I’m sorry I haven’t posted anything on my blog for a while. I’ve been working, on a duplex that a renter left in really bad shape, for the last month. This has kept my time and energy to near zero. But during this time I had a small litter of puppies.
All females.
Sally, tending pups.
The only way Sally knows how to wipe their butt.
I had bred Sally to Mann in January. From her looks I was expecting a huge litter. I moved her to the shed where she can go in and out on her own, during the day. Of the night I locked her in the shed to keep her from going outside, to have her pups. I really don’t think she will but I don’t want to have some puppies freeze because I was wrong.
I have an electric heater in the shed and there is a dog door that she can go outside during the day whenever she wants. Also, there is a heat pad in the whelping box that stays near a hundred degrees, for the puppies to warm themselves. And even before their eyes are open they find the heat pad, some of the time. Shortly after the pups were born I kept the shed temperature in the upper eighties. Now it stays about 75. The pups have been inside Sally where it’s 101 degrees. Even the eighties are cold for them at birth.
My shed is about a hundred yards from the house so I took one of the security cameras, that is on my house, and placed where with a small light in the box, I could see her night or day. I have done this the last few litters. Always before I would get up several times of the night to check on the females. With the camera I can just wake up, grab my phone and check on them. It’s easier to go back to sleep when you haven’t walked 200 yards round trip.
On March 24 as I worked at the duplex I checked the camera, about 11:00 am. I could see and hear a puppy. I drove home, probably faster than the law allowed. When I got there, there was one live puppy and one that, evidently, was born dead. I tried to revive the puppy to no avail. I sat with Sally for quite a while then came to the house and ate lunch.
I kept watching her on the camera then went back down to the shed. By 2:00 pm she hadn’t had any more pups. I called my vet and he said to bring her in. But hurry, as he had to leave by 4:00. I pulled the truck close, put a leash on Sally and lead her out. We got about 20 feet from the shed and she stopped, squatted and had another puppy. I took her back to the shed and put her in the whelping box.
I called my vet and told him of the new event. We agreed that she may be able to have the rest with no problem. I asked about getting some oxytocin. He told me to come up. He gave me 4 shots for her but said do not give her one unless you talk to me or my partner first.
I was gone maybe 20 minutes to get the shots and when I got back she had tried to have another puppy that was breech. Every thing was out except the head. Sally had already cut the umbilical cord. I had to pull the puppy out and it was surprising how hard it was. By the time I got it out, it, too, was dead.
About 30 minutes later she had another puppy. After a while I could see that she was through. Although I thought she would have a bunch (her last litter was 9) 5 was it, for this litter. And we had 3 healthy females. This is an easy litter for Sally.
The first few days she was really protective of her pups. I don’t know whether it was because she lost the two or more likely it’s just her way. After a couple of weeks she will be, get these pups away from me, probably.
The U.S. Military came up with some Neurological stimulation for puppies starting at 3 days old. I started doing this to each puppy a couple of litters ago. Some of the claimed benefits are; (1) Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate). (2) Stronger heart beats. (3)Stronger adrenal glands. (4) More tolerance to stress. (5) Greater resistance to disease.
There are 5 different exercises that is done to each puppy for a period of 3 to 5 seconds, once a day, starting at day three through day sixteen. Longer duration or more times per day is detrimental.
The first exercise is to tickle the puppy between the toes with a Q tip for 3 to 5 seconds. I usually don’t see much reaction other than the puppy sometimes spreads their toes as I’m doing this.
The next thing is to hold them with both hands and the head straight up for 3 to 5 seconds. Sometimes the puppies wiggle but usually by the time the 5 seconds are over they are still.
Then still using two hands to hold them point the head down with the tail up. Hold this for 3 to 5 seconds. Even in this position these 3 puppies quit wiggling before 5 seconds is up.
The supine position is to hold the puppy so that it’s back is in both hands and it’s muzzle is pointed at the ceiling for 3 to 5 seconds. This morning one puppy arched his back and whimpered a little before settling down but the other two accepted the position with no problem. I think one went to sleep in those few seconds.
For the last exercise use a wet towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for 5 minutes. Lay the puppy on their belly on the towel for 3 to 5 seconds. I’m surprised how little sensation this causes in the puppies. Even as cold as the towel is they usually move but never try to get off. Of course, they are really young at this time.
I usually do this the first thing of the morning. I’m feeding Sally twice a day, right now, so it’s easy to work with the puppies at the same time. Even if this doesn’t do anything for the puppies it causes me to hold them every morning and when I feed her of the night I hold them again. I don’t do these exercises but one time a day, though.
To socialize them more, I have my family and friends pet the puppies when they come over. Several friends come over just to pet the puppies.
Two of these puppies are sold and I will probably keep the other. Usually, the way I make my choice is whatever is left. I will give both buyers their choice and I will keep the left over. I’ve done this several times and never been disappointed. I’ve never seen a bad puppy. I have seen bad dogs though.