Kasidi's puppies

Monday 19th February.

Kasidi has been restless all night and has now started panting periodically throughout the morning. Experience has taught me that with Kasidi , the first puppy could still be some time away. By 3pm her contractions seem to be coming more regularly.

My daughter Olivia will be the record keeper. She will make identity collars for all of the puppies and record all details of each delivery. She will name them after Shakespeare characters.

Monday 16.25pm

First puppy is born . Bitch named Hermione, correct ridge, no kink in tail and just a little white. Weight 1lb 4oz. Placenta delivered and promptly eaten by Kasidi. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Monday 17.06pm

Second puppy dog, Macbeth is born, weight 1lb 6oz, correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white. Placenta retained. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Monday 17.59pm

Third puppy, dog, Puck is born. Weight 1lb 4oz, correct ridge, little white, no kink in tail. First check for dermoid sinus clear. Placenta retained.

Monday19.03 pm

Fourth puppy, bitch, Portia is born. Breech presentation.Weight 1lb 6oz. Correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white. Placenta delivered and eaten. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Monday 21.07 pm

Fifth puppy, dog,Caesar is born. Weight 1lb 80z. Correct ridge, no kink in tail, ? liver nose, a little white, placenta delivered and eaten. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Monday 21.36pm

Sixth puppy dog, Romeo is born. Weight 1lb 60z. Correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white, placenta delivered and eaten. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Monday 23.15 pm

Seventh puppy, bitch Ariel is born. Breech presentation. Weight 1lb 60z, Correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white. Placenta delivered and eaten. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Tuesday 01.53 am

Eighth puppy, dog, Hamlet is born. Back legs presentation. Weight 1lb 50z , Correct ridge, no kink in tail. a little white. No placenta delivered. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Tuesday 03.55 am

Ninth puppy, bitch, Paris is born. Weight 1lb 70z, Correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white. Placenta delivered and eaten. First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Tuesday 04.33am

Tenth puppy, bitch Phebe is born.Weight 1lb 70z, Correct ridge, no kink in tail, a little white. Placenta delivered and eaten.First check for dermoid sinus clear.

Kasidi is offered frequent drinks and light food throughout her labour. Her trips outside to relieve herself were closely monitored as we had 3 feet of snow and wind chill made it very cold.

Around 09.30 Kasidi was certainly giving the impression that her labours were over and she was happily feeding her puppies. My vet was not available as he was away on a course and his surgery was in the process of renovation. Her final examination was carried out by me. We had experienced problems during her last litter in that she retained a puppy (which was delivered safely) and with retained placenta and infection.(Due to appalling service by a previous vet.)

This time I was determined for everything to go well for her. On examination I could not feel the presence of any puppy and so with trepidation I gave her an injection of oxytocin as we had retained placentas to worry about.


Day 3

All puppies have gained in the region of 4 to 5 ounces in weight and Kasidi is being a model mother.

Second check for dermoid sinus is clear on all of the puppies.

I am a little concerned that kasidi is ok as I thought I saw a contraction, so I contact my vets technician and arrange for Kasidi to go to the surgery the following day for an X Ray.

We battle our way through the renovation (the surgery is closed, but my vet now back from his course has agreed to meet me at his surgery.)

As far as we can tell, the X Ray is clear. This is such a relief and we can now relax and enjoy the puppies.

Day 5

Paris has gained the least weight since birth, 7 ounces, but has a full tummy and looks well. Average weight gain is 10 ounces and Ariel (now nick named Porky ) gained 13 ounces. Average weight of the puppies is now 2 pounds.

Third check for dermoid is clear.

Kasidi has remembered from her previous litter that dog food is no longer on the menu and has now come to expect a diet of chicken, tuna, pasta, rice and organic wheetabix, oh, and she loves a matured cheddar sprinkled over just about everything.