The fifth puppy, the second boy, passed away late last night. I've heard from others that the mortality rate in pups can be high but I never thought I would experience it as much as I have the past couple of days. It's a horrible feeling of helplessness.
The photo was taken just before the down turn. In short, his temperature got very low and he stopped suckling. He then became septic (developed an infection) and the emergency vet indicated that once this occurs, the downward spiral typically begins. We thought it more humane to have him euthanized than to allow his little system to suffer any longer.
The cause? Sometimes this can remain unknown. He was the fifth puppy and it took him 3 1/2 hours after the fourth to arrive. We are told that in prolonged labor, the later puppies are sometimes compromised. Or this could have been an indication of something bigger such as kidney and/or liver issues that might not come up for weeks or months if he were to have made it through initially. Or it could have been just a fluke.
Whatever the cause, the pain of another loss still remains. It doesn't matter how old they are or how long you have them in your lives. They each touch your heart in very strong and different ways.
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