May 11, 2009 9:15 PM - Jewel started exhibiting nesting behaviors. Interesting that as many times as I have introduced Jewel to the whelping area (a 12' x 5' place just for puppies that is next to my office ) she would never stay there for more than a couple of minutes. She has noted puppies there before her, and now she seems contented to be there.

May 11, 2009 11:15 PM - Jewel has calmed down, more or less resting. Nothing to indicate the onset of labor just yet... Still, I think the time is at hand by the way she is acting... Definitely in the next several hours.

May 12, 2009 12:57 AM - The first puppy was born. A female, ridged - weighing in at a hardy 16 ounces, she has one white paw, and a little on the chest. I tagged her with a green ribbon.

May 12, 2009 4:30 AM - No more puppies were born up to this point. Jewel was laboring for about an hour, having contractions. I did a sanitary exploration of the birth canal and there was no puppy there. I became concerned and after consulting with 2 vets, and decided to take Jewel in for Xrays. The concern is that a puppy was sideways in the birth canal, which not only would make it impossible for that puppy to get out, but would also block the way for the others.

May 12, 2009 7:00 AM The good news is that the Xrays did not show any such issue, so we opted for an oxytocin injection, which is supposed to induce labor. It did just that, and within about 35 minutes we had 3 more female puppies. I am home now, waiting for more pups. It may be an hour or two as her last puppy was shortly before 6 AM, so I would expect a little rest before delivery commences once again...

Here is a shot as of 7:30 AM this morning:




May 12, 2009 8:30 AM - Jewel has been in contractions for about 30 minutes. Once again after consulting with my vet, we have decided to administer 1 1/2 CC Oxytocin.

May 12, 2009 9:35 AM - 3 Male puppies in 30 minutes! All ridged, all nice looking animals so far. Thats 7 nice pups so far, and we know that there are at least eight from xrays done earlier this week.

May 12, 2009 1:00 PM - Jewel is resting peacefully, however - we know there is another puppy yet to come out. We decide to administer another injection of oxytocin. Puppy number eight appeared in about 15 minutes, a Male.

Here is a photo of the puppies only 1 1/2 days old...