Day 11 of 12.

When Ayer was one day old, I started bottle feeding her, as she was extremely skinny and not getting enough milk. I carried her around with a hot water bottle and a Beaphar Nursing Bottle willed with Lactol baby animal formula day in and day out. Her named is just a shortened way of saying 'Prayer', as her name had to begin with an A. She was getting better, and was at a standstill when she reached 13 ounces (still very skinny, but better than 8 ounces!). This afternoon (3rd Nov '10) she took a turn for the worst. She was wheezing, and vomiting, and had slight liquid on her lungs. As my oh-so-smart uncle was refusing vet care for his dog (who, by the way, is still producing placenta) I took the tip-her-upside-down option, and it worked well. Her lungs sounded clearer, and her wheezing stopped.

Until that evening.

She is now refusing drink, both from Lady the mother dog and the lactol. She's 'stiff' and her legs seem bowed, which is concerning in it's self. I'm doing the night shift with her again tonight, much like last night, only now instead of keeping her tubby, I'm keeping her comfy. :[ Poor Ayer looks so weak and feeble. I believe she's been born too early. Lady was left with another dog for 2 weeks, meaning she could have mated once on, say, August 1st and then again on August 7th. Ayer is from the later date litter, where as the rest are from the earlier. Premature births in dogs are common, especially if the dogs are left to mate for over three weeks.

I'm hoping that little Ayer will be OK, though her chances are slim. :[ I'm not sure what else to do, so I simply put her in a warm fleece blanket with a warm water bottle and sat her on my lap. :] Her right eye is just beginning to open, and I really hope that if she can't have a full life, she gets to see at least one thing.

A Prayer is a silent angel,

sent from the heart,

and Ayer is an angel,

sent from heaven above.

If the worst comes full speed,

I'll plant your tiny body as if it were a seed.

I'll care for it and nurture it as if it were a rose.

I'll water it with flowers,

and hours of glassy memories.

As hours turn into years,

I hope truly you'll see,

the precious seed I planted,

is still right here with me.