Not Good News

February 8, 2010

I am grateful that I kept baby Holmes,  as it turns out that he and Watson are the last of Phoebe’s children.   Phoebe has been picking at her food the past couple of days — which I chalked up to pregnancy.  She hasn’t seemed very perky — which I chalked up to pregnancy.  Last night she refused a slice of banana — whoa!  I can’t imagine pregnancy causing that.  This morning she did not look well.  Her eyes were strange, out of focus, and with some discharge.  I called the vet and he fit me in at 2:30.  X-rays and ultrasound later — there are no puppies, there was a firm mass in one horn of the uterus.  Phoebe was promptly taken to surgery and spayed; she had pyometra.  The large firm mass was an encased glob of non-resorbable sutures from a prior C-section.  Her white blood count was very high and the toxicity in her body was creating pressure behind her eyes.  Poor Phebes.  I feel so badly.

She is fine, well hydrated, on pain meds, spending the night at my vet’s office.  I’ll fetch her in the morning.  She’ll be staying downstairs — I just can’t carry another dog up and down stairs.

We’re so sad though 🙁


26 Comments

  1. Taryn says:

    Oh, no! Poor Phoebe! I am so sorry! I hope she has a quick recovery.

  2. Sarah says:

    Oh. My. Dog. I’m so far behind on reading blogs, and just “popped in” to see what was happening. Poor Phoebe. I’m *so* glad you were able to notice something was wrong, or this story could have had an ending so much worse than no more puppies… 🙁

  3. Alden says:

    Oh no! Oh no! Poor Phoebe, but thank God she’ll be OK! Penni, I’m SO sorry. I know how much you wanted another Chase/Phoebe litter. Watson will make Phoebe and Chase proud by being the BEST tracking dog he can be. I promise.

    Many, many hugs to you from ALL of us.

  4. Jeri says:

    Oh Penni (and Carolyn and Mandy)…I’m so sorry. Thankful that you caught the pyo, hopefully she bounces back quickly!

  5. Dawn says:

    Oh Poor Pheobe. I am so glad you caught it, but very sad about no pups.

  6. C-Myste says:

    We are sad, but at least Phoebe is ok. I am still anxious to meet Holmes in less than two weeks.

  7. Laura says:

    Penni, I’m so sorry, but glad that your quick thinking saved Phoebe.

  8. How terrifying. As someone who has lost bitches to spay complications and pyo, there is nothing that worries me more. I am so thankful she made it through and look forward to better news tomorrow.

  9. So sorry to hear this — not what we were expecting at all. At least she’s recovering now.

  10. Red Dog Mom says:

    This is such sad news as I know you were looking forward to more pups from Phoebe. Thank goodness you noticed something wasn’t right and got her to the vet in time.

  11. Dawn Small says:

    So sorry to hear about poor Phoebe. Thank goodness you caught it in time and she will be okay.

  12. Holly says:

    I am so sorry Penni. Thank goodness you caught it quickly! I was hoping for a third litter from Sabrina and she came down with Pyo this summer instead and is now spayed – before I could finish her Championship.

  13. Amy says:

    So sorry to hear the news but so very HAPPY to hear that Phoebe is going to be ok. Good job catching the pyo though, those can be bloody hard to catch and very dangerous!

  14. Holly says:

    What I thought was interesting is Sabrina is Phoebe’s niece. I know of a breeder who lived my direction and had bitches (from a different line) and 3 of the related bitches all came down with Pyo. I think I am going to make sure Emma, Sabrina’s daughter, is spayed by age 6 …

  15. Claire says:

    I am very sorry, but am happy that you were able to catch this in time. Best wishes for Phoebe’s recovery.

  16. Sharrie Brockhaus says:

    Like the others, sad to hear about the surgery, but happy to hear that she is recovering. When it rains, it pours; don’t you think?

  17. Julie says:

    Oh my gods. How incredibly lucky you realized something was wrong. I am so sorry for all of Phoebe’s family.

  18. mandy says:

    Another of those days where breeding just sucks…thank goodness Phreebie is going to be ok, it’s just somewhat of a crushing disappointment. Funny, our only other pyo was our other Tri bitch Quizzy (Inca’s mom). I guess I can’t neuter her son Wally yet, lol.

  19. myeye says:

    Thank you all for your kind comments. I’m waiting for the vet to call so I can go rescue Phoebe. I think she’ll be glad to be home. I truly am disappointed that we won’t have some more Chase/Phoebe babies . . . that elusive little girl that looks like Holmes. On the other hand, while I’m sure I’ll have to leave my first born son with the vet as security for payment,Phoebe will be alright. There will be other Chase puppies, and some day — before too much longer, my house will be back to normal (a chaotic normal, but normal for me).

    I wish I could pinpoint the moment when I knew there was a major problem with Phebes so I could pass along the symptoms. I think refusing the banana — a favorite food — and the funny eyes are what sent me running to the vet. Phebe’s temperature was not greatly elevated; her ears did not feel warm (something I always check when I pet my dogs). I was just fortunate that something triggered the decision to head for the vet’s office.

    Poor ole3′ Phebes — and now she has a bare tummy for the incoming storm — ANOTHER STORM? — shoot!

  20. I am very sorry this had to happen, but am happy that you were able to catch this in time. Best wishes for Phoebe’s recovery. Hugs!

  21. Lani says:

    So sorry to hear about Phoebe. Poor girl. Well caught, though, Penni. I’m glad to hear she’s on the mend.

  22. Trenton says:

    Sending many puppy kisses and hugs from Malibu and Captain. At least she is pulling through. We will be sure to make Alden keep Watson up on everything and of course tracking.

  23. Traci says:

    I can’t put into words how grateful I am that Phoebe will be ok… she’s a very special ‘kid’ to me… 🙂 Feel better soon, Feebs!! 🙂

  24. Taija says:

    Poor Phoebe, I am so sorry. Hopefully she will recover soon.

  25. Kristine says:

    I realized I can see your blog from my work computer–so I was catching up on weeks of missed posts when I saw this one. So glad Phoebe is OK–such a scary situation! Good thoughts to all of you!

  26. Kathy says:

    Whew…thank goodness you responded when you did.

    I know that you’re disappointed about the puppies, but in the grand scheme, Phoebe’s life is the greatest gift. She’s done her fair share. Another litter just wasn’t meant to be. I am so glad she’s recovering and you got to her in time!

    Hugs to atll!