Sophie's Story
Sophie
“Sophie, a brown and white Jack Russel has been my constant companion and wonderful friend since Mandy, my daughter, gave her to me knowing I really missed having a dog. Sophie was easy to train and she always loved people, yet she knew that she was mine.
Two years ago Sophie had puppies, which we had planned. Sadly she had problems and ended up at Grove Lodge, where she had to have a section. However, we did have these lovely puppies. This time, the puppies were a big mistake. I prayed that she would not end up with surgery, but it was not to be. Having produced one puppy at home, at 6.20am, which was fine, at 10.30am we were on the way to Grove Lodge. Abby was there to meet us and she started the injections to get Sophie to contract. All day the very optimistic Abby, then Donna, did all that was possible to save her and the puppies. Sophie hates the clinic when she has to have her nails trimmed there, but she was so good and patient. The vets picked her up and carried her off to have various things done. She had xrays and more injections, but she never became nasty.
Mandy and I were convinced that we were going to end up with surgery and Sophie was getting exhausted. By this time she still had one unborn puppy. After 5pm there was one final injection and very soon out it came. I was so relieved and delighted. Sophie was tired but fine with lovely puppies. They are all different, but the great thing for me was that I still had Sophie. I have to thank Abby and Donna for all that they did to save her and the puppies. They also had me to cope with and I was probably the worst! Thank you everyone” - Sophie's owner
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Sophie, it must be said, does not think much of vets or vet clinics. A feeling not uncommon I'm afraid. So it was with some concern that I heard Sophie had had one pup at 6.30am in the morning, but not had another since. She was going to need some help, but would she want it? There is not one vicious bone in her body, but I worried that she would not be able to continue her whelping with us.
Sophie had needed a caesarian to produce her previous litter, which increased her likelihood to require a second one, an eventualitiy that worried her owner and I hoped to avoid.
We radiographed Sophie to establish how many puppies to expect and immediately saw a problem. In addition to the one pup already born and doing well, we spotted three more spines, but only two normal skulls. If this was a dead or abnormal pup, it could cause problems.
Sophie, with incredible bravery recieved the first of what would be multiple treatments to provide sufficient calcium and oxytocin to contract her uterus. She settled down with her owner for what would be a very long day. Eventually she produced two puppies, both needing assisstance: one had umbilical tissue around its neck and the other required oxygen for a while. All had gone so well we decided to send Sophie home for a rest to see if she would produce the last pup herself. She seemed happy enough, but a couple of hours later she showed no signs of progressing, so back she came.
Again, without a woof of argument, she allowed us to give her another round of injections and just when a caesarian loomed, she produced the final, unfortunately, unviable pup.
We were all very happy that Sophie had come through her long day without surgery and with three healthy puppies.
The puppies are now all very well and very round! A testament to Sophie's mothering skills.
Unfortunately, I suspect Sophie still thinks very little of vets or vet clinics! - Abby Waite BVSc, MRCVS