One Week Old

Dixie reacts to lights going on and sounds now. It looks like the corners of her eyes are just starting to open. Phoebe is a very relaxed, proud mom. She generally gives Dixie the whole box--probably finds it too warm for herself--but is very watchful of the goings on in there. Dixie will call her mom, actually sounding like she is saying "Ma" or "Mom"!



Phoebe taking a break

Three Days Old

Big changes! She's growing like crazy and is turning into a puppy! We've called her various nicknames--Sausage, Dumplin'--but decided to call her "Dixie" while she's here as she was conceived on Robert E. Lee's birthday!

A Loss

Shortly after posting the video, the little rough girl started to fade. Every time I checked on the family, Phoebe would have licked her so much that she was damp and cool. I'd move her back to the heating pad, dry her off and watch her for a bit. After a couple episodes of this, she looked like she had lost weight. After warming her up again, I gave her a drop of Karo syrup on my finger. She'd keep a strong hold on my finger and also had a regular, good heartbeat. After she'd perk up, I'd give her some drops of Phoebe milk, which seemed to strengthen her, too, and then I'd encourage her to nurse. I watched the pup for a long time and while she had latched on, was not nursing. Then I tube fed her and again felt that she would make it. After a second tube feeding, she suddenly gasped and went limp. I tried to revive her and thought a couple of times I could hear a faint heartbeat, but she wouldn't start breathing. I had noticed a couple of times during the day that her breath was odd, it had kind of a rotten smell to it. In the late afternoon, Phoebe was aggressively pushing her away and was becoming agitated. Once I took the poor baby away, Phoebe settled down and became a happy girl again.
The pups had a vet appointment this morning for dew claw removal anyway, so the smooth and Phoebe got a good once over by Dr Robbins. The pup weighs 1.2 pounds and Phoebe is recovering well from her c-section. The staff felt bad that she lost another puppy and compensated by giving her plenty of treats. The smooth puppy let known her indignation over being disturbed from her morning nap, then let the entire office (if not the whole block!) know what she thinks of dew claw removal! Mother and daughter are now resting contentedly, the pup stretched out on the heating pad. Now that she doesn't have to share mom at all, I think she'll grow at a phenomenal rate and soon find the heating pad too small!

First Video

Good First Night

Phoebe settled in with the pups shortly after her dinner, with all maternal instincts on full blast! She fed, she cleaned, she nuzzled and cared for her babies like an experienced mom. I let her stay with the pups but checked on them frequently during the night. Every time I looked, Phoebe seemed to be in the exact same position, not moving a muscle while the pups found preferred sleeping positions under her back leg or chin. This morning, the smooth girl looks like she's doubled in size and abilities and seems delightedly surprised that a meal is always available. Her favorite nipple is usually the one her sister is on! The rough girl is taking it slower and is not as aggressive in eating. Phoebe has fussed with her a bit too much today, leaving her a tad damp from frequent washings. I've increased the heat with both the portable heater and the heat lamp to guard against a chill and try to keep her chunky sister from hogging the buffet!

Home with Her New Family

Phoebe and her babies came home about 2:00 this afternoon. She was very slow in waking up--perhaps realizing the real work was just starting and trying to delay it as long as possible--but the vet staff allowed the pups to nurse and let the new family bond. What a difference when I went to pick them up! The one pup looked 24 hours older and definitely much fatter.
Since we've been home, Phoebe prefers her crate to being in the whelping box with the pups. As she has been so drowsy, I have let her be in the crate and I bring her the pups for nursing, plus I can carefully monitor her behavior with them. She has been a model mama, cleaning, washing faces and nuzzling.

The Good, the Bad and the Cute as Can Be!

Phoebe easily delivered the first puppy at 6:12, unfortunately she was stillborn. After that, Phoebe took a good nap then showed no inclination to deliver the rest of the litter. We were at the vet's shortly after 8:00 where an ultrasound showed at least one puppy with a good heartbeat. An x-ray showed three more pups waiting to be born. Phoebe had a calcium shot and a oxytocin which resulted in some contractions, but not enough to deliver the rest of the litter. She had a c-section by mid-morning. The first pup pulled was also stillborn, but the next two were healthy. The last one is a screamer! She has been most anxious for her mama to wake up so she can get her first meal. Both pups are little females, pretty and too cute already! I'm preparing the nursery (getting extra heat and cleaning up this morning's papers) and will go back to Leesburg shortly to pick up the new family.

It's Time!!!

Phoebe went into labor shortly before 5 a.m. Things are progressing well, the first pup should be here shortly!

It Can't Be Much Longer (I hope)

And I'm sure Phoebe feels the same way! Saturday, her temperature bottomed out at 98.1, then went back up to 99.5 and stayed within that range until this afternoon, when it dipped again to 98.8. She also refused her breakfast yesterday, but continued to enjoy her cookies. Today, she has even refused those! But, she was able to eat the canned meat from tonight's dinner. For a girl who has never let a tidbit or crumb pass her by, this has to mean that things will be happening soon. She only wants to stay in her crate, finding very odd positions for resting. Every time I check on her though, her eyes are open and ears are up, as if she's waiting for something. Sometimes I think our girls wait for the house to settle into the normal routine, which the week-ends don't offer. We've been busy with yard work, going in and out of the house a lot and my sister was by for a long visit this afternoon. I suspect Phoebe will start labor not long after David leaves for work in the morning--which is what Lauren did last year and Kirby did 3 years ago.

Getting Closer

Phoebe's temperature took a big dip this afternoon and she had some restless periods where she was quite anxious. I think the puppies must be moving into position before labor starts as her figure has undergone some interesting shapes! Phoebe settled back down and was very interested in dinner, so I don't think the puppies will arrive tonight. I told her I don't do night whelpings, she has to wait at least until early morning! In anticipation of labor starting at any time, I trimmed her pantaloons and brushed more hair off her belly. Her belly is almost bald, another sign the pups will be here soon!

Almost There!

I don't think these puppies can get much bigger before Phoebe's belly just pops! She still has a hearty appetite but is now showing some interest in tearing up the papers in her whelping box. Her temperature has dipped just slightly, but we're still waiting for the big drop to let us know labor is about to start. She's not the grumpy diva of last summer, which is most appreciated, but still doesn't care for the cats to be around. Phoebe spends most of her time sleeping, or when she's outside, resting and waiting for me to take her back in--she always gets a cookie then so she manages a spring in her step. The rest of the time, she drags her back feet as she walks--I can hear her nails on the tile and know that Ellen would be telling me to "file those nails"!
Here's our chubby girl:

More Danny Pictures

Thanks to Cathy and Robert for sending these pictures!

The Puppy Papa

Poor, Pitiful Phoebe

This is how we spend lots of our time!


Phoebe likes to be in her crate, even though she has access to her whelping box and the rest of the room!

Miscount

I thought we'd be on puppy watch by now, but Phoebe was showing no signs of being close. I said to David, "wouldn't it be funny if I mis-counted her due date", then counted again--guess what! I miscounted!! Her first due date is not this week-end but next. I never have been good at math, but I've always been able to count up to nine (9 weeks gestation) before--I guess I was really hoping for St Patrick's Day puppies!

Blooming

Now that the pregnancy is official, Phoebe seems to be getting bigger by the minute. Maybe there are more than four puppies in there? At any rate, the pups seem to be quite active. We often find Phoebe staring at her stomach, perhaps wondering what is causing all the turmoil. She spends much time on her cot, with her sister Claire always by her side. Tonight, I spent lots of time with Phoebe after her supper as she seemed to need extra attention. She will always hog as much petting as she can, but tonight she wanted to cuddle and have her back and belly rubbed. Oh, how I remember those days!

Try, Try, Again

We are always optimistic with the girls, so when Phoebe came into season in January, we decided to try again to have a successful pregnancy. Ellen, our handler, suggested we breed Phoebe to CH Travler's Greased Lightning, a smooth tri-color. When we saw "Danny", we had to agree! He has a delightful personality with a beautiful head and wonderful movement.
We were not hopeful that the breeding was successful until the last week, when Phoebe suddenly started to look different. An ultrasound yesterday showed that Phoebe is pregnant, with at least four puppies! These puppies look much bigger than the poor singleton from last year and are certainly much more active. The first puppy on the ultrasound was moving its head and twitching its front feet, almost like it had hiccups!