My puppies continue to grow. We had a very good night and more of the same today.
I can leave the box a little more now, and they are always excited to see me back. My return gets them moving from one end of the box to the other.
Pack Leader was able to trim nails of two boys this afternoon --- he didn't use the same words he used with the first litter, so that is a good sign. Hopefully, the other two will get their nails done soon too --- the one downside of not making myself available 24/7 is that they are more aggressive nursers when I get back. This is an important part of their development --- getting them moving and training them to eat when they have the opportunity is an important part of a mother border collie's job.
I let Silken observe the puppies from an adequate distance today.
Editors note: Don't take everything Cait says literally. She might have been out of the box for 30 minutes so far today.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 2
After their exciting first day my boys have given Mom a little break. They gave me the gift of more sleeping time, and I was able to go out for a short back yard walk just before dinner. I'm getting fed three times a day now, and that is definitely a bonus.
The boys are able to move a little faster, and all four were pushing up on their hind legs to nurse today.
The boys are able to move a little faster, and all four were pushing up on their hind legs to nurse today.
All of the pups put on weight over the first 24 hours:
- #1 was up 20 grams to 440
- #2 was up 30 grams to 420
- #3 was up 40 grams to 470
- #4 was up 20 grams to 430
Puppy # 1
Puppy #2
Puppy #3
Puppy #4
Unfortunately this was the only shot of #4 today that was in focus. I'll make sure that the Pack Leader makes up for that tomorrow. Have a good night everybody. We're going to turn in early.
Faolin came home today with a couple of blistered pads and the same old attitude. She hasn't told me about her adventure ... yet.
One Day Old
My pups had a good night. I am still a little uncomfortable, but feeling better by the hour. My appetite has returned with a vengeance and I am getting my figure back. Following is a short video of the pups nursing first thing this morning. Sorry that the picture isn't brighter --- Pack leader has assured me that he will make the necessary adjustments for the next video.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
First Pictures (and another Faolin story)
David here again. My apologies for not posting pictures earlier today, but it has been a heavy couple of days.
As posted earlier, Faolin and Silken went to stay with friends in Kingston on Thursday and Faolin decided to do a runner last night. Fortunately prodigal Faolin was tracked down this afternoon almost 15 kilometres west, and about half way to the Amherst Island ferry, negotiating several busy roads and highways along the way. So working with my friend Gayla, I spent most of the day (between looking after pups and Cait) organizing flyers and making contacts to track Faolin down.
One of my university roommates is the hero of the day. He is a senior Ontario Provincial Police officer and spent his day off handing out and posting flyers. It was his work that developed the lead to track Faolin down. I am forever thankful to Brian, and his wife Liese, Gayla and a number of her friends for the extraordinary efforts to track my "challenging" border collie down.
Enough about that. Just wanted to explain the delay and celebrate Christmas early.
Now on to the important business. My other excuse is that it is next to impossible to get good new born puppy pictures. They are exceptionally wiggly, so these are the best of many attempts.
As posted earlier, Faolin and Silken went to stay with friends in Kingston on Thursday and Faolin decided to do a runner last night. Fortunately prodigal Faolin was tracked down this afternoon almost 15 kilometres west, and about half way to the Amherst Island ferry, negotiating several busy roads and highways along the way. So working with my friend Gayla, I spent most of the day (between looking after pups and Cait) organizing flyers and making contacts to track Faolin down.
One of my university roommates is the hero of the day. He is a senior Ontario Provincial Police officer and spent his day off handing out and posting flyers. It was his work that developed the lead to track Faolin down. I am forever thankful to Brian, and his wife Liese, Gayla and a number of her friends for the extraordinary efforts to track my "challenging" border collie down.
Enough about that. Just wanted to explain the delay and celebrate Christmas early.
Now on to the important business. My other excuse is that it is next to impossible to get good new born puppy pictures. They are exceptionally wiggly, so these are the best of many attempts.
Cait and Her Boys
Puppy # 1 (aka "Harry Potter")
He is almost all black, with a little white flash on his forehead. Like all the pups, he has white paws and tail tip. His weight after first nursing was 420 grams (14 3/4 ounces).
Puppy # 2
The smallest pup, had a little bit of a slow start but has made up for it all day at Cait's diner. He weighed in at 390 grams (13 3/4 ounces). I only have one decent photo of him so far (with #3 on the left below) because I didn't want to interfere with either his nursing or sleeping time. He has a white irregular collar (like Benny from the first litter) and an olympic torch blaze (like his Mom and Jade from the first litter).
Puppy #3
The biggest puppy weighed in at 430 grams (15 ounces). He has a white triangle on the top of his neck (that could move as he grows), brindled cheeks, and perhaps Trim's famous eyebrows. It will take several days to see the extent of the tan and brown tri-coloring.
Puppy # 4
The loudest and most food driven pup on day 1. He has both a white head (with the exception of the ears and part black top) and a white irregular collar. So far, haven't been able to pick up any tan, although there could be some on the back legs. He looks a lot like my Silken. He weighed in at 410 grams (14 1/2 ounces).
That's all for tonight. We'll try to get a little day 2 nursing video tomorrow morning.
4 Boys - Pictures to follow - born between 8:15 and 8:20
David here. This will be my one post.
Cesarean section again. Our vets Michelle and Lex kept us on a tight leash given what happened with the first litter. It was a good thing they did. 5 minutes after stage II contractions started there was significant green discharge --- suggesting a rupture in one of the sacs. We flew down the road to our vets and Cait was on the operating table at 8:10 a.m. Turned out the ruptured sac was Puppy #2 and fortunately we were able to save him and he is doing just fine.
Cait and the pups are all doing well. The boys are nursing for the second time. A couple of real big ones again, and all with very different markings.
Cesarean section again. Our vets Michelle and Lex kept us on a tight leash given what happened with the first litter. It was a good thing they did. 5 minutes after stage II contractions started there was significant green discharge --- suggesting a rupture in one of the sacs. We flew down the road to our vets and Cait was on the operating table at 8:10 a.m. Turned out the ruptured sac was Puppy #2 and fortunately we were able to save him and he is doing just fine.
Cait and the pups are all doing well. The boys are nursing for the second time. A couple of real big ones again, and all with very different markings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)