Chapeau and Chanel Litter – Week One

24 hours old and already their pigment is changing to black.

 “The Guessing Game”

No two pregnancies are the same. We checked Chanel’s temperature at 1:30 am and determined we had a wee bit of time, so we extinguished the lights and settled in for a little nap. Little was right. At around 2:00 am, Chanel was becoming more restless so when we got up to investigate, not only did she just deposit Mr. Brut (light green) on the bedroom carpet, but she’d already deposited Miss Opium (red) on the ensuite tile floor. She continually kept us guessing. Miss Dior (pink) made her entrance on the patio and Miss Obsession (beige) graced the tarp we’d put on the bedroom floor. It wasn’t until the birth of Mr. Jovan Musk (orange) that Chanel improved her aim and began having puppies on the bed. The rest of the group was rounded out by Mr. Polo (forest green), Miss Shalimar (blue), Miss Chanel no5 (white), Mr. Aramis (brown) and finally Mr. Hugo Boss (grey) approaching 9:00 am. Of course, sleep is out of the question as we now had to tend to Chanel’s precious little bundles.

With ten in the litter and only so much “equipment” to go around, we try to get the puppies to nurse in rotation. This ensures that everyone gets equal access to the milk bar for their share of their mom’s milk that contains antibodies so vital for the first several weeks of their lives. Thanks to Chanel’s dedication, the milk bar is open twenty-four hours a day, so the puppies’ weights have gained substantially since birth. We weigh them at least twice daily for the first couple of weeks to carefully monitor their progress. Mom is a great help as she instinctively rotates sides which helps to keep the supply of milk flowing. The pups don’t spend their entire time eating; they spend a great deal of time sleeping. 

Puppies are born without sight or hearing and their eyes don’t open until sometime during the second week, so for now their senses of smell and touch are what guide them to their target. They use their tiny forelimbs, coupled with great tenacity, to propel themselves around as they seek out their sustenance and warmth. Since their body temperatures will not have been regulated until after week three, the little gang relies on their mother and each other for warmth. Of course, we have a heat lamp at the ready to use whenever mom’s on her break.

That’s it for now, but be sure to join us next week for another beguiling installment of “Puppy Tales”.
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