There is nothing more fulfilling than adopting a dog in need. Walking into a shelter filled with adorable faces and bringing one home to give it the best life possible is truly an amazing experience. That’s precisely what Haley Houghmaster did when visiting her local shelter in Memphis. She fell in love with a sweet Australian Shepherd/border collie mix named Salem and completed the adoption process for just her.
The Cutest Surprise
After allowing some time for Salem to get used to her new home, Houghmaster took her to the necessary vet appointments, including a spay appointment. However, the vets were shocked to discover that Salem was heavily pregnant when they made the initial incision.
“Found out at spay appt that my new rescue dog is pregnant with one puppy,” she shared in a Reddit post.
After discussing the findings with the vets, Houghmaster was informed about the option to abort the pregnancy. However, understanding the potential risks to Salem’s health and knowing there was only one puppy, she opted to continue with the pregnancy. “We are very excited and praying for a healthy puppy and an uneventful delivery,” she expressed in an interview.
Just one week later, Salem gave birth to the cutest little puppy imaginable.
Since then, the family has been wholeheartedly caring for the little trio, ensuring they have everything they need, from warmth and nourishment to abundant love.
Single-Puppy Pregnancy
A single-puppy pregnancy, or singleton pregnancy, occurs when a dog carries only one puppy, an uncommon situation that can arise from several factors. These include low ovulation count, where only one viable egg is released during the heat cycle, or complications like fertilization issues or certain genetic conditions.
There are inherent risks associated as well, such as dystocia when the single puppy grows too large for a natural delivery, and delayed labor because of insufficient hormonal triggers. Moreover, the absence of littermates may hinder the puppy’s social development, necessitating active socialization from the owners.
Thus, while singleton pregnancies can be straightforward, several considerations warrant discussion with your veterinarian.
