Don't Panic

Since I haven't been able to get off my hill since a week ago Thursday... haven't even tried... and because today I started the rounds of vet and grooming appointments (plus I'm out of everything except dog food,) I left to do some running around... post office, grocery store, etc... a couple hours before I would have to leave with the first two pups going to the vet.

And could NOT get back up the hill. Well, I got as far as my driveway and maybe 10 feet up it before I came to a halt and started sliding backwards. It was NOT a pleasant sensation! I'm really bad at backing up, especially when I'm still in "drive" and didn't want to put the car in a ditch. I stopped before THAT happened, finagled around a little and SLOWLY backed down to an area that was not snow (ice) covered. Two tries later, I knew I was done.

I pulled into a neighbor's drive, asked permission to leave the car there (although no one ever asks ME if they can leave a car at the bottom of MY drive!) and called my son for help. He came over, made it up my drive on the second try, we put the two pups in his car and went to the vet. (It is cold enough I wasn't worried about meat and milk staying in the trunk for several hours!)

Pups did fine at the vet, even though they both got carsick (and one threw up IN my purse... I've been thinking about a new one anyway.) Di's puppy weighed in at 11.14 pounds (the largest in his litter) and Cotton's at 12.8 pounds (middle of the road guy, but they're all really close in size.)

No salt is available in this area, but my son managed to get my car to the top of my drive once we got back home. Tomorrow, I'll put the pups in the car, take them to the groomer, do all my running around (several hours worth, including a trip back to the vet with a couple of my dogs) and hope the temp is warm enough to melt much of the ice so I can get back up. And if it isn't, I have my kid on speed dial!

Coccidiosis
Alright, I just sent out the "general health issues" email which I hope everyone will read.

The pups tested positive for coccidia. It is a natural part of the digestive system which is shed during times of stress... rehoming, post surgery, during boarding... and often causes loose, sometimes bloody stool. It is EASILY and CHEAPLY treated with Albon, a thick, sweet tasting sulfa suspension which pups (and dogs) LOVE the taste of. None of these guys has loose stool but they ARE transitioning to adult dog food... and living within such a large group has to be stressful. So we're starting with the Albon tonight. It's a once a day treatment, for a week to 10 days. Usually, after a couple days, you no longer see the coccidia on the fecal exam... so we'll see how it looks with Monday's puppies!

One thing, I can't send Albon home with the pups that are flying... the airline really doesn't like meds taped to the top of the crate. However, you should mention it to your vet when you take your puppy in for his initial exam and possibly put it on another week of treatment. Feel free to have YOUR vet call MY vet, if you like.

Shipping Info

It looks like everything is going to be back to normal this weekend, so shipping is being scheduled as planned... for NEXT week. (It's too early to tell about weather and temps for the following week.) Don't forget: it all still depends on what happens leading up to each departure... weather, equipment, dumb people at the airport, etc... so be prepared to be disappointed even while your fingers, toes and eyes are crossed.

PLEASE read the article on shipping on the website
(http://breeders411.com/SHIP.html)
There is a LOT of stuff in that article... like shot records, food, etc.

And the emails I am sending out... yesterday and over the next few days... also have a great deal of information which you may find yourself needing in the next couple weeks. Things like adjustment (the pup's, not yours,) handling, feeding, diseases to watch for and so forth. You may want to print them off and put them somewhere easy to get to for when you need them.

Cotton and Pups

Every day, when Cotton's pups are out of their pen, she sits crowded up against the front of hers. When they get tired, they all lie down right there, on the other side of the wire and go to sleep. Di and Emy both stay in the very back of the pen when their pups are out. And Cotton will sit back there with them and plea with me to let HERS out. So tonight, I put Di's and Em's pups up and let Cotton's out and then let COTTON out. Here we are, 3 hours later, and she is still playing with them. Four of the nine are worn out and are sleeping next to my chair. Two others are in the room, sitting up, watching their mom and the other three. The tired ones take a break and a brief nap and then go back to playing. Cotton has not stopped. The pups are 11 weeks old today.

I wish the weather was better... ALL the pups and moms would have SUCH a good time outside!

My Days

I wrote the following in response to a question about a puppy's weight. Several of you have asked, so now you know!

I haven't had time to weigh the pups. I know everyone thinks I'm just
sitting here playing with 2 dozen babies... were that was true! Today I
did everyone's ears and flea topical (as well as photos.) Tomorrow I'm
starting everyone's nails... again. Then there is hair clipping around
eyes, butt and bottoms of feet, not necessarily in that order! Worming
(5 days in a row) coming up and let's not forget shots. Plus, you have
NO idea how much newspaper I go through a DAY, especially as the pups
have not been able to go outside at all. I used to make one trip to the
dump a week with dog and household "trash." Now it's at least two and
one of those is JUST dog stuff! And don't forget I have to pick up tons
of newspaper in the first place so the pups can use it so I can make the
landfill people rich!

I'm not complaining... well, yeah, I am! Or maybe I'm just making an observation. Having multiple litters for the first time in years has been an opportunity to watch puppy development with a new intensity. And the fact that Di's and Emy's pups are 3 days older than Cotton's has been like previews of coming attractions. It is amazing how the whole litter changes one day at a time, all 3 litters on the same schedule. Nature is a wondrous thing!

Winter

The snow is coming down continually, at various rates. Today's high was 25, but tomorrow is supposed to be warmer... 27. Very windy overnight; thankfully, it is calm now. I should have taken these shots early this morning because the trees were covered with snow and quite beautiful, however I didn't!
By the way, these are COLOR pictures.

A Few Things

Several of you have emailed questions about the shipping process. There is an article on the website about shipping which covers just about everything I could think of when I was writing it. Please read it and then ask any questions that aren't answered there... you won't be the only one who wants to know!

Weather
I'm snowed/frozen in until mid week... Wednesday or Thursday... which is fine, sort of. I do wish the weather had been more co-operative the last few weeks. The pups would REALLY love being able to go outside and tear around. BUT here's hoping all the bad stuff for the month will happen in the next 5-6 days so everything will be okay for all the running around to vet and groomer and delivery of pups. If any of you have an in with the weatherman, PLEASE! put in a good word for us.

Live and Learn

Sooo, the weather cleared up from all the rain and the temp was in the high 40s. Being the experienced dog person that I am, I thought "Hey, great day to open the door and let these pups go out on the deck for the first time." So I did it. They cautiously made their way through the portal and slunk around the great outdoors. After just a minute or two, they were fairly comfortable and took to real exploration, even sticking their heads between the railing slats to take a gander at what was beyond.
I left them and went back inside to clean up dirty, wet newspapers (which seems to be my main function these days.) One of my older small breed dogs was supervising the pups... she likes them when they're involved with things that keep them from jumping on her. I stuck my head out every couple minutes, just to make sure the sun was still shining and no one seemed distressed.
When it was time to put the first gang up and let out the next, I realised my mistake. I hadn't been counting how many pups were on the deck... and a good many of them weren't. Some... a lot... had followed Smokey down the steps. Which would be a good thing. Except. It had rained for days. Read that "Water, water everywhere... turning everything into mud." Calling myself a few names that could probably get me kicked off the internet, I locked up the CLEAN pups I could get my hands on quickly and then rounded up the... not so clean ones. Of course, they all decided going DOWN the stairs was doable but going UP was beyond them.
I'm still clipping mudballs from between the pads of their feet. And when they're spic and span again, I'll clean up myself. I hope to get to it before I have to meet any of you.

Beckett and Bella

Tony sent this shot of Emy and Sparky's guy, Beckett, and his roomie, Bella, the Portie.
Nice to see some clean puppies.