They Have Arrived!

Today has turned out to be whelping day!  Thank you Deb for strongly suggesting the xray last week rather than tomorrow which is what I had originally planned!  We have three healthy happy boys.  One of the whelps didn't survive which is very disappointing but I'm happy with the boys that arrived.  In keeping with the Nursery Rhyme theme they are in order of birth: Nimble (green collar), Quick (blue collar) and Jack (orange collar). 

Pixie is a terrific mother!  Gentle and attentive, she took to the first puppy without a moments hesitation.  She may get a little obsessive with the cleaning but I'm sure they'll survive being sparkling clean puppies.  All three of the boys came out vigorous and hungry.  Each started sucking their paw while I was cleaning them up!  Many thanks to the whelping team of Henry (reluctant though he was, he did a great job tying off the umbilical cord for me), Lisa, Wendy and Mom.  Despite several litters being born in our home, Henry has managed to not be in the same room for any of them.

So the details of each pup are as follows:

 

Nimble:  green collar;  10.6 oz; born at 1:03pm; head presentation; dry; placenta later with another pup.

Quick: Blue collar: 7.9 oz; born at 1:45; head presentation w placenta.

 

Jack: Orange collar; 9 oz; born at 2:35; breech presentation w 2 placentas; small white spot on chest and top of head

(An additional placenta was delivered between pups 2 and 3)

Where's the milk?

Ahhh!  That's more like it!

 

Nimble going up my pants leg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Forgot...

...to post pictures of the whelping box set up.  Pixie tried it out for size.  BTW, it is in my family room right next to the computer/desk.  I started taking temps a few days ago to get an idea of her baseline.  She is running in the high 99s in the am and 101+ in the pm.  Normal temp for dogs is 101 - 102.  It is normal for them to be in slightly below 100 during pregnancy.  What I am looking for is a significant drop in her temperatures.  Below 99 even as low as 96+ often indicates impending whelping within 24 hours.

Sorry about the glowing eyes. Left on the flash.

And the Official Xray Count is.....

Pixie at the vet's office

4 little skulls and 4 little spines.

She has gained a little over 8 pounds.  So I was off by one :-P  I think number one is the one who has been playing with me.  I can't wait to meet them!

Day 56 is here and Happy Birthday Drew!

Poor Pixie is ending this past week with some discomfort.  Not from being a fat puppy-filled sausage with legs and a head sticking out of it but from being a greedy pig!  She scrounged some treats from my car, a loaf of bread and who knows what at the park!  So I've got our potato-turnip-fish concoction going which is a special treat to her.

She has definitely slowed things down.  She does a lot more trotting on runs but she still bounds up the stairs to eat and then flips off of the chair in the living room but she doesn't get as high in the air as normal. She has also enjoyed laying in the sunshine we've had for the past few days. Remarkably, the barking hasn't slowed down.

I can *see* puppies moving now!  I love it!  The whelping box is painted a pale blue and I've been nesting.  The backyard has had all debris taken away and the grass cut, the spare bedroom is put back together (this has absolutely nothing to do with the puppies it just needed done), bathrooms are cleaned and the area where the whelping box is going starting to get emptied out.  The box will be up tonight.  This weekend Drew and I are cleaning the basement (this will be one of the indoor puppy play areas).

 

I keep forgetting to measure her.  She is 26" around as of this am.  Xray this afternoon for a puppy count.  I'm guessing 5.  I will post results when I get them of course.

Is It 49 Days Already?

Goodness!  The time is flying by!  Only 2 more weeks.  Pixie-poo is a very cute little fatty.  When she sits and hold her bowl she tends to wag fast and her whole belly shakes back and forth.  She seems to be slowing down a little more on our runs but today is hotter than it has been in a while as well so it may be that more than anything.
Today wasn't the best day for the dogs in that they spent much of the day in their crates but it was fun for me. A few of us helped a friend whelp 6 cute, healthy Keeshond pups.  It was a nice precursor to Pixie's whelping.  I can't wait to see them especially since I can feel them moving more easily.  So exciting!  Yes.  I'm going to get an xray but not for a bit over a week from now.

• 45 days
  From this moment on, the growth of the fetus is very fast
• 51 days
  The bones of the fetuses are already calcified and therefore can be seen by means of x-rays in order to verify their positioning and approximate number

 

 

She looks halfway decent here b/c Roady is foraging through the shrubbery for mice and bunnies.

Keeshonden babies

I Think I Can! I Think I Can!

Back from Nationals relaxing on the couch.  All was quiet and Pixie was sleeping on me. I felt a McPixie move!!!!!!!  Sweet!  At first I thought it was gas but it happened again....and again!  But poor Pixie.  If she thought I was bugging her before just imagine how much she is going to have to tolerate now!  She doesn't look like it is bothering her too much though.

I forgot to mention a couple of changes beyond her fat belly.  She has a little clear vaginal discharge and bigger nipples.  But she still hops up on the top of her 400 crate not quite as gracefully so we're going to have to stop that soon.  And as a warning her penchant for rolling in nasty stuff hasn't stopped so I'm sure the puppies are getting a nice shake up in there!

42 days

We're went to Nationals in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (Isn't that a mouthful!).  Pixie passed the 42 day mark while we were there.  She definitely has a McPooch now! What a fun trip.  We got to see Debbie, Alycia, Kevin and the newest member of the McCrew, Declan.  Such an adorable baby!  Maybe he'll let mom and dad get a little sleep once he figures out that he can see better by sunlight than moonlight.  And he's getting started out right by getting his first dog show in within the first month.  Not that it worked for Drew in the slightest!

"40 days
The abdominal swelling is already noticeable in the mother, especially if there is a considerable number of puppies."

Pixie has definitely taken on the appearance of being with pup. It is so cute.  When we got home Henry and Drew were both impressed. These pics are from Friday after I finally realized it was Friday.  She looks a *little* better due to some assistance but she still manages to look a little forlorn with the camera in her face.

One of the best parts about the trip was that we got to spend time with Alex and his mom, Becky.  Alex participated in the Junior Handler seminar with Pixie (which she loved - anything with treats and she is in Game on! mode).  He is a new Junior Handler who is very excited about getting one of the pups so we laughed that he was already training his puppy inutero.