Injuried puppy by mum while being whelped

Fellow Breeders
I was hoping there are breeders out there that have experienced a puppy being injured during whelping. Puppy whelped 1 May 2012 has had its paw chomped on by mum as she was chewing the umbilical cord. A vet saw her foot at 8 hours old and said if we soaked it in surgical solution twice daily it will be fine. This was done but we had her back at the vet again today as the bones are now visible. The vet has put her on antibiotics (at a risk as it will probably causing loose stools). We were given the option of putting her to sleep, which I couldn't do as we already lost two pups and mum got so disstressed that she got Eclampsia (and that was another emergency on its own). This has not happened to us before and we are looking for support that will help with a positive outcome. It does look like this little girl will lose her foot, vet said when she is older her whole leg will need to be amputated and that there are lots of people willing to adopt a 3 legged dog. We won't be able to sell her, yet see is entiltled to be registered with papers. Apart from this she is a perfect purebreed SBT. Thanks all

Aww poor pup.

Very unfortunate circumstances. I feel personally unless you plan to keep her and care for her urself then u need to think about letting her go.

I fear it would be difficult to find her a forever home, someone whom will take care of her and can cope with the vet bills as insurance cannot cover an existing condition or anything relating to it.

I think you probably know the right thing to do dispite already loosing 2 pups.... U need to make a responsible informed choice.

I would hate this pup to fall into the wrong hands, I don't envy your position right now.

Best of with it x

What I'd like to say to you is "Remove the foot, keep her & see if someone will give her a wonderful home". That's what my heart says.

However, what my head says is "Put her painlessly to sleep now."

When an adult dog loses a foot or a leg, it's most likely already in a good home that'll continue to look after its best interests. They cope really well on 3 legs. But an 8 day old pup is likely to suffer. She'll be at a constant disadvantage with her siblings & will struggle to feed adequately. Play will be hard for her. You could end up with having to keep her with you for life, plus the expense & trauma of amputation at a later date. There are so many 'damaged' (mentally & physically) staffs in rescue centres right now.

I hated saying that. And it's going to take all my courage to press the 'send' button.

P.S. Welcome to the forum.

Wish it was a happier welcome.

Please let us know what you decide to do.

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me.

I'm very sorry but I have to agree with the message from Caryll above. The poor little puppy already has enough things against her (so many in rescue already) it would be a very hard decision to make but I think you probably know that it is the right one.

I do not envy you at all.

Hello and welcome from me and Tilly, sorry you are having to face such decisions but I believe unless you can commit to keeping the pup yourself there is only 1 decision to be made and it is to be sooner rather than later

Hiya and welcome.

I know you wanted breeders opinions and I don't know anything about that, but I just wanted to say whatever you do, everyone who has read this post will understand what a hard decsion you have ahead of you. Xx

I have been a breeder with my gsds ( out of a litter of 10 we lost 2 at birth and one 2 days later after trying to bottle feed etc but it was what was best for the pup)and I find that I have been lucky not to be in your position
It is a very hard thing to decide
You have to weigh up if you can afford both physically mentally and monatry to keep the pup as I must admit I wouldn't want to rehome the pup with problems
Good luck with what you decide and just know as owners we only want what's best for our animals no matter what the age