Iris

Iris, one of Lilac's Bouquet puppies, isn't growing like her sisters. She did for a while, but the last couple of weeks it's clear she's falling behind.

I wormed the pups with Strongid three times. When I noticed that Iris looked - and her breath smelled - like she still had worms, I gave her a 3-day course of Panacur just to be sure. The other pups continued to grow and thrive, but not Iris.

Note: You know that "puppy breath" that everyone loves? Not the metallic odor of blood from teething, but puppy breath? Sorry to disillusion you, but it's caused by worms. Puppies that don't have intestinal parasites don't have puppy breath.

Hyacinth, Scilla, and Larkspur are sturdy, muscular, active puppies; Iris is much smaller, has much less meat on her bones, has slightly bowed rear legs, a thin coat, is frequently "roach-backed" - with her back rounded rather than straight - less energy than her siblings, and a smaller appetite. She also seems to have difficulty regulating her body temperature, she shivers at times when it's fairly warm in here (72-73 degrees). She eats, but she doesn't eat much at a time. She's a feisty little stinker, loves to play, but only in short bursts. Her sisters could run all day and not get tired.

I've been doing some research tonight, and I don't like the answer I keep coming up with. It's possible she's got rickets, which is easily treatable. What seems more likely is that it's Juvenile Renal Dysplasia (which is not curable), or a portosystemic shunt (which may be fixable, but would be prohibitively expensive to do). All her symptoms fit, including the smell of her breath. It's not typical puppy breath, it's different. The best way to describe it is having a slightly musty, scorched odor.

(I sniffed her breath tonight and she bit my nose, drawing blood. Little carnivore!)

I'll call the vet tomorrow and get an appointment to get her in.