Update on puppies... sorry short...very exhausted

[Chaos Ranch]

I have to be brief, I apologise ahead of time. I've only had 2 hours of sleep since Sunday morning.

My friend borrowed a fresh Nubian goat for me. She lost twins to a bad delivery just a day before that. so that was good (not that she lost her babies) cause she was full of colustrum..that would help my puppies...who were unfortunatly not doing well. They were getting sick. Since I didn't know what killed Katie, we were scared.

The puppies are doing very well now. I have them on meds 3 x a day to help them get better. They are getting much better and are eating extreemely well. (I have 7 here, my friend has two that she got as trade for Katie) This afternoon they ate a full 9 oz bottle and another 5 oz. after that. I did over feed them a little... but I want to make sure they are full. I burp them, wipe them, (you know

: ) give them their meds, and cuddle them awhile, then put them back into thier box of soft shavings and let them sleep.

Goat was never ever milked. She's a booger too. We have to pin her to milk her. Today I was trying to do it by myself and she flopped down on her belly and refused to get back up. Next time I went out she did the same thing, but I needed that milk for my puppies so I got her back feet, pulled them to make her lay on her side, and milked her right there laying down. :bgrin Goat didn't outsmart me. (that's saying a LOT considering how exhausted I am).

I've worked non stop on tons of things since Monday morning. Ate only twice since Sat. and body is starting to force me to stop. (I had haert surgery back in 96 and it reminds me once in awhile by knocking me to my knees). I have to go in now (it's nearly 2 a.m.) and feed the puppies and then at about 3:30 I will get to lay down until 6:30 and then I have to get up and do it all over again.

Pups are doing super, goat is milking about 8-10 oz. and things are starting to line back up. Katie's sister Emma is lonely. She's been with Katie all their life and she's been needing extra attention from us the past few days. Going to get Katies daughter from her first litter from my friend and buddy her with Emma.... later.... too much work right now to do.

 

[NMMack]

: Bless your Heart, and those tiny puppies too

:

What a load you have, but it sounds like you are handling it just fine! (except for needing a little bit of rest too!

: ) I loved the determination you showed with the goat! :bgrin

Be careful, take good care of yourself too!

:

Please keep us posted on how everyone is doing!

Nancy & Mike

 

[Charley]

So glad to hear the pups are doing well.

This has to be taking a toll on you. I hope you can get some naps during the day. Please be sure to double up on your vitamins and eat healthy. You definitely need all the energy you can find with the limited sleep that you are getting.

 

[lvponies]

Try to rest when you can and EAT!!!

: It won't do those puppies any good if you get sick!!

:

 

[SunQuest]

KIm,

Glad the puppies are doing better. You are taking good care of them. Do try to put them in with your other female (Pixie) that is the good surrogate for a few hours so you can get some sleep! She will help with wiping them and even though her milk is not the most nutritious at the moment, it will give you a few hours for the sleep that you so desperately need so that you can stay healthy! You are blessed to have a dog like Pixie, so let her help you so that you are not doing this all alone! After all, you are no good to those pups if you are not able to care for them, and with a dog like Pixie, she can help in so many ways and obviously LOVES to have pups around her!

Many hugs to you, your pups, Pixie, and Emma.

Oh, and Emma will be fine as well. And as a thought, would Emma do well with the pups? It may comfort Emma some to be around them for a bit. And yes, dogs grieve like humans do, so Emma will be upset for a bit. Just spend a few minutes with her and hold her and tell her what happened. She will understand and sharing your heart with her will help you as well as you both grieve.

(((hugs)))

 

[Chaos Ranch]

Oh, and Emma will be fine as well. And as a thought, would Emma do well with the pups? It may comfort Emma some to be around them for a bit. And yes, dogs grieve like humans do, so Emma will be upset for a bit. Just spend a few minutes with her and hold her and tell her what happened. She will understand and sharing your heart with her will help you as well as you both grieve.

(((hugs)))

:no: I can't tell her. I tried to twice but I just hugged her neck and my throat tightened up and I cried... I couldn't tell her.

I am sure she knows. While Katie had her babies they were separated in pens but their kennel stalls were right next to each other. She knows Katie isn't there now... and she knows the puppies aren't out there anymore.

I rechecked Pixie and only 2 of her nipples were giving milk. The others were nearly dry and the fluid I got out had no milk look to it. I am keeping the puppies inside the house with us because some of them are congested and we've had lots of rain, and now it's chilly and windy out there. In here it's a controlled temperature and I can hear them any time there's a problem.

Ideally I would love for Pixie to raise them up. She's eating well and still in very good flesh (after weaning the 10 puppies (her five and Emmas 5) but I want to go ahead and let her fully dedicate her attention to maximum body health right now. She took on those babies like a trooper and I know she loves babies, but I love her and I'd hate to see her stress herself instead of taking some time and enjoying herself rompling and playing with her sister Pearl.

Emma wouldn't do well with the puppies. She's a red merle,... and I've seen it in all 4 of my red females, and my red based puppies...red aussies seem to be a bit more aggressive than the black based ones. Emma is from a heavy combination of working stock on top and show stock on bottom. She's Alpha female here. Shoot. She's Alpha dog here over my blue merle male (she's his momma though) and my black tri stud dog. She's very vocally commanding to the other dogs.

I had Katies black tri female 1 year old pup for about 2 months, but I took her back over to my friend's house because I had the puppies and Katies litter due and 2 foals due and the 5 kids will be getting out of school next week and I needed to get back down to 4 females and my one male. (my blue merle is my pet, he stays in the house with us and he actually cleans those puppies when I let him go in my room just like their own mother would!) MaryLou (the black tri adult female pup of Katies) was sharing the pen with Emma since Katie was out in her whelping pen. They got along good, which is unusual for Emma. My friend offered to give her back to me so Emma doesn't feel depressed or alone.

I know it sounds like there are tons of dogs here.... I don't want to sound like one of those big breeders that toss dogs in a pen and go out to gather puppies. I spend time with my dogs several times a day, my puppies come out of their pen and run along beside me in the yard almost every day. and I hug my dogs dauly. Human contact and affection is very important to my dogs and I fully believe it keeps them very happy, healthy, and content. I just wanted to make sure ya'll knew I'm not a 40 dog kennel or anything.. no no. Just my two sets of sisters, and my black tri male and I know their full names, their personalities, and their temperments very well. They're my friends...> I'm home all the time since I can't see to drive, and my little horses and my dogs are the sanity in my life.... I love them all dearly.

 

[SunQuest]

It is all good Kim! I never got the impression that you were a puppy mill.

Emma knows. You sitting there with her, she knows. It is not always about what you say so much as the fact that you are there. Emma also knows you are upset, so she is worried about you as well.

I understand about Pixie. Raising 10 pups is quite the challenge. Leaving her to get back to pre-birth health is good.

I would suggest that you now give your blue merle that is your pet a job. Let him help if you trust him. I know it won't replace the feedings, but at least it would be one less thing you have to do. But the question in my mind would be if this is contagious as the pups are ill. Limiting exposure until you are sure they are not contagious would be best. But it also sounds like your boy has been in contact with them, so it may be a case of since he is already exposed, why not let him help. But you know your situation best, and you obviously care deeply about them, so I know you are giving the best care you can. I only suggest because sometimes when one is so tired, one doesn't think of little obvious things that could help. (Been there with a couple of foals that needed round the clock care. Doesn't take long before the brain quits working straight.) Of course holding those little bundles of joy must bring you some comfort. After all, how can one not feel special with a puppy in their arms?

And just so you know, my aunt's dog is sick with some kind of thing that made her really lethargic and sick to her tummy a little over a week ago. In a period of a few days, she lost 11 pounds, and only weighed 44 pounds to begin with! But I don't that it was contagious (at least our vet didn't think it was) as none of the other dogs that were at the farm got ill. Bloodwork did show her white cell count being way up, and the antibiotics have been working on bring it down. Still, my aunt's dog is on a second course of antibiotics to clear it up. Hopefully it is not some nation wide thing going around.

Hang in there. It sounds like you are doing great with them and (((hugs)))

 

[JeanH]

Darn, sure do wish I was closer to you. My pit bull just weaned her 11 puppies, and she's still dripping milk even though she put the breaks on all those teeth (her pups are 5 1/2 weeks). Daisy would adopt any puppy that needed her. She was always helping the shepherds with their litters before she had her own puppies.

I wish you all the best. I had a couple of slow starters in Daisy's litter, and I know how stressful THAT was.

Jean

 

[Chaos Ranch]

All of the positive thoughts and prayers sent to my puppies is definately working. They are doing GREAT!!!!

They have doubled their food intake, now between the 7 of them they are eating 15 oz. of goat milk at each feeding. Poopies are normal, no snots, no fevers, no nothing !!!

:

Their eyes are opening, they're pooping and peeing ont heir own, they have no unusual odor to them, and they are just absolutely thriving! I am so amazed.... never before could I have brought a litter through like this... I'm almost proud of myself. I was just telling my husband that I believe each and every one of these puppies are going to make it and he said he believes so to, that because of my determination and dedication he believes there's no way they couldn't make it.

: Gee whiz... that was nice of him to say.

I just wanted to let everyone know they are doing fantastically amazing and I couldn't possibly be more thrilled. They are going to be 2 weeks old Friday/Saturday and my friend said to get them through the first week of loosing their mom is the most crucial week...looks like we're going to be ok with the puppies!! :aktion033: :aktion033:

Thank you all again so very very much for the great advice, throughts, and information... I appreciate ya'll more than I can find words to say it.

 

[Miniv]

That's outstanding news!!! And yes, that was wonderful of your husband.......sometimes it's just those few special words that can make all the difference.

Oh, and your Emma "knows". I can betcha that she picked it right out of your brain about what was going on.

How are the the other two pups? Didn't you have nine?

MA

 

[Reble]

:aktion033: :aktion033: :aktion033: CONGRATULATIONS :aktion033: :aktion033: :aktion033:

Thanks for the update, you did it girl

:

 

[SunQuest]

WAHOO! :aktion033:

Keep up the great work and we will continue to keep you and the pups in our thoughts and prayers.

MA, she had 9 of them, but I believe that 2 went to Katie's previous owner in trade for Katie. I wonder how they are doing as well.

 

[~Karen~]

That is great news! I bet Katie is so proud of you and your diligence to her puppies. I've been rooting for them

:

~Karen

 

[Sterling]

Kim I have read your other thread and have not been able to respond, post, and be on the computer for a bit due to some personal matters...but I just wanted to tell you that my heart broke in two when I read your post about your Katie Bug.......my heart just went right down to my stomach when I read all your story about what happened and how you are taking care of those gorgeous puppies. I am sooooo very sorry about your loss....and I am so very happy that all your little ones are doing well.

 

[Chaos Ranch]

That's outstanding news!!! And yes, that was wonderful of your husband.......sometimes it's just those few special words that can make all the difference.

Oh, and your Emma "knows". I can betcha that she picked it right out of your brain about what was going on.

How are the the other two pups? Didn't you have nine?

MA

WAHOO! :aktion033:

Keep up the great work and we will continue to keep you and the pups in our thoughts and prayers.

MA, she had 9 of them, but I believe that 2 went to Katie's previous owner in trade for Katie. I wonder how they are doing as well.

:

: Yup...you're right. The other 2 puppies (a blue merle and a red merle females) went to my friend (the breeder I got my dogs from) as trade for Katie. She helped me get my foundation by sending 4 females and one male over here. In return she gets to pick 10 puppies (2 for each adult I got) from me. She's very partial to merle females so that's what she normally picks. It helped me get started with a foundation that she's carefullly bred for 14 years and we help each other (she seems to help me more than I get to help her right now).

She went ahead and kept those two to help ease the load on me. I called her this morning to check on the two girls and they're doing fantastic also. That's great!!! I am so hopeful now that they will all make it and they will all grow up to be kind, loving souls just like their momma and thier daddy.

 

[PaintedPromiseRanch]

:

: :bgrin that's me right now. i am so thrilled that things are working out, but the reason you are in this situation just breaks my heart... hang in there!

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

Oh Kim, God Bless you for taking the time to do everything possible for your puppies. They are in the best of hands with you. I am glad to hear they are doing good, but please remember to take care of yourself too. Corinne

 

[SunQuest]

Oh Kim, I just don't know what to say! It is a relief to hear that ALL the pups are doing well. Yet at the same time I feel like the others in that I cry at the thought of what you are going through.

Oh you have a GREAT friend helping you. It sounds like she deserves to be a breeder and she is making sure that you are being well educated as a breeder as well. Very responsible in my opinion. I don't know of very many people that would make the kind of deal that she made with you and would step in and take the risk of raising 2 of the pups at this fragile stage of life. And don't worry, you will help her in the future as someday she may need your help with a litter of pups.

Thanks for the update!