What a crazy past few months it has been for you!

Whatever happens, these puppies could not have survived without your diligence and care! Keep continuing to do what you're doing and they should all continue to gain weight! Im no vet or expert but I sure love puppies!

You're really giving these guys a second chance at life. That good karma will come back your way when you least expect it

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- Jackie, Boo Rue , Ash & Ember

See more of my flock on Instagram!

another update:

This image shows the growth from Monday to today and I think it's pretty amazing
https://i.imgur.com/3ySuRxF.jpg

And here are the notes from today that contains their weight in grams throughout the day
7/22
9:04 am
BC: 128
LC: 96
Choc: 132

4:52 pm
BC: 144
LC: 106
Choc: 148

9:20 am fed 3cc each
10:30 am fed 3cc each
11:40 am fed 3cc each
12:54 pm fed BC/Choc 3cc LC 1.5cc
1:40 pm subq fluids 3cc each
2:12 pm fed BC/Choc 3cc LC 2cc
3:30 pm fed BC/Choc 3cc LC 1.5cc
4:46 pm fed 3cc each

__________________
Looking for art of your avian friend? Click here!
Lincoln adopt date: 11/21/2016
Apollo hatch date: 10/13/2018

I don’t have any advice. I just want to echo the sentiments above: you are an angel and these puppies are only alive because of you. No matter their long-term outcome, they will know love and affection and you are to thank for that.

I’m also sending you a virtual hug because it sounds like you need one. If you need more-it’s reusable


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Another update:
So the suckle reflex on the puppies has been increasing and they've been trying to nurse more frequently so as of last night Kathy didnt tube feed them as much to keep that going in Hope's Emma would start producing. Now we have discovered she must be producing a little because while the 2 cream pups dropped in weight the chocolate puppy gained 12 grams of weight. So my theory is shes producing some and the chocolate pup is hogging it all because hes by far the strongest. I still personally believe it would be best for me to take them home as even if Emma does start producing enough milk for all 3, I worry it would negatively impact her since shes been having seemingly so many calcium complications. I'm going to talk to Kathy about this later today and see what she thinks.

Also thank you all so much for all the kind words it really means the world to me and as I previously stated the past few months havent been easy (i would semi-seriously joke about how i was surprised I hadnt been struck by lightening yet and I was doubting myself as a person a lot) so it's really nice to feel like I'm doing something genuinely good and not have it linked to something selfish. I genuinely want to help these puppies, I know I'm getting paid for it but also I would be perfectly happy not getting paid if it gave them a chance. I never wanna see anything or anyone suffer if I can help it.

__________________
Looking for art of your avian friend? Click here!
Lincoln adopt date: 11/21/2016
Apollo hatch date: 10/13/2018

Update: Yesterday I had a short day with them as I had one of my treatments scheduled. it was nice to be able to work with them so more but definitely distressing that it wasnt for long. I have definitely come to view these puppies as 'my' babies, oops.

Anyways, all puppies appear appear to be actively suckling now, however while the chocolate continues to gain weight without any intervention on my part the creams will loose. So clearly whatever milk the mom IS producing is being almost exclusively hogged by the biggest and strongest pup so we continue to tube feed the creams. Now due to my treatment I cant work with them today and it breaks my heart I just want to make sure they're all doing good and improving especially since the mom has started treating the little cream one how she did the littlest chocolate before the incident... trying to push to have the little cream separated but it's a difficult decision since theres so many factors.

edit: this post was written right after I woke up. I have been informed it is still Friday and not actually early saturday morning. another reason why I probably shouldnt be working with the puppies right now.

__________________
Looking for art of your avian friend? Click here!
Lincoln adopt date: 11/21/2016
Apollo hatch date: 10/13/2018

Been a bit since the last update and we've got some big news! LC and Choc both shot up in weight. Chocolate is over 700 now and LC is in the 400s. They're both completely self sufficient and require little to no human intervention, they're completely suckling on their own. Theyve also opened their eyes and are making attempts at walking. BC however is still struggling and requires hourly 6cc feedings of formula. He seems to be strong and active and will seek out mother to nurse but he just.. isnt nursing properly from what we can tell. Hes also learning how to walk (hes the best so far) but his eyes are still sealed shut.

__________________
Looking for art of your avian friend? Click here!
Lincoln adopt date: 11/21/2016
Apollo hatch date: 10/13/2018

omg!!!!! so tiny and sweet!!! Good work!

So tiny! Yes great job!!

__________________
"When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear. "Thomas Sowell

Probably the final update on the pups. Today they are 8 weeks old. LC and Choc have gone home with their families and BC will be on Monday. It's been a rough journey but all the puppies are thriving at this point and I couldnt be happier. Once LC and Choc gained their suckle reflex and we got the mother producing milk they were able to completely come off of tube feeding and sustain themselves off mom. However BC never seemed to get the hang of suckling, despite his best efforts, and required tube feeding for 5 weeks. He didnt mind though he was always very excited for the tube and would suck it down.

At 5 weeks we began introducing non-milk / formula foods starting with goat yogurt. They all took to it immediately, especially little BC. However we quickly ran into the issue of anything BC consumed without a tube some of it would come back up his nose and it would lead to congestion. This worried us because we wanted him on solid as soon as possible because formula wasnt going to he able to sustain him for much longer. We continued providing a mix of goat yogurt, puppy puree, and pumpkin to all three of them and BC was supplemented with formula so we could give him a special kind of raw honey that's good for dogs and medication for the congestion. We talked to the vet and the vet did a series of xrays and we couldn't find anything wrong and chalked it up to just a weak swallow. We continued like this for about a week and over time he would sneeze up less and less until he just wasnt getting congest anymore and we stopped giving him formula around 6 weeks and a half weeks old.

We also sent the mother home to her family around 5 weeks old as she was getting really rough with the puppies in their play and was growling at them when they came near. Since LC and Choc will still nursing at this time we tried to give her supervised visited but she learned how to break into the puppy area pretty fast and in the middle of the night and eventually the risk was too much and the puppies were in a place where they could sustain themselves without mom, so we sent her home with some supplements to help dry up what little milk she had left.

By 7 weeks all Choc weighed over 2000grams, LC wasnt far behind and BC is nearing 800 grams (which is amazing considering we were struggling to get him above 150 for like 2 weeks) all puppies were reliably gaining weight every day and had a very healthy appetite. 8 weeks is when puppies normally go home and we were waffling for a bit because they're not completely on solids yet. LC and Choc are eating a mix of Steeve's freeze dried raw food soaked into a mush and soaked kibble. BC is still on just the Steeve's as we dont feel comfortable upgrading him to kibble yet. The reason for this is they still dont have their teeth fully grown in (and BC is so small and with the weak swallow we are worried he would choke) but despite this we've decided to send them home as there isnt much left we can do for them. Choc went home with a lovely family with 2 young kids that adored him and were super sweet. We arent worried about Choc. LC went home with the guardian for the father of the litter's daughter. Shes well aware of his... penis issues (the mother nibbled off the sheath which could lead to issues but we arent too concerned) and is ready to handle anything that may arise financially. BC got the best home though. He went with a friend of my mother's. He is a nurse, has experience as a vet tech, and his partner is almost always home taking care of their adoptive child who has a feeding tube. I havent met this family myself yet but my boss says she adores them and their kids and doesnt think BC could have found a better home. They also feed their already existing dogs a raw diet that they put together themselves. So we know BC will be getting only the best of care. All families are well aware of their food situation and have been given instructions on how to go about feeding times and of course we will be a call away at all times.

I'm super sad to see these puppies go, especially BC as I've grown really close with them its always been the best part of my day when I get to go in and give them a big cuddle. I'm hopeful that at least with BC I will be able to see him grow (and maybe I can wiggle my way into being able to visit him / take care of him sometimes) but I am so happy we've gotten from being unsure of theyll make it to knowing theyll continue to thrive.

Here is a gallery of their growth from day 4 to 7 weeks old.
http://imgur.com/gallery/bYj8yKp

I might throw together all the little videos I've taken of them too and post that. Thank you all for following the journey with these babies ♡

edit: A couple photos didnt post for some reason so here they are:
http://imgur.com/a/TrjIqMN

__________________
Looking for art of your avian friend? Click here!
Lincoln adopt date: 11/21/2016
Apollo hatch date: 10/13/2018

What a wonderful conclusion! I love this story! Proud puppy mama, you've done an amazing job with them.