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Puppy love saved dog
who weighed less than a mouse
Weighing less than a field mouse and so tiny she could fit in the palm of the hand, Buttons the puppy was never expected to survive. Born the runt of a litter of four, the rare Lhasa Apso was so weak at birth that she was given only a few hours to live. But thanks to the dedication of her owner and a remarkable will to live, the pup has won an astonishing battle for survival and now weighs a respectable 2lb. When Buttons was born, dog breeder Sheena Keil was so moved that the pup was alive at all that she gently removed the tiny bundle from the rest of the litter and nursed her night and day, feeding her with the aid of an eye dropper.
After Buttons had put on weight, Mrs. Keil, of Gourock, Renfrewshire, took her to vet Kate Hazel, who was amazed that the pup had weathered her traumatic start in life. For the next few weeks Buttons slept in a four-inch ornamental dog basket that had stood on Mrs. Keil's mantelpiece. Although the eight-week-old pup still needs constant attention, Mrs. Keil, 66, has become so attached to her she has decided to keep her as a pet. She said: 'She is so cute I couldn't possibly let her go. When she was born, my daughter Val and I thought there was no chance she would survive, but to our amazement she pulled through. The vet said she was the smallest puppy she had ever seen. Buttons has a hare lip and might need an operation to correct it, but what she needs right now is a lot of tender, loving care.' Lhasa Apsos are native to Tibet, where they were used as sheep herders. The breed was introduced to the West a century ago.
Steven Henry
Have you ever noticed how your dog who was acting sick and sluggish at home suddenly acts normally at the veterinarian's office? It is unfortunately not the mere presence of the vet that causes him to perk up. Excitement and stress that accompany a visit to the vet, cause his adrenaline levels to rise. Once the stimulus is removed, he will go back to feeling sick.
"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. --Ben Williams
