The vet knows that I've been raising dogs for 10 years. The vet knows that I do not call him with every litter whelped. The vet knows that I am not the type to panic at the sight of blood or prolonged labor. I was a bit peeved at the vet. I knew this wasn't within the ordinary parameters, but the dog wasn't in dire distress, just labor that wasn't right, so I played his game.
I sat with Grace all night and watched the clock tick by until 6:00 AM. I couldn't wait to wake the vet early in the morning besides waking him late at night. He deserved it. He said to meet him at the office in an hour and a half with Grace.
I won't even go into how peeved I was to continue waiting, but I donned jeans and an old sweatshirt and rushed to the vet's. At this point Grace had stopped with the freight train impression and looked like she wanted to die. I feared the worst - a huge litter of puppies dead. And the mom hospitalized from long labor and too much stress. (It's real, I'm not making it up.)
I did find it all kinds of fun to help with the prepping, and I got to watch the surgery. I love that kind of stuff. Although very quickly I was employed to shake down puppies so I missed a lot of the surgical work. But I learned a lot of theories, myths and a few medical facts. Have I mentioned that I love vet stuff? I won't gross you out with any details.
The tech and I were kept extremely busy with puppy after puppy after puppy. I knew Grace was huge, but 8 puppies later she was done. And they were huge, too. Definitely not week-early ones. And yet I know the dogs' due date - remember that day we drove to Ohio, then missed a flight at the airport on the way back? I do. I KNOW her due date.
We have 8 live, healthy puppies. We didn't lose a single one. They're absolutely beautiful, and Micah loves them. He calls them pigs.
Mama stayed at the vet for the day on an IV because she was terribly stressed. Hello vet? When I call with an emergency, you should know that it is one. In the meantime I'm bottle feeding puppies. It's like deja vu.
31 comments:
I'm glad everything turned out OK in the end. Times like this I KNOW Starbucks needs to figure out how to start delivery service.
They're gorgeous!!! Absolutely beautiful! I love the other gals checkin' out the new babies, and Gavin was all excited to see another picture of Micah (he's usually in bed when I get a moment to read blogs). Congrats! Hope you get a few short naps in-between feedings and that Gracie recovers quickly.
Your vet sucks. Big time.
What cuties! Glad to hear they are all ok. I hope Gracie make a speedy recovery. I wonder what the c-section rate is among dogs? ;)
The vet sounds like a few pediatricians I know! When will they wise up and trust the Momma's instincts?! I am so glad to hear that there are 8 happy and healthy puppies to show for it and hope the bottle feeding doesn't last too long!
(And Maren damn near stroked out looking at these pictures . . . she is still OBSESSED with all things doggy and would die were she able to actually pet and love on any of the dogs!)
CONGRATS on those beautiful baby puppies! THEY ARE ALL KINDS OF CUTE!!
Wow. What an experience!! I'm glad that it worked out and there are 8 gorgeous new puppies!!!
Seriously, they are too cute. I can't stand it.
i love that your puppies are here and fine...he should've listened.
brooke says congratulations on your dadorable (exactly as she says it) baby puppies who are precious.
love that micah calls them pigs! ha!
AWW- aren't those adorable!! Glad everything turned out well in the end. Hope Mommy pup (grace) is doing well after it all. Also hope you have gotten some sleep!
So- not that you spent way too much money getting her this way but now you have to pay for the C-section as well?!!
Yea puppies! Love the pictures...not your vet...love the Starbucks, atta girl!
(((hugs)))
Oh my goodness, those puppies are cute! I love that picture of Micah holding the little one. Congrats!
Oh Gawd. I remember bottle feeding puppies. Whew! At least the kids can help until Mom gets home.
The vet need to step back and re-evaluate who his clients are. One of the reasons I loved my pediatrician so much was that she knew I knew if my kids were sick and never ever once brought them in just on a wild hunch.
What did he end up saying about it to you?
i'm thinking you should call the vet tonight at 2 a.m., just to say hi and that you were thinking of him.
bwahahahahahaa.
adorable pups.
What sweet puppies! Hope their mommy is doing well.
congrats on the newest litter of puppies! Sorry to hear the vet didn't listen when you called the first time - gggrrr! Glad to know all 8 of the puppies are doing well, and I hope you won't have to be bottle feeding for too much longer!
OH they are adorable, and I am glad that their momma is okay. I hate it when vets think they are right, uhg. And he should have known you weren't kidding when you called him at 1 am. We have an emergency vet clinic 30 minutes away. ALl the vets in town have pitched in to build it and they take shifts working there at night. It was a great idea. Now if you have an emergency, You just drive there and they do everything. Your poor momma dog. I hope she can come home soon.
Wow that's the first time I have ever heard of a vet acting like a doctor for human beings.
Beautiful puppies again! So will Grace retire now? That was a big job!
And those are lovely spaniels?
Is Micah talking out loud now or with the box?
Wow! That's a not fun way to give birth. I'm not complaining about my experiences anymore. Yay to all of them living, but boo to bottle feeding. Fingers crossed that mom can take over soon?
And ummmm is it POSSIBLE that she took from an earlier appointment before all the hassle with Ohio? Being totally not knowledgeable about breeding anything myself :)
Love the puppies!
Oh -- and what's shaking down a puppy?
They are too cute for words! I hate it when vets or doctors treat you like you are a panicy parent.
Their noses are pink! And they're so darn cute!!! Micah's cute too. :) You gonna sleep soon?
Karen Deborah - this is common among corgis, so I'll breed her again. She's came home a few hours later and took right to mothering her large brood. She's such a wonderful dog.
Oh - and Micah signs PIG. It's one of his favorite animals so he learned to sign it early on.
Congratulations uh, Grandma? Is that it? The pictures are lovely. I hope you'll be getting some sleep soon too!
Congratulations on the puppies. That darn vet should know that when you call, you know what you are talking about! Thankfully, everyone is okay.
awwwww! They are adorable - congratulations on your puppies, and wonderful you did not loose any!
They are a beautiful bunch of puppies!
I love Doctor's who down play the situation. And then they wonder why you let something go so long. Do they not know, they can not have it both ways? Argh!
Glad everybody is doing OK.
I kinda wish you grossed us out with the details, but the pictures are good enough!!! Too cute! Congratulations, Grandma!
Awww congrats! :)
Hope mama recovers soon and begins enjoying her puppies as much as your son Micah does. I agree, Corgi pups do look like pigs at that age. They are gorgeous, what fun!
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