“I thought it was something I was doing wrong. I was about to give up,” recalls Terisa, licensed breeder.

Terisa has been raising French bulldogs for five years. But when one of her females suddenly started losing her puppies, she started to panic. “I didn’t know what was going on. The mom had no symptoms. Her first litter was born healthy and strong and there were no issues. But something happened with her second and third litters. Her puppies started dying just days after birth and I didn’t know what to do. I felt frustrated and lost,” she says.

Desperate for answers, she began referring to her seminar notes and started talking to other breeders. But no one had answers. “Her pups would be born healthy and thriving, then a few days after birth they would become ill and within hours would be dead. I was very upset and began to think I should not raise Frenchies anymore. I thought I was doing something wrong,” she recalls.

After a long talk with Dr. Bramlage, Revival’s former Director of Veterinary Services, Terisa determined that the mom was a carrier of campylobacteriosis, an infectious diarrheal disease caused by Campylobacter bacteria. “Puppies and kittens under six months old are the most susceptible to this disease, while dogs and cats that are older than that often become resistant, show no symptoms, but remain carriers. That’s why I suspected it was the Campylobacter bacteria causing the problem here,” says Dr. Bramlage.

At this point there was only one puppy left from this female’s most recent litter and he was fighting for his life. Terisa and Dr. Bramlage came up with a treatment plan for the pup. “I kept tube feeding him and supplementing with probiotics, prebiotics and D.E.S. Health-Gard™. That little pup made it and is now strong and healthy,” she says.

When it came time for this particular female to whelp again, Terisa once again turned to the guidance of Dr. Bramlage. “To stay on top of the bacteria and kill it, he suggested starting the mom on an antibiotic while also adding D.E.S. Health-Gard™, prebiotics and probiotics to her water prior to whelping. I followed his directions and in her fourth litter she gave birth to three puppies and they all did great,” she says. “Our goal is to manage out of this, so for the following year I suggest giving mom a probiotic for two weeks before and after birth to ensure she gives her pups only the good bacteria,” says Dr. Bramlage. Since this experience, Terisa has not had any other issues with this strain of bacteria. “If I could do anything differently I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long to call Dr. Bramlage for help. If you’re struggling or having problems, don’t wait, call for help,” she suggests.

Share Your Pet Care Victory With Us

You strive to raise healthy and happy pets. You love the feeling of holding that newborn puppy and seeing the joy a new pet brings to a child’s face. At Revival we want to celebrate these wins because we understand that keeping pets healthy comes with challenges.

In our series, Pet Care Victories, we are highlighting YOU and your pet care wins! We know that even the best of us sometimes struggle with the health of our animals. And while at that time it can feel frustrating and devastating, it’s important to remember you are not alone. When we share our knowledge and passion with each other, we can all be on the winning team.

Want help solving tough pet health problems? Call one of our Pet Care Pros today at 800.786.4751.