Browsing Archive: July, 2013
Posted by Delores Smith on Saturday, July 27, 2013,
Almost 2 weeks old....puppies are growing and developing on schedule. Eyes opened in the last 48 hours and are starting to travel in the whelping box. Some are very mobile and fearless and then there are a few that start whimpering and whining as soon as they get to far from their littermates. I have a baby video monitor set up so I can check on the pups - they are a noisy bunch!
Dion continues to be a great mom and keeps their living quarters very clean...as long as the puppies are nursing...
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Posted by Delores Smith on Friday, July 19, 2013,
6 days old - what a good week. Puppies are growing and gaining weight at a good rate. Their pigment is changing to black. They still cannot hear or see...by the next weekend eyes will be open. They're a pretty content bunch...a lot of eating, pooping, and sleeping. Dion keeps their area very clean.
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Posted by Delores Smith on Tuesday, July 16, 2013,
It is fabulous being able to be home with the puppies this week. I must admit there isn't much to do at this point - Dion does it all. I change blankets, make sure Dion is drinking and eating enough to produce enough milk for them. But I do like to sit in their area and just stare at them. Already their pigment is changing from bubblegum pink to black. There's a picture to be taken every time I enter their room....between my grand daughter Chandra and the puppies, my camera is always rea...
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Posted by Delores Smith on Monday, July 15, 2013,
What a great day. With Dion on day 64 of her pregnancy, I must admit I was a bit concerned. Had visions of an emergency c section, which thank goodness, wasn't needed. The night was uneventful...but Dion was a bit different in the morning...I had slept on the couch in the sunroom with a blanket spread on the floor for Dion - I was determined not to miss any births. At 7 am I left the room for a minute and when I returned, Dion was lying on the couch, her head on my pillow. She was hard t...
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Posted by Delores Smith on Saturday, July 13, 2013,
Day 63 for Dion...her actual due date. It's slow going. At 4 am last night her temperature was 37 and I thought ok, now it's starting. Was back up to 37.4 at 7:30 am. I established a few days before that her normal body temperature is 38. When a pregnant dog is close to whelping her litter, her body temperature will dip below 37. It's common for it to fluctuate which it has been doing all day.
She's at 37.2 currently. She is doing more self grooming, which is another sign. Her breathing ...
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Posted by Delores Smith on Thursday, July 11, 2013,
We're in the final stretch...a few days to go. I'm sure Dion is counting down the days also. She measures at 38.50 inches (96.62 cms) around her girth. Her temperature is steady at 38. This is her normal temperature...normally a pregnant dog's temperature will dip well below 37 - once that happens you know that delivery is only hours away. She's a bit more clingy...underfoot all the time...no appetite for 2 days, which is also normal for this stage.
When it comes down to where she's going...
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Posted by Delores Smith on Sunday, July 7, 2013,
Only one more week to go - today is Day 57 for the Dion x Oz litter. Today is the day Dion told me in no uncertain terms that she was not walking further than a few feet. I guess it's just too uncomfortable. Her breathing is certainly different this evening..more labored. It's too soon - she needs to hang on for a few more days. Gestation period is 58-63 days - our girls are always closer to 63 days. Lots of movement of the puppies - love putting my hands on her sides and feeling the m...
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