You have read the title and now know the Enosch pups have arrived, but before I tell you about the puppies I feel the need to share my trials and tribulations just prior to their birth…maybe more accurately a rant? or a vent?
Tuesday 2/11/14 started with a visit to a fancy vet clinic with the best radiographic equipment so I could get an accurate pre-birth count of how many puppies Karma was carrying. Karma was about as wide as she was long. The fancy clinic person takes my Karma to the back for the xray for at least 30 minutes they return her to me from doing x-rays and tell me she has 7 – 11 puppies. My response, “by looking at her, I would say 8 – 10 puppies. I came here because I want an exact count.” After all what is so hard about this? They then show me a poorly exposed xray. Sigh. As I am looking at radiograph the technician starts to show me how she comes up with her 7 – 11 puppy count…by counting spines. I ask her what (the hell—though I didn’t say it) she is doing? All of you who have followed the blog know you have to count heads not spines…very basic stuff. I asked politely, although I may have been slightly clenching my jaw, if she could please redo the radiograph and properly expose it so I can have an accurate puppy count? I am told no “because there is too much fluid around the puppies and that is the best they can do.” OK……… anyone want to take a guess at my facial expression? Anyone want to guess what I was thinking? Hint is was something like WTF? I just shook my head, paid my bill. What a waste of time, money, extra stress on an extremely pregnant female, and higher blood pressure for the human. I am still shaking my head every time I just think about this.
Karma was bred one time to BSZS VA Enosch von Amasis SchH3, KKL1a, LBZ; 9 weeks from the date of breeding was 2/16/14, however, the 9 weeks should be calculated from the date of ovulation not the date of mating. Unless you run a progesterone test every single day you do not know the exact date of ovulation, so I estimated a due date of February 14th.
Later on the 11th (the day she was xrayed) Karma has her first puppy…..surprise!
She had 4 pups on the 11th and 5 pups on the 12th. Five males and four females, unfortunately I lost the last born (a female) that was born at 5:45 am because I dozed off and did not wake up in time to get her airway cleared. I think even 30 seconds sooner and she would still be with us. I feel so bad as she a beautiful, fat,healthy puppy, that clearly just passed. I had already been up all night why did I allow myself to fall asleep at all? Stupid, I should have been doing jumping jacks or something to stay awake. Some mother’s are good at roughing up their pups which help get them breathing. Karma expects me to do this for her, she is very calm, relaxed, and gentle.
Since the majority of the pups were born on the 12th, February 12th will be their birthdate. Here they are the beautiful newly born pups:
Karma slept between puppies:
Our tired momma:
I started the neo-natal-nero stimulation the evening of the 12th, adding the early scent introduction (ESI) protocol https://24kgsd.com/blog/2014/01/25/esi-early-scent-introduction/
Maybe this seems too basic, but for their first scent I offered them the back of my hand to scent. Observing their behavior scenting my hand was not too simplistic to present to them for their first ESI experience. You could see them “seeing” through their noses, super cool. The second day their ESI object was one of Caitlin’s acrylic gloves. The third day was a leather glove. I think today (the 15th) I will use plain white paper. Nothing harsh should be used that could hurt their noses like a detergents or chemicals. In no way do I feel like I will run out of items to offer them for their ESI but I would enjoy hearing your suggestions. Having fun!
O-litter Enosch x Karma d.o.b. Feb 12, 2014 3 girls 5 boys
It is really a shame that you don’t have a vet who would be willing to take instructions on how to properly x-ray a pregnant dog. Tiffany could certainly show them how to do it. We have all become spoiled over the years as no one is better than Mos and his assistant Tif.
The bloody like spots you see are not from the puppies but discharge from the mother. This is a normal part of the birthing process.
Sorry you had to work with an incompetent and then pay for it. I agree, WTF. Even sorrier you lost one of the babies. They sure are a nice looking group of pups.
Maybe you should try scenting them on truffles, we can take them to France and spend time drinking wine on the coast of the French Riviera from the proceeds!!!!