How I spent my last Friday night

[glencorgi]

While sister Robin was away visiting with Heather, Colin and Mac having a grand time, this is how I spent ALLLL night Friday into the wee hours of the morning including a trip to the vet ER in the early hours of Saturday.

[glencorgi]

You don't get much more new born than these guys. :BIGGRIN"

Debbie

[Fluffypants]

YAY! More puppies! I hope this story is 100% happy, no complications or other mishaps. They are cute little peanuts! +WUBCLUB+

[sutulu]

Manatees!

Susan

[MVons]

Ohh, sigh, wow! Memories of Pepper with the tiny blaze. Does the Dad have a narrow blaze like the Mom? I am intrigued by how much white or little white a puppy gets. It seems no predictability on it.What color is the Dad?

Why did you have to go to Vet ER...everyone ok?

Are you rested up now? ...do they need anything during the night from you?

All these questions because I won't ever go through it and I'm amazed at the work of being a breeder.

Merrie

[LaRositaMonita]

I had no idea, Debbie! Were you expecting this litter? Let's hear the story!

SO PRECIOUS....

[ZdogZ]

Oh! They are so cute! I hope all is well.

[bayoucorgi]

Sorry Deb, can't feel too sorry for you. I've been to the e-vet in my pajamas too, and even tho I complained mightily at the time, just the thought of smelling the soft little puppy fur is enough to make me wish "...if only". They are TOO cute. You lucky.

[glencorgi]

Ohh, sigh, wow! Memories of Pepper with the tiny blaze. Does the Dad have a narrow blaze like the Mom? I am intrigued by how much white or little white a puppy gets. It seems no predictability on it.What color is the Dad?

Dad is Rio (black & white w/brindle points) that can be seen in Heather's photo album. http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/LaRositaMonita/Hampton%20Dog%20Show%20Weekend/
Rio is also the sire of the "miniB's".

As to how much white a puppy gets isn't necessarily predicted by how much white the parents have (phenotype) - the key is to know how much white they can be carrying for genetically.

Why did you have to go to Vet ER...everyone ok?

We stalled out on puppy #5. Too much time passed and no delivery, so off we went. She delivered it on the way to the vet, a little boy and likely born dead from taking so long. X-rays revealed two more puppies, so we did a section. Two more boys, one which we lost on Sunday morning. So there are 4 girls and 1 boy, all brindle. Everyone is doing super now.

Are you rested up now?

I was comatose when the call came that Heather and Colin had arrived to meet Mac on Saturday. "SLEEP:

...do they need anything during the night from you?

They've settled into not needing much except Mom right now. The dam was in a way more intensive work. She'd been off her food for several days and was almost "malnourished" - no room for food with all the puppies and this was in spite of having a half dozen bowls of food in front of her to choose from. Everything from chicken livers, chicken broth, roasted chicken, vanilla ice cream, kibble, yogurt and ...... . Once she came around and started eating, then pushing ensure, pedialyte, liver (beef and chicken), eggs. ANY and everything she'd eat her way and keeping the bowls full was the more important task. Thankfully, she ate with gusto and her milk was good.

All these questions because I won't ever go through it and I'm amazed at the work of being a breeder.

There are phases which are more labor intensive than others and then each litter is a little bit different too. Bottle feeding a litter - now that's another story for another time.

Debbie

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

The mother is gorgeous!!!!

[LaRositaMonita]

Dad is Rio (black & white w/brindle points) that can be seen in Heather's photo album. http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/LaRositaMonita/Hampton%20Dog%20Show%20Weekend/
Rio is also the sire of the "miniB's".

I'm very glad that all is well. And who knew - if we had remembered that pups were coming (I actually remember you mentioning this litter to us one, I think...), we would have celebrated with Rio! Do they make cigars for dogs? :)

[LoveMySadie]

Congratulations!!! I now realize how amazingly lucky we were - Sadie delivered with no assistance from me other than a little paw-holding, and all six came easily and quickly. I don't know what I would have done with an emergency - I was petrified that one would occur and I wouldn't recognize it as such.

Nature is an amazing thing!!

Now...did you know that they would probably come while you were pup-sitting? And are you involved with these in any way - sire or dam? Or maybe just puppy-godmother??

Again...congratulations!

Leslie

I meant to ask...how do you care for a mom with a C-section? Does that make nursing a challenge? That was also one of my fears!!

[Jespah]

Could someone get Susan a book on the biology of puppies???

First you get a manatee, then they grow into a toaster and then one day, magically they turn into a Corgi! It's a miracle!!! :WINK:

[LoveMySadie]

Could someone get Susan a book on the biology of puppies???

First you get a manatee, then they grow into a toaster and then one day, magically they turn into a Corgi! It's a miracle!!! :WINK:

I could use that book too, because I bought one corgi and then she magically turned into seven!!!! :EEK:

Leslie

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

I wouldn't mind that, I loved the movie Gremlins, but now that I think about it, they were all bad, weren't they?

[LaRositaMonita]

Could someone get Susan a book on the biology of puppies???

First you get a manatee, then they grow into a toaster and then one day, magically they turn into a Corgi! It's a miracle!!! :WINK:

Colin and I, unfortunately, have some fundamental differences in philosophy of Corgi biology...we believe the Corgi begins in "teenie weenie" stage, THEN progresses to manatee stage, then toaster stage, but it goes through a "Schmoopie" stage (as referenced in the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld") before progressing to full-blown Corgi stage.

We realize we are newcomers to this field, but after having conducted a lengthy case study on a particular Corgi with a white ear, we feel our findings are certainly backed by strong evidence....

[bunnybutts]

we are certainly having a bumper crop of corgi puppies!

Glad to hear all is well with the Mom and remaining little ones :SMILE:

[corgimom]

Congratulations on the puppies and one question; is the mom related to Ruby?

[Fluffypants]

I wouldn't mind that, I loved the movie Gremlins, but now that I think about it, they were all bad, weren't they?

Only if you feed them after midnight MGM (and that's way past their bedtime anyway!)! :LAUGH:

[corgimom]

Only if you feed them after midnight MGM (and that's way past their bedtime anyway!)! :LAUGH:

Can't remember, what happened if they got wet?

[Fluffypants]

Can't remember, what happened if they got wet?

You get more! :LAUGH:

[glencorgi]

Congratulations!!! I now realize how amazingly lucky we were - Sadie delivered with no assistance from me other than a little paw-holding, and all six came easily and quickly. I don't know what I would have done with an emergency - I was petrified that one would occur and I wouldn't recognize it as such.

You were very lucky, seriously. Pembrokes tend to be more high maintenance in requiring assistance with whelpings and c-section rates are pretty high with them, almost to the point of being "routine."

Nature is an amazing thing!!

It is awe-inspiring. Going thru a whelping can certainly put one in their "place" in the scheme of the natural order.

[QUTOE=]Now...did you know that they would probably come while you were pup-sitting? And are you involved with these in any way - sire or dam? Or maybe just puppy-godmother??[/QUOTE]

I knew there was a strong possibility. Her first due date was on Monday. the 28th but she was sooooooo big, it was doubtful she was going to make it until then. We never did have the temperature plunge and stay down exactly, but she was off her food when she arrived and pretty much refusing all food. Mostly I guess I'm just Auntie Debbiemom with this one.

I meant to ask...how do you care for a mom with a C-section? Does that make nursing a challenge? That was also one of my fears!!

Nursing isn't so much of a challenge and IF they are still basically sleeping when you get them home it is a good idea to go ahead and get the puppies on mom so they can get the colostrum. When mom starts waking up, then things can get dicey. It takes them a while to get their legs under them and bearings as to where they are and what is going on. During the dazed and confused state, not a good idea to leave puppies in and on them. A lot of things can happen if she is restless, like her stepping or lying on puppies which can kill them and sometimes they can turn on the puppies and savage them (that can happen with a natural whelping too). Milk can be slower to come in and it has to be monitored to be sure it is okay. Sometimes the dam never does quite settle into being "mom," which is a part of what happened with Heather's Mac's dam, plus her milk came in tainted and why Mac was raised by a surrogate mom. Each bitch is different, and to a degree each whelping can be different. First litters can take longer to get the dam settled into business and sometimes they never do. Luckily with her, she is a good mom and after she stretched her legs a bit, had a good meal, she settled right in with the puppies.

Linda, this is a Ruby sister.

Debbie

[manymuddypaws]

When mom starts waking up, then things can get dicey. It takes them a while to get their legs under them and bearings as to where they are and what is going on. During the dazed and confused state, not a good idea to leave puppies in and on them. A lot of things can happen if she is restless, like her stepping or lying on puppies which can kill them and sometimes they can turn on the puppies and savage them (that can happen with a natural whelping too).

I know of a Boxer breeder this happened to. She had a C-Section and while at the vet clinic they put her and the pups (there were 8) together in a kennel and lef her. She woke up and killed half of them before they got back. It was very sad- the bitch was a first time mother and was young- I think 2 or 3. The breeder was pretty shook up about it- so was very careful when he took her home. She again killed two more a day or so later. The last two they took away and hand fed until they were bigger. She was not ever comfortable around them and I think they spayed her after that.

Puppies are hard work! I for one will not ever breed- Wicca's breeder had encouraged me to finish showing her and breed later on but I could not be bothered- too much work, and too much can go wrong! Not worth the risk for me!

-amanda

[bayoucorgi]

After you told the rest about the puppy in the car and the ones who didn't make it, I felt so badly. Poor you. I remember that anxiety - it it too long? What's happening? Should I go now? The uncertainty never got better even with later litters. I'm glad you have several cuties left. I hope you're catching up on your sleep.