The Szari & Budha Babies were not due to be born until March 7, 2010. However Mom and babies had a different plan. They arrived 9 days early on Feb 26, 2010. It was both a nightmare and a joy.
I was in panic mood, knowing the survival rate prior to day 58 and here she is in labor on day 54! I called our vet and got their emergency contact. I couldn't get the folks at the ER to believe me that she was ONLY on day 54! They told me I was wrong and everything sounds normal to them, call them if she is in distress. But otherwise they will not call a Vet in. Her first born came at 12:58 am Friday morning. Almost hairless, as the hair and lungs are the last to develop. He had very little hair on his body, no hair on his head, face, legs and 3/4 of his tail. Over the next 12 hours she had a total of 7 puppies. 4 boys and 3 girls. However we lost 4 of them. Their lungs and their bodies were just not developed enough to survive in this world. The first death occurred just 20 minutes after birth. Believe me I worked that whole 20 minutes to get her going again. I was devastated and heartbroken. Szari actually gave birth to her last puppy at the vets office at 12:45 Friday afternoon. While we were at the vet's office 2 other puppies lost their battle. The vet tried CPR and breathing into their mouths to no avail. I also told them of my phone experience with their ER service. I doubt anything will change, but it felt good to get that off my chest. So we went home with 4 puppies. Later that night, just before the 24 hour mark, the first born went to join the others. He had been having a difficult time breathing since birth, but had made it the longest, so I had hopes he would make it. Since the wee hours of that Friday morning we have been on 24 hour puppy watch and care. All puppy births were in the 8 oz range. So IF they had waited for their actual due date, they would have been in the 13 to 15 oz range. An 8 oz Vizsla newborn is not uncommon, so even though they were a good weight, it doesn't change the fact that they were born way to early and they were not fully developed.
If it hadn't been for my good friend Sheryl Hohle and my daughter in law, Haley White, I don't think I would have made it through this. As a breeder and dog person, in those days I had be devastated, heartbroken, sleepless and totally emotionally drained. I went on as there were 3 puppies fighting to stay alive. Showing me they have a will to live. 2 of the 3 have been pretty touch and go, 1 picked up and the other was still back and forth. That one was Mr. Orange, now know as Marcus. He was the weakest with the biggest heart and will to live. He was the most "purple" at birth. Once the circulation started going through his body, it reached everywhere but his right rear paw. 4 days after birth that paw fell off. His leg is strong and he tries to use it, but there just isn't a paw there. When he turns 6 mos old, we will have a custom fit paw brace made for him, which will help him maintain his balance and be as normal as possible.
He is truely our "miracle" puppy!
I am VERY pleased to announce all 3 remaining puppies made it and are very healthy today. They all have gone on to their new families and I will see them often.
Mr. Red is now CH Wasatch Mtns Early Ride To Victory (Charlie) - Earned his Championship Nov 12, 2011
Mr. Orange is now Wasatch Mtn Triumph Against All Odds CGC (Marcus)
Miss. Purple is now CH Wasatch Mtns Oh What A Miracle (Selkie) - Earned her Championship May 4, 2012
Please click on the links below to see pictures throughout the weeks of our amazing Three Musketeers
