about telling them about the symtoms. You can e mail or call or write The American Kennel Club for a list of approved breeders in good standing in your area. These will be people who have a good reputation and don't forget to get ahold of the parent organization of the breed you are looking for i.e. The Great Pyr Club of America etc. Also your state should have a club devoted to the breed. Look them up and get a list of breeders in good standing. Too late smart, I know. Hope all is well with the pup. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), November 04, 2001.

I hope that you also contact Animal Control, a good rescue group, or anyone else you can to report this person to....

We have some wonderful breeders in American and their reputation should not be tarnished by the likes of the one you came across.

They need to be reported and run out of business. For the life of the little ones. And the especially the Mom who is probably immensely ill and being forced to have litters.

-- B. Carol (katnip364@aol.com), November 04, 2001.

Taylor , please update us on the pup.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 04, 2001.

Sounds like you have bonded with this pup, stay by her and talk to her this will help her keep fighting. Good luck!

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), November 04, 2001.

Thanks so very much to everyone who gave advice, counsel, and prayers for our little puppy, Journey. She has turned the corner, after the vet gave her oxygen and antibiotics all weekend, and I brought her home tonight! For the first time in days, her eyes were bright and her tail actually wagged!! I cannot thank everyone enough, you have given so much by your answers. I am going to feed her the rice and chicken, she now has an appetite and her fever is down. She will be on antibiotics for the next two weeks, but her breathing is much better and she is wanting to play and follow me around. It was my fault that the vet didn't see her right away, as I didn't realize she was so ill; just thought that she was depressed at leaving her littermates and mom behind, and she just looked sad. Now I realize that GP dogs do not "carry on" when sick, just get quiet and so I will be more vigilant. If I had insisted on taking her in earlier, the vet would have seen her whenever I asked; I only talked to the receptionist and didn't make it clear about my concerns. He really does a wonderful job, and cares about our animals as if they were his. I have learned several lessons from this. Did track down a cell phone number for the woman who sold her, and spoke to a man at the place who would give her the message (OK, sure, and the puppy didn't have a cold, either). Am considering small claims court for the cost of vet care, but haven't decided for sure. Again, thanks so much, for all the caring, prompt replies. It means so much to think that people I'll never see in person care about our little dog and I am just very gratified by your responses. I know that your thoughts and prayers helped her!

-- Taylor, Indiana (bptaylor@ccrtc.com), November 05, 2001.

Keep good track of ALL your expenses including travel , lost wages ect .Go to small claims this is the only way to hurt a person like this.Write down everything that happened from the time you got to the breeders til now .If the vet will have him write a notorized statement to when he believes the sickness started . Sad thing is most of the other pups will probally die .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 05, 2001.

So glad to 'hear' she is better.....

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), November 06, 2001.