Birthing

Have you thought that you'd like to raise puppies? If so, have you really done the research about what can happen when that miracle occurs?

As you know, Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of all dogs and there are good reasons why you will hear or see that most breeders advise others against doing it. Their advice is given from experience, not from the thought that you might "take away a sale". Breeding should be a joyfull experience, but more often than not, with a small chihuahua, you may very likely have to birth pups by C-section. Are you willing to take the chance of loosing either her or the pups?

The following is my experience with a C-section birthing in 2008.

Earlier this summer, I bought a Champion female chiuhuahua, but had the owner breed her to one of her studs, before sending her to me. She had already had two litters previously, and was now 4 years old. She and the other female that I bought from her, would be my foundation stock, that I hoped would start my own line of show dogs.

She had been bred by the male 5 times, and the 1st breeding was a bit early, so we thought that she wouldn't have them until at least the 25th of September. I had taken her in on the 20th for a check up and X-ray, where we saw that she was carrying two pups. The vet couldn't find any sign of teeth starting to develope, so she thought that the birth wouldn't happen until the next week.

Well, Fauna had to prove everyone wrong! She started showing signs of impending labor at about 3pm on Saturday! Mostly she spent her time digging her nest, but once in a great while, it looked like she may have had a contraction or the puppies were moving into position. I could tell that she was very uncomfortable.

Just before 5pm, I called the vet office, to give them a "heads up" on the developements, because she's had pups twice before, but both had been via C-section. Her breeder had told me that she "always does a C-section" because of her own health problems. My vet had said that we should see if she could birth naturally, though.

Well, the contractions didn't really pick up much until about 9 pm. I've birthed puppies before, so I stayed nearby, watching, just in case I needed to help her in any way. I called the vet again, to keep her updated on what was happening, and answered all her questions. She said that it sounded like everything was ok.

About 10 pm, a "bubble" finally showed. Fauna was still moving around a lot, but eventually, the bubble started getting bigger. Finally, at about 10:30 pm, I could see a little white head inside the bubble! Yeahhh!

Still, Fauna kept digging and going in circles in her nest. The birth seemed to be "on hold" in that position for quite awhile, so I called the vet again, to give her an update. While on the phone, the bubble shrunk and almost totally disappeared. The puppy was no longer visible! My vet assured me that such things do happen and it may not be anything to worry too much about. She also said that her bags are packed for an emergency, if needed.

While we were in the "question and answer" session, Fauna turned to reveal herself to me again. This time, there were two bubbles coming out of her, but no head was visible! I was really getting worried now, as it looked like both puppies might be wanting to come out at the same time! I described it to my vet and she said that she'd start heading for the clinic now (at 11pm), since she lives about 30 minutes away and to call her back in 15 minutes to give her a report.

The time drug on so slowly as I sat there, watching my poor little momma trying to do her best. I called at 11:15 to say that nothing had really changed. She said to pack her up and meet her at the clinic. I already had most things ready, so I went out to warm up the car, as it's been getting down to about 45 degree's at night. I didn't want to cause any more stress on her, than necessary. I put her in the larger soft crate and materials into a smaller soft crate for using with her and the puppies, before heading out.

We met at the clinic at about 11:30 pm. The vet did an exam and found that the pup had moved way back up inside, even though the bubbles had gotten larger. She said that we should try some oxytocin, to help her with the contractions and waited. Meanwhile, the vet decided to prepare for a C-section, just in case, but warned me that it could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. I didn't care what it cost, I just wanted her to save Fauna and the pups, if possible! The oxytocin didn't seem to help, so 2 vet tech assistants were called in. It seemed to take forever for them to get ready, once they arrived.

The vet told me that they'd do their best, but could not promise that the puppies would be "viable".... That's a polite way for saying that they might not be alive.... I kept saying that I wanted to help, but was asked to wait up front, in the waiting area. Well, that's just not me, so instead, I stayed in the exam room and watched the proceedings thru the glass as they prepared my girl.

Fauna is about 4 and 1/2 lbs normally, so she has very small blood veins and it isn't easy to put anything in them, especially since she would have a contraction every once in awhile. Once they got her fixed up with an IV and sedated with gas, they layed her out, to shave her belly. Meanwhile, the vet and 1 of her assistants were preparing for the operation. I watched as the girl shaved Fauna and noticed that the "bubbles" were broken, by the time that she was 2/3's done. I was so very worried and wanting to help, but realized that I would just get in their way for the time being.

Finally, they took her into the operating room and started work on her. Time seemed to stand still. The operating room was partially hidden from view, so I couldn't really watch the procedure very well. I paced the floor, continuously going back to peek in and see what's happening. I walked outside for a bit, but couldn't stand it for long, so returned and watched thru the window, again and again.

It seemed as though many hours had passed, before I finally saw that the two assistants each had a puppy in their hands. They were rubbing them down and trying to suck the juices out of the puppies noses and mouths. I couldn't hear what was being said, but saw that they were swinging the puppies, trying to clear their lungs. I cracked the door open a little bit, from the exam room, hoping to hear the aids talking, but couldn't. One walked out of the operating room, working on a pup, but I heard no sound ... no squeak, to indicate life. It seemed to just lay there in her hands. "Oh, Lord ... please don't let these little ones die!" I prayed.

The other tech had been working on a pup and also trying to assist the vet at the same time, so now I decided to make my move. I just couldn't stand there and do nothing! I entered, saying that I could help, just tell me what you need done! The vet had the girl hand me the little white pup, to continue the rubbing while she helped with Little Momma.

I continued the rubbing on both sides of the puppy, but only once in a great while did he seem to try and take a breath! I kept him wrapped in the towel, while rubbing him, so that he could stay warm. The vet aid came over and said to rub his cheeks too, as that sometimes helps to get a puppy going. Amazingly, it did have an effect on him, but I was also to keep rubbing his sides.

Every minute that passed, seemed like an eternity! The pups hardly appeared to respond, but we did not give up. I found myself holding my breath at times and then taking one whenever the pup did. I had to force myself to breathe naturally, as I was becoming light headed. The puppy took his breaths about a minute apart, then even closer together!

The 2nd assistant and I were sitting on a bench, and we would ask how the other one was doing. She had a little girl that was white with black spots and I had really wanted a female the most. She didn't seem to be responding as well as my little male and she was the first one taken out. Still, we continued our rubbing and both pups finally were starting to take a breath more often. It wasn't until they started to squirm and eventually gave a squeal, that we could breathe a sign of relief ourselves! The puppies were going to make it!

My vet had been sewing up Fauna all this time and came out to let me know that she should be fine. They took the gas off of her and put her in a cage, to wake up completely. She tried to get up, but was like a drunk who couldn't quite keep himself upright. I handed the puppy back to the aid and stayed by her side until she steadied better. Then the aids brought the pups to put in with her, saying that they needed to suckle, if possible. She smelled them, but couldn't lay still long enough.

An aid traded places with me, as the vet suggested that I go out and warm up my car, before taking them home. I went to do that, as she started preparing the bill. As we began packing up Fauna in her larger crate and putting a warmer in the puppy crate, she brought me the bill, saying that she thought there may be other charges added if she'd forgotten anything. The bill was just under $1200, but she told me that I could pay half down and see if I could pay out the rest when I talked with the office in a day or two.

It was 3 am when I finally got home with mom and pups. Her crate was next to my bed with fleece and flannel layers, as well as a nice cushion around all the sides. Little Momma had come out of her anesthia pretty well by now and I put her in the crate before the puppies. She realized that they were hers and began to take care of them right away. I could finally start relaxing, although I was too hyped up to sleep. I layed down on the bed and kept peeking at the little trio, thanking God that he was generous enough to respond to my prayers.

The puppies were now 6 days old and doing just fine. Both have quite a squeal when they aren't next to mom and can't find her warm body right away! She shifts position every once in awhile, so that makes them work to find her and is building up their muscles. The little white boy has very light fawn markings showing up, so he'll probably end up looking a lot like his Champion Grandpa. The little girl is more like her daddy, who needs only a few more points to become a champion. I have high hopes that both of them will carry on their ancestor's traditions of becoming Champions and give Prisca's Chihuahuas a wonderful start.

27 Sept. 2008 Written & copyrighted by Priscilla L. Pope - Priscas Chihuahuas

May 16th, 2009: The little female pup has been kept as show potential and has been in training for her debut. I've sold the little male as a pet to a very loving family that has a couple of other small dogs, and he is very happy as part of the pack.

 

   

 

 

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