Jack, I appreciate your input as I wouldn't put this here otherwise, but I wish you'd come off the "let your bitch die" thing go on the other deal. First and only closed pyometra of my life and I know I know I know - you can dig up the old post and dissect it where I was a horrible duded and let her die, but the bitch didn't act bad at all, wouldn't eat for a while - I DID TAKE HER INTO THE VET and this is a key point - SHE DID NOT DIE!!!!! She was very old, only produced 2-3 pups a litter her entire life, missed on breedings more times than not and I CHOSE TO PUT HER DOWN as her value as a brood animal was less than the expense of saving her intact and the other dogs I have saved from Pyo never - EVER - produced a pup for me. So the odds and situation told me the most informed sensible thing to do was to put her down. YES great word smith - she did die - but it was not from PYO - it was my decision to kill her.

2nd thing, I did give Jez a shot of oxytocin. I wanted to go back and edit that in when I posted it, but I was walking out the door and figured most folks on here are cool and I knew someone would ask or point out that I missed it, but I did not. I went to the vet prior to delivery and got a few shots of it. I'm no vet, but I have been shown how to palpate for pregnancy at around 4 weeks after breeding and also for any obstructions. Short of an X Ray, I am actually very dependable on assessing whether or not there is something inside. With the X Ray to verify on this situation - I was actually right. I don't believe I was dealing with a great vet in this situation, but I do believe he can read an X Ray correctly.

I think your advising to supervise the delivery is great and agree - it would be best. It's why in most of the cases I mentioned above, I actually knew what was going on. It's because I did supervise those deliveries. So point well taken and in cases of females that I do not know, trust or have never bred - I do just that. However, as stated originally, Jez has had two litters, never lost a pup and has always been exceptional in delivery and raising pups. Supervision of this delivery would have afforded me nothing as delivery went flawless. The small hole in the one pup's stomach would not have been prevented as it was tiny. The only reason I ever saw it is b/c after several hours of going back and checking on the pup, it finally started to leak a little blood and I located the small hole that way.

Jack - I'm a little confused on the Antibiotics and ready to learn here, but in your book, the preventative Antibiotics you suggest were for bitches with a history of mastitis. This dog does NOT have a history of anything. I actually posted a question in one of my original posts a good while about a bitch I was dealing with, directly to you, asking if it would be safe and sensible to administer antibiotics in a preventive manner for all bitches. I never got a reply - SO, I reverted back to "my book" and figured if a dog has no history at all of mastitis or "bad milk" then it wouldn't be necessary. Do you recommend or advise that ALL females be administered antibiotics prior to birth? If so, what do you suggest and from what day and how long? Would it be different that what you prescribe in for bitches with a history of mastitis?

Vet an idiot???? I agree 100%. I was very disappointed. Dude kept my dog for 3 days. Mentioned spaying her 2 days in a row until I finally sternly told him, "THAT'S NOT A FUCKING OPTION". I guess the good news - or a positive spin (I know Jack - you are against this - you like to focus on the 'you suck' and 'you failed' perspectives) would be that there are things to be learned from all unfortunate situations. Anyone with just a little bit of ambition should learn more from failures, mistakes and just misfortune than they will by running clean, clear and way out front with everything going right, so that's how I have to look at this. I'll learn from it and move on.

Some facts:
1. I was dealing with an, until now, problem free bitch who was proven producer and mother
2. Pregnancy went perfectly fine
3. Delivery went perfectly fine
4. She was administered "pop shot" and was free and clear of anything and X Ray verified
5. She was anemic - blood test verified
6. She did get a temperature - suggesting infections? (I'm asking here now - vet says a virus - but I think infection)
7. Obviously - as you suggest Jack - the milk had to be bad - with a bitch that has never had any problems - what would cause this? I will use preventative antibiotics next time, but what causes this "bad milk"?

So with all the above, I don't know what I could have done, besides give antibiotics before hand, that would have made a difference. AND, according to "my book", the preventative measures would be suggested for a bitch with previous history. If there are no adverse affects, I'll just start doing this to ALL bitches.

Jack, I agree 100% that it is best to be prepared for the worst. I don't think I cut any corners. As someone asked above if she got into anything (and the vet asked the same) it's impossible. She was in a VERY WELL BUILT above ground pen for last few weeks before delivery.

As someone else suggest as well - it sucks b/c you do feel like you've done just about everything possible. If I did not cover a base or two, it is my fault, but I wouldn't do it intentionally to save time or money or anything else. It may be out of ignorance, but never to "cut corners".

Thanks to all the 'props' on picking up the pups in the road. I have never, EVER in my life ever seen a worse case of round worms in pups. I wormed them when I got home and the amount of worms in that pen, from 6 pups, NO SHIT, would fill up a 1 gallon milk jug. There was one poop pile that literally had more worms in it than a full serving size of Spaghetti at the Olive Garden. Unbelievable.

As for my situation - Jez is home, doing well - JACK - he sent me home with Clavamox and Baytril. AND Prednisone - I'm curious about the pred - do you think I should give this? Both antibiotics sound appropriate - but the pred???????

Down to one black brindle pup. She's a powerhouse. We'll hope for the best and I don't know what else I can do to keep this one alive other than warm clean environment and good nutrition.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks and Good Day!