2 June 2014

Doro’s puppies are born

Doro was not in a hurry, Last Monday, she had her 59th day and theoretically could give birth. But, she decided not to do so. Not on Tuesday and not on Wednesday either. On Thursday, Ascension Day, I had enetered 2 Beardies for the Joe Kat Show in Arnhem and wanted to go there. So everything had to be planned way ahead and had to be well organized. Again, it was Elke, our good and dear friend, who was so good and nice to be on stand-by, just in case. Should Doro had started giving birth on Wednesday night, Elke would have stepped in het car, even in pyjamas, driven to Maaseik and would have overtaken the scepter. I had to prepare myself for the show and leave at 07.30 hrs. Also on Wednesday there where no specific signs. Elke arrived at 07.30 that Thursday morning and I could leave. Daisy also came over and took care of the rest, so that Elke could fully concentrate on Doro. She on her turn was completely calm, until 16.00 hrs. Then, very relaxed deliverd her first baby in the whelping box. Around 18.30 I arrived at home and 4 puppies had been born already. At 22.00 there where 2 males and 7 bitches. So far, so good. But, a little male with 190 gram and a little bitch with 220 gram had been born. Both didn’t want to drink. Than only one solution remains: to drip feed with puppy milk, every 2 hours. For the little male it was okay, but for the little bitch it was not. She didn’t do well. She was complaining all night long and I was tired and desparate. At 08.00 the veterinarian came by and gave her a painkiller against stomach ache. I had bought fennel tea with honey and every now and than gave her a pipette full. She became much more relaxed, but in the afternoon it went down hill again and at 16.00 she passed away. This is always sad and tears flow. Due to the troubles about these 2 little puppies, I had no time at all to enjoy the thick, round and pink puppies. In the meantime, the little male had 220 gram, but couldn’t or didnt want to drink from a nipple nor the bottle. So every 3 hours a feed drip within a 24 hour cycle. Harry had gone to Italy for four days and was not going to return before Saturday evening. That is mega stress if you are alone at home! Finally, Saturday afternoon the little one was drinking from the nipple for the first time. Thank God. Now, every 3 hours it was checking to see whether he was laying at the nipple, was drinking and was not getting pushed away by the other larger puppies, who in the mean time had doubled. At that moment he weighed 240 gram. Today, Monday it where already 280 gram. He really drinks well, but stays under permanent observation, because we have to be careful and see that he gets a nipple and is not been pushed away by the others. It becames more quiet. Doro is a wonderful mother, who is very very carefully when laying down and does everything perfectly. I am already looking forward to the moment, when I can start observing the Doro/Texas children. This will be our last Bobtail litter for 2014!

7 puppies, on the first day.

Doro-puppies-first-day

our 2 males, 3 days old.

Pups Doro en Texas

“David and Goliath”

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the 6 bitches

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all in one line.

3-days-6-girls

puppy noses sooooo cute

3-days-nasen