Coppersheen D-litter: off to their new homes...

[Susan Stone]

June 26 2008
After an eventful and busy 9 weeks Erin's puppies are now leaving day by day... sad to see them go but also pleased they are going out into the world ready for new adventures. The new owners probably don't quite realize what they are in for:-)) but they were warned!!!


Erin is back to her normal wild self, fully recovered from her illness.

News Sunday, May 18th
I am happy to say that today things are looking better! Not the full recovery as yet but a definite improvement, thank goodness. Friday night had been restless as Erin did not get her dose of antibiotics due to vomiting her food, with her temperature rising again steadily during the night. The morning visit to the vet showed once again a hardened and swollen mammary gland which made an incision necessary. During the day we we noticed a marked improvement and this sunday morning although not yet perfect there are signs of healing being underway.
From now on antibiotics only by injection - this seems to have a much better effect but means daily trips to the vet!
Thank you all for your kind words and Monique, your kind offer to come and help!
Happily the pups are all thriving well and looking good. I can only be thankful the pups are of an age where they are not permanently reliant on mother Erin..

update today May 16th:
A bad night. At 02.00 I awoke to find Erin salivating, trembling, groaning and with a temperature of 39.5 despite being on antibiotics. Also another swelling had appeared... Fearing the worst I called the vet and was able to go immediately (thank god they do 24 hour emergency duty). A thorough check showed this was indeed the mastitis infection that was not responding to treatment. Immediate injections with a different type of antibiotic, pain killers, something to bring down the temperature, and Contralac to reduce the milk production.
Back home and a vigilant close watch of Erin - by 04.30 her panting ceased and she drifted off into a deep sleep. This morning she is markedly improved and was able to do her usual 'fight the vet' act... made me feel quite relieved for a change! Hoping & praying the treatment will carry on to take effect!!!
Pups are now being weaned early but will still suck the surplus milk off mum.

May 15th
To start with, let me say the pups are doing fine, they are 3 weeks old today.
The problem I am experiencing concerns the pup's dam Erin, who two days ago jumped over one of our dog gates that separate her and the pups from the rest of the dogs at night-time. The pups have an extra low fenced enclosure within that room so Erin is not forced to remain with them at all times.
The dog-gate is 70cm high and normally I had an extra higher fence in front to prevent her from jumping. On this one occasion this had been moved... with the following consequence: At 6 am I heard Erin jump over the gate and found her quivering and cringing with pain. At 8am I took her to the vet, who thought she had hurt her left hind leg and also took her temperature as a routine proceeding. This was up to 39.9C! The vet checked Erin's teats for mastitis but found all ok. The temperature made us uneasy a blood test was done. The results showed a rise in Leucocytes. By the next morning (yesterday) Erin had a definite hard swelling in her left hind teat so off to the vet again who confirmed mastitis. Treatment with antibiotcs. This morning: a nasty abscess had formed and just after I had called the vet it burst, leaving a horrid weeping deep red hole. Off to the vet as an emergency and Erin has now a 'drainage' (sorry, I don't know if this is the correct word) to clear the abscess. Pups are still feeding from Erin and hopefully can continue to do so. I am hoping that we have passed the zenith now and that healing is underway.
During this time Erin has never been off her food and is still taking good care of her puppies.

I know Erin is a 'jumper' so blame myself for removing that extra fencing...

Coppersheen D-litter has been born
On April 24th Erin (Northern Light vh Adelaarsvaren) gave birth to ten puppies by Copper's Mean Mr Mustard.
Sadly two girls did not make it over the first critical days, but the remaining 5 dogs and 3 bitches are doing great. The are sucking strongly and gaining weight nicely. Seems mum has loads of milk... Erin is being a very caring mother.
Grandparents (hubby and myself) have got over the lack of sleep but are still keeping a very close watchful eye over the family.

[Henk ten Klooster]

The worst is missing nine weeks of experiences not to be beaten by television, movie or whatever. The best is your memories.

[Catherine Carter]

Best of luck to the new owners and their new little red devils! For me though, the departure of the puppies is always a very tough day ....

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Oh what a lovely photo Susan!

And of course it is a little sad to let them go, but also as you say a normal happening.

[Nicole Wilson]

All the best of luck to all your puppies and for their new owners. It must be very quiet around the house. You deserve a holiday now :-)

[Susan Stone]

Must be something wrong with me... I don't feel terribly sad when they go - after all, I was trying to get them ready for life 'outside' and there are limitations as to how much I can offer them! By 9 weeks they need more mental stimuli than I can provide. I know the new owners will do their best and will be in touch in case of problems. So far evereyone is enthralled by their puppy - although some have difficulty when the 'biting mode' gets turned on by mistake...
And we still have 'our' Dillon around the house so not complete quiet yet!
Henk is quite right: no movie or tv can offer what puppies do: hilarity, action, heartbreak, joy, sadness, frustration, amusement, astonishment... you name it, you get it !