Born little over 3 weeks ago, with under developed front legs but otherwise healthy. Left to his own facilities he would perish, as he would not be quick enough to maneuver around his siblings and find his mother. Most pups would never have a chance. Instead of the story ending there and his life never given a chance, Mark and I got a call. We never hesitated to say we would give him a chance. His
original parents fought for him, to find a way, and they found us. From the start, he had a will and what we felt like the soul to live. He progressed as any normal puppy but lacking limbs. Mark and I researched everything we could find in caring for a missing limbs canine within hours of birth of life. All babies need their mothers’, animal or human, it is what spurs them on to live. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says to themselves, I wish a missing limb 6-hour old puppy would come this way, that would be cool. But Nubby was here and he needed help. We initially had no expectations we could get him through as a neo-natal disabled baby. Then day 3 came and went, day 7, day 10, day 16 and Nubby thrived. Our pack filled in the dog love and dog care, the nudging, the licking, the warmth. Together at Hillcrest Manor a true miracle in our eyes was taking place. His eyes opened, his ears developed, he found his sounds, smells and voice. His teeth were developing. Nubby did not know he was disabled, Nubby did not realize he was different. We knew about the common occurrence of feeding newborns and how often aspiration pneumonia occurred in bottle feed pups, we watched diligently. He was fed at an incline to help reduce this occurrence. But unlike other pups his age, he should be finding his legs. Learning to lift his head, neck and chest, of course this was not going to happening for Nubby. Mark developed his first test chest slide ramp, he was quick to figure out he could push forward. It was on a Friday afternoon we noticed something was wrong, he was sneezing, he was not pooping, he was not hungry, he blew milk bubbles out his nose. We knew something was wrong. But he woke up Saturday and ate, but was sleeping more, eating less. I watched. Something inside me screaming no, no, no something is wrong. On Monday, 30th I had him to the vet, with x-rays and exams it was certain Nubby had aspirated pneumonia. He was going downhill. It can be quick for a puppy not 4 weeks of age and less than 3lbs. But, but, but... this is common. Do not panic. But something else is wrong, something else. A contrast x-ray revealed Nubby had an “esophageal abnormality”. He had a pocket form in his esophageal that was trapping his milk (liquid). This was contributing to his aspiration. A factor was in play as his under developed front limbs were in the way for a clear x ray picture. Finding out how big or how life threating the pocket was, or even what the pocket could be could not be told. I cannot say enough for FM1488 Animal Hospital (our normal vet) the Doctors and staff. They quickly said, you need to take the next step, we need to get you to critical care. They kicked it in high gear, referrals, paperwork, doctor’s notes, phone calls to make the best choice. Get him to the best care. Mark and I pulled into NHVS at 7pm on Monday night. They were waiting on us. Within minutes, before we even signed in, Nubby was rushed into critical care. He was already lethargic. Heavy IV antibiotics were pushed, oxygen chamber and Nubby was pinking back up and struggling to breath. He was not giving up. He was fighting and as long as he has a chance at quality of life, we will fight to give him that chance. The unknown is whether Nubby has a true esophageal abnormality or has Nubby not had a chance to develop fully yet. Puppies continue to develop just like human children once they are born and progress in age and growth. He is doing well, eating again and not urping or blowing bubbles out his nose. He has found his voice again and is complaining. Unless Nubby can develop to 6-7 weeks old the answers will remain unknown. At 6-7 weeks, he can be sedated and his limbs moved out of the way for a clear x-ray picture of his esophagus. Will the abnormality still be there? We have no idea. If it is, then a sonogram and endoscope can be done to verify what it is, perhaps a birth defect or maybe something else that is simple to fix. The answer how to treat it and whether he can have quality of life. If it is not and it is gone or no longer present, then Nubby will become another normal puppy dog (except a tab bit more special). We will give him that chance. His care has been costly. His future x-ray, sonogram and endoscope will be costly. But he did not give up, he did not go quietly into the night and neither will Mark and I. Nubby will get that chance and all of you that are donating to his plight are giving us the means to see it through, he is your puppy as well as ours. Together he is getting the chance. Many dogs, many, many, many dogs have come through Hillcrest Manor. We have seen some in deplorable shape, some in great shape, some needing just a wee bit TLC, some needing just to find a new loving home. We have lost a far share on this journey and they lay at peace still here at Hillcrest Manor. What is his future? Who can tell? One day at a time. Will he stay and join our 4 girls as a one of our pack? Will he move on to fulfill someone’s life? Time will tell, but right now, one glorious miracle day at a time. I have to think he landed at Hillcrest Manor, in this craziness over here, for a reason, he is going to make it. We believe. We cannot THANK YALL enough, literally cannot put in words the support of community. The prayers, well wishes, love, the donations.
