Sunday, May 30, 2010

the big world!

Today they ran from their bedroom pen, which Teensy, who I think will be Dyna for Dyna Mite or Hare O Dynamic, climbed out of; they went thro the big world of the kitchen to their pen in the living room. Very interesting! Quite a challenge getting there with mom and sis rooting them along and Spicy thought they might like to play! Breaker headed for high ground. They swarmed the old cat so he decided going out was a really good idea.It was great to see them motoring along, they all reach, they are bold and adventurous, up, under and around everything. Most are pretty long pups too, small but pretty correct. Spots has big ears, gotta be one! They really know how to wag their tails too. It is funny how much more I notice happening on a day to day basis with these guys.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Ham bones

I gave the pups a couple of ham bones to gnaw on and Teensy took off with the biggest one. Patch is bold enuff so he has the other end, The other 4 are working on the small piece. There isn't much for them to actually chew on but their sharp little fangs need some blunting! I wish I could find may camera piece!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Pups today

I was taking them in for vaccinations but the vet who saw them before is home sick. I guess it will be next Thursday if I want to see her. I want to maintain some consistency so when she checks the clefts she may notice changes more.
I found them a treat tonight! I had cooked some carrots and I chopped some up for them, I thought they are not a clingy or gooey thing and nutritious to boot. They loved them!
The little fawn water marked male is up to 3 pounds, 2# 14 oz for Blaze and 3# 4 oz for Teensy, they may be a rare breed, Min Whips!
Spots is 4 pounds, Patch 3# 10 oz, and Baldy is 3#9oz. Everyone is eating well, this is pre late supper weight. If I give them a final meal and a snuffle flush about 10 they sleep through until I get them up at 6 or 6:30 and they are not overly hungry or thirsty or snuffley. Now that they are running around and playing they drink more but seem to stay clearer in the sinuses. Some still haven't figured out the best drinking method and a couple like to play in the water.

Pup update May 27

The pups are doing quite well, one female doesn't eat properly free choice when I am at work. I give them all a syringe of water when they are finished eating when I am home, I think it has helped keep their sinuses clear and if anyone hasn't had enough to drink I give them as much as they want by syringe. Most of them seem to like it!
They are gaining a lot now, I must weigh them today. They are playing with toys and fighting like typical Whippet puppies! They take turns coming on the couch and mom and/or big sis are there to play one on one too. The little guys really get rough!
Their personalities are really developing as are the attitudes. Teensy is not so litle anymore, she is really tough. Blaze, the other girl, is much quieter and seldom gets into the battles. Fawn Boy has really blossomed in the last week, he likes to play with toys now too. The other day he was shaking the rope and then he pounced on the big stuffy and was shaking it and then he went into 'hump' mode. We laughed so hard at the expression change on his little face. They do start early!!
Patch and Spots are the tough guys, they were stomping aroung each other this morning with their heads and tails up, they took on each other and then decided that Baldy could be a victim, he just took out Patch and Spots left!
Patch and Blaze are packing a toy right now, oh, they decided to go get Teensy who was in the litter pan. Spicy went to the wire so they are all licking her now. They sure can take up a day!

Susan and Carla's litter is looking good! Very colourful, fat and happy. Mom has rubber babies too!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Pup photos

I think this link will work. Today I went to work without the babies. I worried about them but they seemed to be fine! They had company tonight and after everyone left they hung on the x pen like a bunch of prisoners and wailed and whined. Baldy didn't get played with as much as the others did so he got to come out and play with me and his mom. He had great fun with her.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2068072&id=1255081042&l=bbec241417

Monday, May 24, 2010

Choices

I wouldn't normally write this but I feel that if I do not explain a couple of
things some people will start pointing fingers and screaming 'Genetics' and that
could adversly affect other people. I do not believe in hiding problems as
nobody learns anything either. So I will start at the beginning. I had not
planned to breed but I had company and while I was outside a little girl opened
a crate, a dog hit a bedroom door hard enough to get in and things happened. So
I thought oh well, this is a repeat of a breeding I did a year and half ago and
there were pretty nice pups in there so things are not so bad.

Well, very early in the pregnancy I had to take the bitch into the vet at 1:30
a.m. The vet and I think she ingested something, it affected her quite hard but
she appeared fine the next day. She is not a thief or garbage dog but who knows
what she may have found, we have ATV people driving by and she hunts when we go
out. Then I took her in again as I was afraid she was anaemic which is not
uncommon. She was just above it in spite of the fact that I had been feeding her
iron rich meat etc.

Then 58 days into the pregnancy she went into labour. I have never had preemies
before and at first things progressed nicely, a couple of pups 45 minutes apart
and all is well. Then out came #3 and the bitch grabbed the placenta and the
cord tore by the abdomen, I clamped it and then 10 min. later up she stands out
comes another pup. This one landed before I could grab it and it's umbilicus
tore. There I am at 3:30 on the phone asking a friend to come help while holding
clamps on 2 cords. Friend arrives, pups # 5 and 6 come out pretty normally and
then #7 is stuck. Luckily my friend has long thin fingers and she is able to get
a grip on the head while I hold the bitch up and press on her abdomen with the
contractions. We get everything settled down and are talking about how small
some of the pups are and not nursing and we think it is because they are
preemies, mom doesn't have milk and they are weak. I get ready to tube them.

Now you are all wondering what the heck is this all about. Well, not only are
the pups preemies but I find out later that they are also clefts. Yup, all of
them to one degree or other. I am totally shocked, never had one of those
either; the vet suggested euthanizing them all but I had to think this over.
Euthanizing a puppy who is ill is one thing, when they are fighting for life and
not necessarily going to have a bad life is another. Culling and putting down
just do not sound the same when you put it in plain English and call it killing.
The last couple of years I have had more than enough deaths to deal with. I have
worked in clinics and putting a puppy down is not as painless as regular
euthanasia. Anyway, this is where the choices come in. One pup didn't do well at
all and I chose to end her life. When one is feeding pups every 2 or 3 hours you
have a lot of time to think. I read about the issue and there are a lot of
people who feel that clefts deserve to live. I cried a lot over this but I am
lachrymose anyway.

I contacted my people who wanted puppies and told them that the pups would get
every chance at life possible and as long as they gained and were having a good
life I would help them. My criteria was going to be that they would have to
learn to eat dry kibble and drink water. I also told them that if they still
wanted a puppy they had to educate themselves and decide what degree of cleft
they could live with. I would not sell them a pup but they could use the
purchase money to do surgery if they wanted to. I told them that the pups would
be treated like any other pup, they would be registered, vaccinated, socialized
etc. They would also go with my contract which states that I take back any dog
during its life. I did tell them that I could not give my usual health gurantee
because I do not know how badly they will be affected. If the clefts close or
the pups do well and they want to send me some money later that will be their
choice.

Every pet puppy person said they still want a pup!!! One person said that since
I got them that far they were meant to live. Pneumonia does in a lot of them,
that and the fact that they take a lot of care esp when the mom has very little
milk so that even the ones who can suck well aren't getting a lot. I also had a
couple who have had 2 whippets from me say that if nobody wanted a couple of
them and if they needed surgery they wanted to pay for one. Then I could ask for
money for that one and fix the next one. I could then pay them back if I wanted
to! They said they give money to save the animal type things all the time. How
about that for friends!

Anyway, as I said at the start, it is all about choices, this was my choice and
6 lively, friendly, growing puppies are making it look pretty worthwhile. I am
expecting you to make the choice to not point fingers and blame anyones' dogs.
Read up on clefts and you will be amazed at the things which can cause it. You
might also want to give one a chance at life should you face this difficult
choice. I do not expect everyone to agree with my choice but I really don't care
because the people who mean a lot to me have supported me and are cheering the
little ones on.
I have started a Blog with photos as lots of people are following them.
I have a video too but need help getting it online so that could be awhile.

Paulette

Drop Box

Puppies with Spicy, Clea and Sandy

 
 
 
 
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