THE WHELPING SAGA

Yesterday afternoon (8/21) when I got home from the getting new tires & oil change (prompted by the lovely flat tire incident on Saturday) Nykeita had not eaten and her temp was down but no signs of impending labor. So I (wisely as it turned out) took a 3 hour nap and got up around 7:30 pm. She was panting heavily and in Stage I labor so I knew it was a matter of a couple of hours. Luckily she was kind enough to let me watch my TV show as the was the long awaited first episode of the new season. Around 9:35 she started having good contractions and first puppy was born at 10:13 pm. The first is usually the longest so I thought alrightly a fairly quick labor. First mistake -- never assume you have any clue what a bitch in whelp will do.

Apparently Nykeita is one of those bitches who love to nap b/t pups This is perfectly normal and not in anyway a problem except for the human staying up with her who can't nap too! So it was a whopping 2 hours until the next pup at 12:07 am on 8/22. The ones after that came a bit faster speeding up some at the end. Number 8 (the last one per radiographs -- second mistake to assume you found all the pups on Xray!) came at 7:47 am so I thought perfect. Have time to get ready and get to work not too late. So took a quick shower. got dressed, went back in the bathroom (where they are) and Nykeita was having contractions. I figured -- afterbirth or the like. NOPE it was a 9th puppy born at 8:25 am -- this poor pup was only about 1/3 the size of the others and malformed so I suspected she would not be with this world long.

Since I did not know if she was "done" or not -- I had to take her to work poor lass. So off to work (55 min drive) with mom & pups. Luckily no more pups on the way. Work was stressful for everyone but it went as well as it could. Unfortunately the last pup passed away around 6 pm tonight which was sad but not unexpected. What was unexpected was pup 4 died around lunchtime. Looking back he did seem a bit labored in his breathing but no other abnormalities. No apparent injury -- so no signs mom "squashed" him or suffocated him. Suspect something abnormal in the lungs - he was the second smallest of the pups although not nearly as small as the last pup.

So final tally is 7 pups. Started 8/21 going through 8/22 Their order is:

Pup 1 (10:13 pm) - male, medium brown/sable, black mask, white collar, blaze, feet, chest, belly, and tail tip, 17 oz

Pup 2 (12:07 am) -- female, medium brown/sable, black mask, no white, 16 oz

Pup 3 (1:45 am) -- male, dark brown/sable almost black, no white, possible mask? 17 oz

Pup 4 (4:15 am) -- male, medium brown/sable, black mask, white partial collar, blaze, chest, belly, feet & tail tip 15 oz

Pup 5 (4:56 am) -- female, silvery dark brown/sable, black mask?, no white, 16 oz

Pup 6 (5:42 am) -- male, medium silvery brown/sable, black mask, no white, 16 oz

Pup 7 (6:37 am) -- female, light brown/sable, black mask, no white, 19 oz (the COW!! she is stout!!)

Pup 8 (7:47 am) -- male, dark brown/sable almost black, black mask?, white toes, chest, chin, & tail tip, 18 oz

Pup 9 (8:25 am) -- female, black (not sabled and shorter hair, different sire?), no white, 5 oz, malformed

No names yet were going to call Pup 1 & 4 -- Remus & Romulus b/c they the "twins" but since Pup 4 passed away doesn't work anymore :-( ! And Pup 9 I was going to call Serendipity (Seren for short) since she was the surprise bonus. Sadly she did not make it either but that is probably for the best -- she was sure to have health problems.