091809

The ongoing photo journal of Katoba Dobermans' 2009 "Miss & Mister" Litter ~ DPCA Futurity Nominated for 2010

Today is the puppies big check up. They will have full physical exams and lab work, and they will have microchips implanted. Braun does not seem to be feeling well
~ he vomited up a piece of chicken last night, which did not originally worry me, but ... this morning, he didn't want to partake in the early morning puppy-walkabout ...
and he only nibbled at a bit of his breakfast. He has lost some weight and of course, we all know how I worry about that. Since he will have the work up today, I hope
to be assured that he is fine ... my intuition says it is more than just an over-reaction from me ... after all, I know this puppy very well. They all had their toenails
dremeled & got baths yesterday ... I even washed their collars ... but after one good play session this morning, one would never know they were 'ready for a public
appearance' yesterday. :) Ha. Oh well, such is the life when you are a happy pup.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Today is surreal ~ I bask in the joy of my wonderful "Miss & Mister"puppies, yet ... I grieve that my beautiful first Katoba girl, Piper, SHOULD have been four years
old today. The Princess of the 'Roller' litter, Piper was taken by cancer at just 26 months of age. If she can look down from heaven, I hope she will see that her light
shines brightly through several of the puppy girls in this litter ~ two of them even look alot like she did. I miss you Piper ~ Blessed Birthday thoughts for you, from ~
Breeze, Violet, Erica, Soleil, Rhyme, Mischief, Braun, Louis, Zzzen ... Logan, Misty Tyler, Cahill ... and especially Echo, Mom & Dad.

Upon arrival, I shared my concern about Braun having a bit of an upset stomach last night, followed by a bout of diarrhea this morning. My over-reactive mind feared
there may be a blockage, but I can't begin to think of "what" could be in there. Nevertheless, I will NOT palpate for something like that myself. All of the puppies were given
their thorough exam, (head to tail, inside and out), lab work, weight checks. Braun had lost some weight loss - almost a pound and a half actually, in just a day + ... now I
was really concerned. Each of the pups were implanted with a microchip and didnt' seem to mind too much - but, don't get me wrong ... the drama queens let the entire
office know they now deserved a treat for their 'sufferage'. All were given health certification by Dr. Coe Lindner. That is ... except one puppy ... big beautiful Braun. Due
to the diarrhea that morning, he could not be cleared, of course ... but now Dr. Lindner wanted to evaluate what he felt to be a small suspicious mass in the abdomen.
With Dr. Lindner having been "crowned" by his associates as the "Palpation King", he was certain he felt "something", didn't think it was a blockage, considering a
possible intussusception I asked for an ultrasound and he gave a big nod. With so little body fat on a puppy, the images were not as absolute as he wanted. We followed
up with multi-view x-rays. The initial diagnosis was indeed an intussusception. Because of Braun's tender age, we opted for a barium study to be absolutely sure ...
BEFORE opening him up. Braun was given the barium, sent home with me, and then returned for another imagining series. Results via imaging tomorrow ...