GRUMPY was born on St. Patrick's day, and his baby picture was one of a really grouchy looking little one, so we named him ALASCO'S GRUMPY LEPRECHAUN. You can see his first pictures under New Borns page.
He was very tiny compared to his two sisters, but with the Alaskan Klee Kai it is not surprising to have all sizes in the same litter. He was nursing as well as the others and all seemed to be just fine. Although in over 15 years of breeding these babes I have had only one cleft pallet, and have not heard of many others, as is my custom I checked each tiny mouth to see if there was a cleft and saw none.
On the third day our babies have their dew claws removed, and are given their first exam. There were no heart problems and no cleft pallets seen.
On about the 12th day I noticed that there was a very different tone to the sounds of the breathing on Grumpy -- so I began watching him while he was nursing. It is no easy task to get the nose exposed through all the mom's hair and to allow the puppy to stay hooked on -- but I was finally able to watch him carefully, and noticed that there was milk on his nose when he breathed while nursing. This is a sign of a Cleft, but I still could not see one.
He began having difficulty breathing, and was gurgling more than before, so on a Friday night I took him to the Emergency Room. Five hours later, x-rays and examinations later, and almost $300.00 later, they determined that he had inhaled some milk into the lungs and had the beginnings of pneumonia. They put him on Frosemide and Aminophylline to open up the bronchioles and to take away the liquids that they thought heard on his lungs. He was also put on Amoxycillan which is an antibiotic. They told me to feed him with a dropper and keep him on oxygen until Monday when I should take him to my own vet.
At 3 AM we were home, and put him in my home made incubator with oxygen and warmth -- tried feeding with the eye dropper, and he just bubbled more than ever. I felt that he was deteriorating rapidly, by 9 AM I was at my own Vet's pleading for help.
Soooo you wanna be a breeder??
My vet did not hear any liquid on the lungs and the x-rays did not show any problem with the lungs -- but the baby was still gurgling. Of course they looked immediately for a Cleft and did not find one. They put dye down his esophagus and the x-rays showed that there was no blockage. As a last resort they put a scope down his tiny throat to see if they could determine the problem --- and they found a hole in the soft pallet.
My Vet has 32 years experience and had never seen a cleft in the soft pallet without the hard pallet also being involved. We discussed the prognosis for this baby and nothing could be determined for certain. He weighed only about 12 ounces and the Vet had never performed a closure surgery for cleft in the soft pallet, but he was willing to try if I was willing to let him.
Several years before it was reported to me that an Alaskan Klee Kai Puppy was having trouble drinking, and after several exams they finally found a pin point hole in the soft pallet. The dog could drink from a rabbit water bottle which hangs above the head. They performed surgery on that puppy and later told me the puppy was living a normal life. I am sure that this report carried considerable weight in my decision with Grumpy.
Grumpy had already worked his way into my heart, and I felt that if he could survive the surgery and if he could have a chance at a good quality life that we should afford him of that chance. Of course, later he would have to be neutered as the Cleft Pallet is a Genetic disorder and we would not allow that to be passed on to any offspring. But first things first !
We were to take him home and tube feed him for a couple of days to get some strength into him, and then the Vet would do his thing. Tube feeding is actually easier than feeding with a dropper as you just get the hose in the right spot and push the milk through the hose and remove the hose --- all preparation and feeding takes about 15 minutes rather than a minimum of half an hour by the dropper. When you consider that you must feed every 2 to 4 hours around the clock, those few minutes become precious time to you.
Surgery was performed on April 10, 2003 ---- what a way to spend my birthday. I was so worried about the little one, and so hopeful that this would be successful. He came through the surgery just fine. He was extremely hungry as it had been hours since he was allowed to have anything. After the surgery they wanted me to continue tube feeding the 10 and 11th. Then on the 12th I was to try him on Mommy for a few minutes and see if there was bubbling. Then on the 13th I was to put him with mom three times, and the 14th he should be on mom full time.
Side note -- I had been giving almost all my time to Grumpy for over a week with the necessary feedings. In between feedings he would be kept warm by resting inside my t-shirt. (Boy are those little nails sharp!) He was demanding something to eat every 2 to 3 hours. Needless to say I was getting very little quality rest and some of my other responsibilities had to fall be the wayside. Thank goodness for a husband who loves these dogs as much as I do.
The first time with mom he did well --- NO BUBBLES -- and I was quite excited. However, the second time with mom he bubbled. So I did not put him on her again until the evening of the 13th and then he really bubbled badly. No more MOM until I talk to the Vet.
He still weighs less than a pound and is 3 1/2 weeks old. To keep him warm at night, and not allow him to get too warm, I loaded a large sock with uncooked rice, and I put it in the microwave for two minutes. The I mix up the rice so the heat is evenly distributed --- He loves this and snuggles right up to it. The heat will last about three hours, and after the rice cools everything stays room temperature.. This is better than a hot water bottle, which is actually cold after the water cools, and it is much safer than a hot pad, which can almost cook a baby even when on low.
Soooo --- you wanna be a breeder???
This story will continue as things progress. At this point in time Grumpy sleeps at night in a soft sided carrier beside my pillow so I can hear him well. During the day he is in my t-shirt, or in the carrier beside my computer -- which means none of the other youngsters are allowed in this room.
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4-14-03 He slept for about 5 hours last night without asking for a refill. Also this morning after I fed him he was more stable than he has been. He sneezed and did not roll over and over as he usually does. For the last several days, I have had the feeling that he might be blind, or at least not have good vision. I am still pretty sure that there is a vision problem.
This morning is the first time that he has indicated he could hear very well. He was walking away from me, and I smacked my lips and called him and you could tell he could hear me as his whole body started to shake and his tail was doing its best to wag --- he actually turned around and "ran" towards me, and then ran right into my bare foot (which immediately received a washing as he really knows what his tongue is for.).
I have called the vet and left a message for him to call me back as I really need some consultation on the drinking problem and the eyes. I will not be able to tube feed him forever, as it is getting more and more difficult to get him to swallow and get the tube in the right spot. You need that tube to end in the stomach and not in the lungs.
Soooo do you think you wanna be a breeder??
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4-14-03 we were able to bring him home from the Vet. The scope showed that all of the repair stitches are no longer there, and the hole is still there. So no more mom's milk as it would just bubble out the nose. We tried him on baby food, and let him lap it ---- Grumpy let us know in no uncertain terms that he was definitely not getting enough calories out of the tube feeding and he is really really hungry. He can eat the soft thick food without it coming back through the nose --- so the plan is to feed him every 4 hours around the clock whether he says he is hungry or not ---- and give him canned baby meats and meats with veggies --- and also continue tube feeding. He sees the vet again in 10 days. At present the plan is to continue with this routine until he is at least 6 weeks old, and then do the surgery again. After the surgery there will be no more tube feeding. Maybe then I can get a full night's sleep>>
The vet tested the eyes as much as he could, and we determined Grumpy can see light and dark -- and today he definitely heard my call and turned around and raced towards me as fast as his little legs will go. Really grabs your heart strings.
soooo do you think you wanna be a breeder?? Of course, a breeder does not have to go through all of these things -- but my opinion is you brought this baby into the world, and you have to give it every chance you can.
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4-15-03 Yesterday the Vet gave us instructions to start letting Grumpy lick at baby food and see if that would go down without bubbling from the nose. OH MY how happy he is to be able to eat something that he can actually taste. I wish I could hold his spoon and the camera at the same time to show you how well he does --- when he first started tasting the baby food he was so excited he buried his entire nose into it and his hind end and rear legs elevated from the floor. Today he is more calm about eating the food. Here is a picture of him today, at 4 weeks of age, I am sure you can see the improvement within the last few days. The first picture was taken at three weeks of age and is GRUMPY'S GLARE. The second pictures is taken at four weeks and you can see that he is really feeling better and more alert. This picture shows his excitement at being allowed with his sister for the first time in over a week. Notice the difference that one week can make in a young puppy.
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4-19-03 We have some cautious good news. Grumpy is doing very well. I tube fed him as stated before, and on the 15th I started giving him little bits of baby meats in a spoon -- he did that pretty well as long as he did not eat too fast. Then the next day, per the Vets instructions, I gave him baby veggies with meat ---- he does not care for the veggies at all. So the 18th I went back to the meat, but did not think he was getting enough bulk since he was not having good bowel movements ---- so I mixed some baby cereal in with his meats and added milk to make it palatable --- he seemed to enjoy that. This morning I was pretty tired after having to play games with him at 3 AM as he would not go to sleep and just wanted to play and play. Being tired I just put his food mixture in a small dish and set it on the floor. He dove in with all of his being --- and started to choke before I could pull him back. So I put his food in a larger dish, and separated it into different areas --- put him down by the dish and I am most happy to say this is the solution. Twice today I have been able to just put the dish of food down and he is able to eat all by himself. He eats just a little bit, and then runs around, then back to the plate for a bit more. This is wonderful as it allows the food to really get to the tummy before he stacks more on top of it.
The only place I can put him down without watching him all the time, is in the bathroom as there is no place for him to get lost. Today I took the bath mat and using a pair of shoes under the mat I made a bed for him that would have short "walls" on three sides. He has found his favorite spot --- after he eats he goes to this bed and moves as close as he can to one of the walls -- and in a sitting position he props his head on the "wall" --- and he just slept and slept and slept. I think that this position keeps the cleft in the soft pallet in such a position that he can breathe better. I hear no wheezing when he sleeps in this position.
Right now I think that I can keep him alive until after he is 6 weeks old when he will have surgery again.
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4-20-03 HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN SHARING MY LIFE -- WITH LOVE FROM GRUMPY.
It's successes like this that make it worthwhile to be a breeder. We just pray for continued success with this little creature who has had such a poor start in life.
Sooo do you think you wanna be a breeder?
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4-21-03 He is 5 weeks old now. I had a towel hanging over the edge of the bathtub as a backdrop for Grumpy's bed -- so it would not be so chilly. This morning we found him in the bathtub. He had climbed up the towel and into the tub which fortunately had my clothing from the day before in it, so it cushioned his landing. What a joy he is to have around. Tomorrow he goes back to the Vet. As you can see from the photo below, he does not think he is getting enough to eat so thought he would try to get a chunk of Greg's finger. Boy are those teeth sharp. He is still under one pound.
Sooo do you think you wanna be a breeder?? Memories of the times shown in the pictures seem to make it worth while considering -- right?
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4-22-03 The check up at the vet was depressing. He wants Grumpy to put on more weight if possible --- and he has an appointment on the 28th for another surgery. Grumpy has won the hearts of all the people at the Clinic as well as at home, but he still cannot handle any fluids. Amazing to me, he is not becoming dehydrated. His siblings are thirsty all the time, but Grumpy does not seem to be bothered by not being able to drink. He does not act any different from the siblings, except that he comes running whenever I call him, and his siblings just don't pay a bit of attention to my call.
One real good thing --- it is obvious that Grumpy can see perfectly well and he can hear perfectly well.
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5-10-03 The surgery went well, and Grumpy gave no indication that there was any soreness or anything. This time I am not tube feeding and all his nourishment is from the dish. He eats as if he is completely normal, but sad to say when I tried giving him a teaspoon of water it immediately bubbled out of his nose. Next week he will go to the Vet again, but the prognosis is not good. If the hole is still there, we don't think there is a thing the vet can do for him. Grumpy enjoys every minute of every day, and it is difficult to realize that he has this problem. He looks and acts no different from any other Alaskan Klee Kai puppy, except for a sometimes gurgling sound and for not being able to drink fluids. If the hole is not taken care of, I hesitate to allow him to continue with this journey. Every time he bubbles and then breathes there is the possibility of the fluids going into his lungs and causing pneumonia. If this problem is not fixed, and it is felt it would be okay to allow him to live, then he would need to go to a home where there is nothing but love and compassion and a constant watchful eye. Poor baby has so much joy to give, and I doubt that a suitable recipient for that joy could be found. Next week he goes back to the Vet and then we will know more. In the meantime, he is thoroughly enjoying playing KING OF THE MOUNTAIN, and he is always asking to be let out of "jail" so he can run and play with his siblings.
With pictures like these, I am sure that you will think you wanna be a breeder --- just do remember that it is NOT all fun and games.
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May 17, 2003 -- today Grumpy is two months old. He is still quite tiny, and has so very much energy. When you start to put him on the floor his feet are going before they touch the floor --- he is like a wind up toy that whizzes here and there. I think that emotionally the hardest thing during this whole process has been to leave him in a crate while I take time out to play and cuddle with his sisters. The life that this little Grump has is enough to fill a room. He is so charged up that I would not be surprised to see the lights go on when he rushes through the door. How we do love this little boy, and how afraid I am of what we will hear at the Vet's today.
Not only do these dogs continue to amaze me, but some of the owners of our dogs also continue to impress me. Last night I got a telephone call from a couple who have already proved their ability to take care of an Alaskan Klee Kai that needed special care --- and when I heard who it was on the line, it did not surprise me to hear them say that they want to be the recipients of Grumpy ! Of course this is all tentative, pending what the Vet says, and pending Grumpy's prognosis for the future --- but they have given me strict instructions that they would prefer I did not allow the vet to put Grumpy down without discussing it in full with them first. What ANGELS we have for owners of our dogs.
Sooo do you think you wanna be a breeder?? Before you decide either way you should consider the fact that if I were not a breeder I would not have met these wonderful people, but on the other hand, I would not have met some of the people who have not been quite as wonderful for our breed. This is a BIG decision to make, but I am glad that I took the route I took.
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4-18-03 We went to the Vet yesterday and have GREAT GREAT news to report. When we walked in the door, Grumpy was immediately taken from our arms by Angela, the receptionist.
While I was checking in she took him into the inner sanctum so that all the Techs and Vets could see him. When she returned she was beaming from ear to ear and said that Dr. Wilhoit (the man with the magical hands) couldn't wait for the examining room so had already checked Grumpy and was very pleased with what he saw.
His surgery was very successful and there is now only a small portion that is remaining open. We tried giving Grumpy some water and although he would take only a few laps at a time, he did NOT bubble out the nose. The prognosis is very good. It is anticipated that he will have a very good life. At the same time that he is neutered, the new owner's vet will be able to determine if a couple more stitches would be beneficial.
We left the Clinic as if the weight of the world was lifted from our shoulders. Would we do this again YES! IN A HEARTBEAT. Do we expect this to happen again? Hopefully not since in over 300 puppies we have had only one cleft palate, and it was not in the soft palate. If it does happen again, I know exactly who I will have do the surgery.
Our next stop was Mike's Natural Pets where we buy all our dog food. Guess what, he was again taken from our arms, but that is to be expected.
Mike helped us determine which hard puppy food would be the most palatable for Grumpy. YES - HE CAN NOW EAT THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHER PUPPIES. He now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is growing every minute. The canned food says to feed 1/2 can a day for a three pound puppy -- and Grumpy eats at least a can a day. We don't pay much attention to what the can says.
Soooo you think you wanna be a breeder? Think about the fears we had for Grumpy -- think about the hours of lost sleep that we suffered -- think about the fact that Grumpy afforded more education for a very well educated crew of vets so they can help someone else if the case is presented --- think about the hundreds of dollars that we have spent on Grumpy -- think about the discomfort he had while blowing bubbles of milk from his nose and snuffing it --- think about the fact that one surgery did not work and he had to have two surgeries before he was 2 months old --- think about the fact that he may have to have some more repair work done -- then think about the pure joy that he gave me in the wee hours of the night when I would feed him and he would snuggle and fall asleep with a full tummy --- think about the elation to hear that the prognosis for the future was so good --- think about the few puppies that we have lost and the many many that we have seen grow to happy adults --- and finally think about the family that is going to take Grumpy and the happy hours of pure love that he will add to the household ------- If you can tolerate this mixture of emotions, and you are willing to breed only the best and brave enough to not allow the faulted ones breeding privileges ---- then I say GO FOR IT ! I doubt that you would be sorry.
Grumpy's story ends here -- but more pictures surely will be showing up in the different categories listed on the Home Page. We do thank you all for your attention to this long missile -- so many of you were concerned -- THANK YOU FOR CARING.
Greg and Eileen Gregory, and Alasco's Grumpy Leprechaun.