“A Lucky Break”
It’s a rare treat when puppies are born during the waking hours of the day. The norm is that it usually happens under the moonlight in the wee hours, so Chanel did us a huge favour. We knew it was going to be a small litter and we were apprehensive about the poor girl having to squeeze out overgrown pups. The first to appear was Mr. Cardinal at 1:05 pm with no issues whatsoever. The next was his wingman, Mr. Parakeet at 1:50 (who was scooped up in mid-air during Chanel’s bathroom break in the run) followed by Mr. Oriole at 2:10 and their baby sister Miss Finch at 3:05. They were all born in record time, because it’s not uncommon for an hour or more to elapse between the birth of each puppy. The added bonus is that they were all pretty average in size, so it was not a particularly difficult labour for Chanel.
With only four pups, there are no line-ups at the milk bar for each puppy’s share of their mom’s milk which contains antibodies so vital for the first several weeks of their lives. Thanks to Chanel’s dedication, her milk service is open twenty-four hours a day, so the puppies’ weights have gained substantially since birth. We weigh them at least twice daily to carefully monitor their progress until we’re convinced they’re gaining suitably. Mom is a great help as she instinctively rotates sides which helps to keep the supply of milk flowing. We’ve also added “dummy pups” in the way of rolled up socks to ensure the little ones must exert some effort (aka calories) to hit the mark. Of course, the pups don’t spend their entire time eating; they do 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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