Birthing day

Our first puppies in more than 14 years!  Jolga is only a teenager (20 months) and wasn’t supposed to have babies still for a long time.  When we realised she was on heat, we immediately placed her in kennels…. but we were too late!  A while ago it became clear that she was very pregnant indeed.

Last weekend Jolga cut the back of her front paw very badly and Thelwyn took her to the vet to be stitched up – a mere R1500. (We were in Utrecht, so many thanks Thelwyn!) They did this delicate operation beautifully, but of course the bandages had to stay on – which already meant two more trips to the vet to have her wound cleaned and bandaged. 

Our dogs normally sleep outside, but Jolga was kept inside – it was raining outside and the wound had to stay as dry as possible.  I even made a “sock” to go over the bandages to keep them clean.  Yesterday it stayed on beautifully.

Last night the power was off, but Hendrik woke around 4:00 and got up to switch off the light in the scullery where Jolga was sleeping.  He found the first pup lying on the floor, still covered in its sack.  He pulled off the sack, but Jolga would have nothing to do with it, so I kept it warm under my T-shirt.  Meanwhile Thelwyn redid Jolga’s bandages that came off during the night.  Poor pregnant (and in labour) Jolga, having her leg bandaged.

Jolga had to go out for a wee, and she had the 2nd one, a white one, in the front garden, but she left him for Hendrik to pick up and rescue and headed straight for the damp, sandy spot under our railway container behind the house.  She had her 3rd pup there, but also abandoned him and disappeared.  So another one for my tummy incubator.  We were getting very worried.  The pups seemed healthy, but they had to drink.

To make a long story short, Hendrik eventually found her under our trailer and put her in one of our bathrooms.  At last she settled down and allowed the pups to drink.  We left her, thinking it would be best to leave her alone and to let nature go its course.  However, when I returned I found a cold white male, still covered in its sack by her tail.  I pulled off the sack and she started to lick him, but he looked pretty lifeless for a loooong time!  I rubbed him and “incubated” him until I could feel him move a little.  He seems fine now. When the next pup appeared, she again just ignored him, but we put him by her front paws and she started to lick him – and did the same with the rest!  It is almost as if she is not aware when a pup is born, but if you give the newborn to her, she knows what to do. 

Hendrik is doing maternity duty now and I have to go and relieve him.  She has  9 (NINE!) pups: 5 Blacks and 4 whites.  They are all beautiful, big and suckling well at the moment. 

Our beautiful pregnant fairy, just dying to go outside

The first pup: he is lucky to be alive.  If Hendrik hadn’t got up to switch off the light, he probably would not have made it, but he is big and strong and kicking.

Bathroom scenes.  (The “fluffy” one isn’t really fluffy – he was still damp when the picture was taken.)

We bought a beautiful huge kennel for her and tried to persuade her before B-day that it was hers, but as yet, she has absolutely not been interested in her R1650 kennel.  Hopefully we can move her and her brood out there some time later. 

Praise the Lord that it is holiday and that we could be at home.  (I was going to go to meet Thea today, but had to cancel because I had not succeeded in uploading “Photoscape.” She was going to show me the ropes.  Just as well, Thea.  God knew why I had to stay at home today!)

Right now my head is feeling fuzzy and I think it’s time I washed my face and combed my hair.  (It’s already 11: 45!)  What is it to be a midwife/ parent of babies!  You should have seen me, trying to tidy the house and to eat some breakfast, “pregnant” with a puppy under my T-shirt.  (Jan is in an all day planning meeting – bet he is having a hard time trying to focus, after the 4:00 am birth of number 1!)

P.S. Today is our “moving to the farm” 14th anniversary.  Can’t believe we have been living here for 14 years already!