The Year of the Veterinarian
The shadow inside the Animal ER
It has been a year. For our family, that is truly saying something. We know many of you have been waiting on blog updates, and perhaps wondering about future litter schedules. Now that the dust has finally begun to settle, it feels like the right moment to sit down and share the whirlwind that has been our lives over the past year.
If 2026 has taught us anything, it’s that life with animals rarely goes according to a neat calendar. This has, without a doubt, been The Year of the Veterinarian.
Sonja after Recovery from her Surgery
When a Poodle is Too Clever for Her Own Good
Late last year heading into January was wonderfully peaceful. We welcomed a beautiful litter of Golden Retriever puppies in November who all found the most incredible forever homes. But by late January, the quiet vanished. Sonja, our vibrant red Poodle, started acting just a bit "off." Within 48 hours, a mild lethargy spiraled into a life-or-death emergency.
Sonja has always had a sneaky habit of stealing socks and soft fabrics. Despite our militant efforts to keep those out of reach, our clever girl managed to pry open a closed drawer and help herself to a pair of stockings.
We rushed her to the emergency vet in Colorado Springs. What we hoped would be a quick fix turned into weeks of heart-wrenching uncertainty: two major surgeries, the removal of two feet of compromised intestine, eight intense days in the animal ICU, and a grueling, round-the-clock medication regimen for months. Thanks to the extraordinary care from the team at the Animal Hospital off North Nevada and the skilled surgeons at Mountain View Surgery Center, Sonja beat the odds. She is still here, tail wagging, completely healed, and stealing our hearts (though strictly not our socks!).
Sonja during her long recovery.
Ivy’s Double Hurdle
Just as we caught our breath and began preparing for summer, Ivy, our sweet & athletic Poodle, began showing signs of illness. Fearing another foreign body emergency, we raced back to the ER. The diagnosis this time was Pyometra, a sudden and severe uterine infection. We had intentionally paused her breeding cycles due to a leg injury that we were wanting to address, but her body had other plans.
Ivy just after her surgery for pyometra.
There was no question: we fought to save her. Ivy made it through emergency surgery and recovered like a champ.
However, her medical journey wasn't quite finished. Shortly after recovering from her pyometra, the vets at Mountain View Surgery Center let us know that the mass in her leg was not from an injury but a lipoma. Thankfully it was not genetic and was able to be safely removed as it was not located in her muscles. Last week, she underwent a delicate surgery to remove the 2 lb mass, complete with a Jackson-Pratt drain and a very strict recovery protocol. Once again, our resilient girl proved how tough she is! She is currently resting, healing beautifully, and on the home stretch to a full recovery!
Ivy snoozing after her leg surgery.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Our Goldendoodle Litters
Between saving Sonja, guiding Ivy through back-to-back surgeries, and pouring our hearts into Phoebe's current Golden Retriever potatoes, this year has reminded us why we do what we do. Our dogs aren't just breeding stock; they are our family, and their health will always come before a production schedule.
Because of everything our girls have been through, we are adjusting our upcoming litter plans:
Our Red Goldendoodles (Sonja): Sonja’s recovery has been a miracle, but her long-term health is our top priority. Before we ever consider a future litter with her, she will undergo a thorough veterinary evaluation to ensure a pregnancy would be 100% safe for her body. At the same time, we are mindful not to delay her care to the point of risking a pyometra flare of her own. Because her health comes first, our very red Goldendoodle litters will be delayed while we give her all the time and care she needs.
Building Our Future (Freya): On an exciting note, we are planning for Freya’s next litter to be purebred Poodles! Our goal is to keep and raise a couple of her daughters to build the next strong, healthy generation of the Stardust line right here at home.
While there is plenty more we could share from the ER frontlines, we are looking forward to turning the page toward healing, sweet puppy snuggles, and the future of our dogs.
Thank you to everyone in the Stardust family for your patience, your prayers, and your ongoing support through this unbelievable season. We couldn't do this without you!
Ivy, Sonja and our Ziggy sit on the couch. Still together no matter the odds!
