- 01/15/04 - 01/25/04 during care at breeder vet -

two 7 week old Labrador Retriever pups (DOB 12/02/03) were brought in to Vet by breeder for visible signs of distress and illness and diagnosed to have life threatening 'puppy strangles'.  Breeder decided expense to save the two pups would consume too much profit from litter sales and instructed Vet to put them to sleep.  After careful consideration and consultation with employee long time familiar with LILRR, the Vet sequestered breeder permission to try and save them and get them into our program.

- 01/25/04 entry into LILRR -

 the two 7-week old pups were very sick, weak, pitiful little beings day of entry into LILRR but they have several very strong-hearted (and willed) friends and Vets on their side!

- 02/01/04 -

 7 days within LILRR and, clearly, our Vet regimen is leading to visible improvement - the open oozing eye and muzzle sores, their painful swollen muzzles and lymph glands are decreasing!

- 02/06/04 -

almost 2 weeks on internal and topical antibiotics.  The sores and swelling of muzzle and lymph glands have been greatly reduced.  Their health, strength and vigor are increasing.  The red sheen on black pup's muzzle hair is due to diluted hydrogen peroxide within the topical solution and not permanent.

- 02/20/04 -

Another 2 weeks and recently removed from internal antibiotics.  Still on topical antibiotics, they are improving with each day.  Sores are closed and hair is growing back and activity levels have increased along with appetite (now weighing in at 20.2 and 21.4 lbs, we have to limit intake of the two adorable "Hoovers").  Determined healthy enough, both just received first puppy shots.  The yellow has a clear fascination with water ... this morning, the pup plunged both front legs  into the large size water bowl (water level to her knees) and dug into it with gusto, splashing water 3' around (that's what towels are for)!  Both are very normal, loving, intelligent Labrador pups on the mend.

- 03/05/04 -