~~~ POPPY'S STORY ~~~

Hi........ I'm Poppy and this is my story

I look and feel fine now, but I'd like to tell you about the early months of my life

My three brothers and I were born on May 10th 2006 at Alyeska to mommy Joy and daddy Wolf. Two of of us were black/white and two were grey/white. It was a normal whelping with all of us appearing healthy.

all of us in late June.......

When I was about 6 weeks old, my human mommy noticed there might be something different about me from the other boys....... there were strange pimples around my eyes and mouth. When we went to the vet, he treated me with an antitbiotic. He didn't think it was anything too serious.. When mommy realized the antibiotics weren't working, we went back to the vet who conferred with an associate who recognized that I had Juvenile Cellulitis or Puppy Strangles or Puppy Mumps. They found that my glands and lymph nodes were very swollen and I just didn't look very well.

This is how I looked......

When the 2nd vet diagnosed my condition, he then prescribed an antibiotic taken in conjunction with cortisone which is the normal treatment for this disease. This intensive treatment took about two months to complete. Sores began to appear all over my little body which opened, bled and drained. The graphic pictures below show how serious my condition became because I was initially improperly diagnosed.

August and September My treatment ended sometime in late August. In the meantime, my three brothers went to their forever homes. I stayed at home until mom thought I was well enough to be placed. I had a great time playing with mommy Joy and Gunnar, chewing up my toys and enjoying treats. There were a couple of trips for me, too. I went to a dog show in CT and the show/picnic in Punxcy. It was so much fun 'cause I had young April from NC to hold me and puppy Zeeva to run and play with. Everyone was so nice to me, gave me treats, played with me. I stayed in the hotel at night with mom and Gunnar. Gunnar & I played together before lights out. Everything I do is just fun. I guess I don't do anything bad.

curious and exploring....... maybe expecting a treat!!

August in CT

getting a much deserved treat

playing in the grass at the AKKAOA picnic over Labor Day...... with a treat from Linda in my mouth

September 13th, 2006

last picture before leaving Alyeska and my first family

September 2006 My young life has been an adventure........ I'm all healed now. I didn't really mind my mom nursing me, pilling me and dabbing my sores with whatever she used. Hair has grown where my sores were. My eyes are still a little runny, but the vet checked them with his ultraviolet lamp. They should clear up in time. I had a good first four months in spite of my disease, and am now looking forward to the rest of my life in Texas with Kelly and Scott. Susie is taking me to Texas with her on the airplane. I'll be spending the first night with Susie, and then on to Barbara and her gang on Friday. I'm a happy little fellow and feel very lucky to be alive. With Love, Poppy PS from Ruth...... I truly fell in love with this patient darling little guy during the months I had him with me and will miss him very, very much. He had a hard early life and endured his daily treatments like a trooper. He's a sweet, intelligent puppy who will give his new family much joy. Poppy probably won't be his real name, but it was better than calling him Puppy #2. To me, he'll always be my funny sweet little Poppy.

with Susie on the first leg of my trip to my Texas forever home....... 9/14/06

I'm "home" now with my new parents in Texas, and enjoying my new life filled with so much love. I hope I'll always be a good boy for them. When I get my new name, I'll let you know.

~~~ Postcript from Alyeska ~~~ Not all vets have experienced Puppy Strangles so it's possible to have it misdiagnosed. In my research of this disease, I've read that "if properly treated, leaves the pup with a completely healthy and functional immune system and no effect in future health or lifespan". The cause is unknown. It can affect an entire litter or just one puppy. It can also be fatal if not diagnosed properly. My main vet did tell me he treated a Lab about 13 years ago and the dog is still living a normal healthy life. The other puppies in the litter did not have this disease. All are healthy pups...... now including Poppy. Ruth

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