Zenyatta's Puppies, 9 days old. - Page 2 - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

MaxsMom · 01-08-2013, 04:17 PM

Oh Dear - now I have puppy fever! Your babies are too cute.

Cathy43 · 01-10-2013, 05:49 AM

So shiny! Was wondering if something bad happened.

Capone's Mommy · 01-10-2013, 06:07 AM

Omg they are adorable!!! It always amazes me how something so small can grow to be so big. Congrats!

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Dobes&Hounds · 01-10-2013, 12:13 PM

The first 3 days we were in and out of the ER. Zenny was going past her due date so we brought her in to do an ultrasound and x-ray to make sure all the puppies inside were alive. Thankfully they were, she just had delayed labor. They counted 5 for certain.
We came home and not 15 minutes later out popped a big black girl. She was warm and vigorous. We cleaned her up and got her on a teat. Zenny then had a gush of bright red blood and another puppy. This one's sac was full of blood. I got him out, cleaned him up and he started crying. I was going to put him on a nipple and then I saw his whole rear end was deformed. He had no bum-hole and his tiny penis had no sheath. I told my hubby to take him in and have him euthanized. I know things like this happen frequently but it was still devastating.
About an hour later with a push and a thump... a big black male was born kicking and screaming. Totally healthy, and pulling himself around the whelping box as I was trying to take care of his cord and placenta. I put him on a nipple and things were good.
We knew we had two more to go. Another hour or so went by and another good sized black bitch was born. Something looked wrong with her sac though. The inside was full of poo. I ripped it open and got her out of that mess and did an extra suction of the mouth and nose to get the gunk out. She was hard to get started. I rubbed her till she screamed and put her on a teat. Just an FYI, poop inside the sac is caused by a placenta that seperates too early. It does not affect their development, just puts them at increased risk of a respiratory infection.
We had a looonngg pause in labor. Zen had previously had very heavy, painful contractions. She was now stalled out. I gave her ice cream to induce more contractions but nothing happened. We hit that critical 3 hour mark and off to the ER we went. They x-rayed again and checked fetal heart rate and the puppy was normal. Then the vet gave a shot of oxytocin and we waited. 30 minutes and nothing. She then gave a following shot but warned us if this did not work Zen would have to be C-sectioned. We of course agreed. We waited, and waited. Still nothing. I asked the vet to palpate her again for the puppy. She could feel a little bump when Zen pushed. They manually stimulated contractions and nothing happened. I gave the ok to do the section and the vet left the room to call in a surgeon. She wasn't even gone for a minute and out popped a GIANT red girl! We got that girl on a teat and everything seemed fine.
We kept watch and Zenny didn't seem to be producing much milk at all. The second day Zen was headed for a crash. She was dehydrated and would not eat or drink. We took her back to the vet and she got a huge dose of sub-q fluids and they did bloodwork to make sure she was not going into eclampsia.
Her bloodwork was fine, so they sent her home.
She still would not eat days later and I began stuffing her. The milk supply was all but gone so I quickly learned how to tube feed puppies. They had stalled out on gaining and we had to do something. Every 2 hours we were up tubing them and stuffing Zen. It was a fatigue-ridden nightmare.
The puppies were starting to gain though and Zen would eat things on and off. We tried feeding everything under the sun and one day she would eat chicken, the next day refuse it. Same with beef and all sorts of other delectable treats.
The care we have put in has been non-stop and relentless. The puppies now are wise to the tube feeding and don't really like it. Zen IS eating more frequently but I am still stuffing her to keep some milk production going.
For a first litter it has been a nightmare.
That's alright... the reward is seeing those fat little squeaking babies with their eyes open and thriving. Zenny is mentally doing better too. She is finally up for playing ball which gets her to drink water and thus produce more milk.
Did I mention she retained 2 placentas and had been having huge contractions all of last week after the oxytocin trying to get the crud out? This has been very hard on her body. It's hard to see my Z go through so much pain.
I know most litters don't happen like mine. Thankfully I have owned Dobermans and animals for a long time and had the experience and presence of mind to step up to the challenge.
I certainly am tired...

Sam1491 · 01-10-2013, 12:18 PM

What an experience, every bitch and every whelp is different but good or bad they are all exhausting! Glad to hear Zenny and the puppies are still thriving! Hugs to mom and babies.

Lori Z · 01-10-2013, 12:27 PM

((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) and wow. I had a feeling things were not picture perfect when you didn't post. Glad it seems things are moving forward and the pups look great. Poor Zen. Motherhood is a bitch sometimes...yup it is.

You kept your head and see, now you have nice pups and a happy mama. Good going.

**Fitzmar Dobermans** · 01-10-2013, 01:47 PM

Just as an FYI - you can start weaning them to a formula gruel at about 2 1/2 weeks if they can't get enough milk from Zen. It will take more work to get them to learn to lap it up, but certainly worth a try. I know of a long time breeder who did this for a singleton whose dam did not get her milk in.

Rosemary · 01-10-2013, 03:34 PM

Wow, that sure is an experience for your first litter. Hopefully, you'll be able to get some sleep soon.

Thor_Red · 01-10-2013, 06:01 PM

I'm not a breeder and never had to urge to be one. However reading what can go wrong certainly makes me doubly sure of it. What I am however is grateful to those of you that are good and responsible breeders who will do the hard work and deal with the ups and downs of breeding so that I can enjoy my furry children.

So THANK YOU

Cathy43 · 01-10-2013, 06:08 PM

And that, folks, is why I have no desire to ever breed a litter. Hope the hardest is over for you and it's smooth sailing from here on out.

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DobeGirl07 · 01-10-2013, 07:53 PM

Congratulations Laura!!

avianantics · 01-10-2013, 08:12 PM

Yikes! What a nightmare. Fortunately, those things don't happen to often. Congrats on the young'uns. They're adorable.

**SpecialK** · 01-10-2013, 08:55 PM

Gorgeous babies! Congratulations.

Also, thank you for sharing the details of the delivery. I know this might not be typical, but I think is important for people to be able to read and know how much hard work and dedication goes into breeding and bringing puppies into this world "the right way". Anyone who comes on here complaining that they want a "discount" puppy should read this!

Sherryh · 01-10-2013, 09:48 PM

OMG, you are so blessed ........Thank you for sharing your little ones with us. Are you keeping one

Hugs from just up the road!!

zorianak · 01-10-2013, 10:18 PM

Wow, well I hope things continue to improve. How heartbreaking - it sounds like she is doing much better though.

Thank you for sharing. They sure are cute

RottenVonSpotten · 01-10-2013, 10:20 PM

Hope everything goes smoothly from now on

I admire your hard work and love for Zenyatta!

dragonflyz · 01-10-2013, 10:29 PM

Congrats on the new pups, they sure are cute!

Dobes&Hounds · 01-12-2013, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialK

Gorgeous babies! Congratulations.

Also, thank you for sharing the details of the delivery. I know this might not be typical, but I think is important for people to be able to read and know how much hard work and dedication goes into breeding and bringing puppies into this world "the right way". Anyone who comes on here complaining that they want a "discount" puppy should read this!

HA! I've already had one dumbazz call and ask if I had a "runt" to sell him so it would be cheaper. I wanted to go off, but instead just said I was sorry and had no puppies available.
If nothing else, maybe my story will dissuade people who think breeding might be "fun" from doing it.
It is VERY hard when things go wrong.

Herb2relax · 01-12-2013, 08:09 AM

So adorable!

gatehouse · 01-12-2013, 10:37 AM

OMG they are soooooo cute! congrats!

gatehouse · 01-12-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dobes&Hounds

HA! I've already had one dumbazz call and ask if I had a "runt" to sell him so it would be cheaper. I wanted to go off, but instead just said I was sorry and had no puppies available.
If nothing else, maybe my story will dissuade people who think breeding might be "fun" from doing it.
It is VERY hard when things go wrong.

Sorry to hear all the problems.... I think you should get a medal for not tearing into that guy LOL.....I don't know if I could have been so polite!

Cookie's first litter was like that too - came home on an IV and it was all very scary. Oh but there is soooo much $$$$ in dog breeding

usmclove · 01-12-2013, 11:38 AM

want want want want want want too freakin cute omg! LOVE IT!!! <3

I'm sorry about the delivery

I once rescued a chihuahua mix and the place didnt know/or didnt want to tell me that she was pregnant. We were freaking out that she would need a c section we didnt know who what when where or anything about the papa dog (I'd never had a pregnant dog before and didnt know she was pregnant I assumed she was just getting pudgy from eating all the time and I took her to the exam to get her spayed and SURPRISE!) and she ended up delivering two pups ones male one female the male didnt come out on his own, mom got too tired in the middle of delivering him, so we pulled him out and his sac hadnt broken and was collapsing on his face so we had to manually cut it open and clean them up, then the male wouldnt latch... oh it was a mess, so I couldn't imagine going through what you did! so stressful... I'm glad they're all doing better though!

triciakoontz · 01-16-2013, 10:54 PM

You're amazing Laura - the way you have kept your cool with all the challenges for Zenyatta and the puppies is impressive. I know you are in for more challenge and sleep-deprivation as those little balls of fur get their legs under them and start interacting with their environment. Laura is raising a litter the way it should be done and it is a HUGE commitment of resources and energy. I see red when people post on this forum complaining about the prices that good breeders are charging. Often, raising a litter actually puts the breeder in the hole (financially and physically!) as this litter demonstrates.

They are gorgeous puppies! Hope the extra-ordinary challenges are behind you now and you "just" have the normal version of the busy-puppy stage ahead.

Rednec_13 · 01-19-2013, 01:50 PM

I been looking at getting a puppy. Being in rescue I knew i didnt want to help the problem that is out their with breeding. I spent so much time on this forum when looking at getting one and still learning as much as I can. I don't know if you want to post cost but it may help alot of people understand how much money it takes to really breed the right way.

PS to those who believe in the well being of the 4 legged members of our families I can not thank you enough. Thank you for all the time money and dedication you put in so we can have a long fulled life with the ones we love so much.

Tollers-n-Dobes · 01-19-2013, 01:57 PM

I am so sorry to hear of all the complications. How scary.

The puppies are adorable though, and I hope things have been a little better in the last week. Poor you and Zen!