We woke up Saturday morning to find our dog Cupcake giving birth on the icy, frozen, cold patio. We knew she was getting close but didn't know it was that close.
My husband got up at 7:30, which is very unusual for him to do on a weekend. He went to check on the dogs and came running back to tell me she was having her puppies. I threw my robe on and rushed outside to find her laying on the patio instead of in the dog house with one tiny puppy that had just been born. Well, in a panic, I grabbed the puppy and called for her to come inside. Once we got in she took it away from me and tried to go back outside. I didn't even think about my actions scaring her because I was thinking only of that poor little puppy. I grabbed an old sleeping bag and Brian got Cupcake and the puppy back inside. As I helped her get settled he came back in telling me there were two more outside. Bo-Ty, the daddy, had led him to them. They were under our daughters slide and she had left them there on the frozen ground. They were still alive, and crying loudly, so I took them in and got Brian to warm some small towels in the microwave. I had to tie off and clip the placenta from one of the puppies. Then, we each took a puppy, put it in a warm towel, and began rubbing them to stimulate their circulation and warm them up. They continued crying so we knew they were fighting to live. They never gave up. We spent about an hour with them, bringing their little frozen bodies back to a normal state. I know my prayer was answered. As I brought them in the house, I was crying, praying Lord, please let them live.
By the time we felt comfortable enough to let her have the two "frozen tundra" puppies, she had given birth to four more. They were all doing well, along with the puppy we had brought in with her at the first. This made seven puppies. Once it was over, we had 10 live puppies and one that didn't make it. I am not sure if it was stillborn or if it just took too long to get the sac off. It's sac didn't break during the delivery and it was very hard to break. Cupcake couldn't do it and I ended up having to help her. We were able to get it away from her without problems.
She is a very good mother and even lets Bo-Ty and our cat, Cheyenne, come in and see the puppies. Soon, we will have to move them back outside. We are just awaiting warmer temperatures. The temps we've had are very out of the norm for this time of year. All the puppies are doing very well. I guess poor Cupcake felt lost and alone when she began giving birth in the extreme cold. I would imagine she left the two puppies alone because she could not keep them warm enough and felt helpless. She gave birth to the third one, which is the runt, right in front of the doghouse so I know she was trying to make it to a warmer spot. We had it all prepared for her. We had even moved it from the back yard onto the patio and up against the house to help her feel more secure. We are blessed to have a fenced in patio. This allows us to have a "clean" area for cooking out, etc. while the kids can go out into the fenced yard and play with the dogs.
Reflecting on this event, I see how the Lord was there for us through it all. He knew how much we cared about our animals and this birth, even though the birth was not planned. We didn't get her spayed in time and didn't know she was in heat. We made the decision to allow her to go through this pregnancy and have the puppies. I firmly believe He woke Brian up early so we could be there for our beautiful Cupcake and her puppies. If Brian hadn't woke up, we may have had 11 frozen puppies. It just continues to show me how much love the Lord has for us and for EVERYTHING He created. Those puppies are special to Him too!
Cupcake and the ten puppies
Bo-Ty - the daddy
Comments
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by j706nancyr
Oh how wonderful that you were able to save those darling little pups. I bet Cupcake is grateful to be inside where they are safe and warm.
Nancy
Saturday, December 9, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Kitty
WOW so many pups. Your going to have a house full in a couple of weeks. I hope you have plans for them all . My son would love one. But alas, lol.
Kitty
Monday, December 11, 2006 - Plans for the puppies
Posted by OurCountryHome
Right now, we are just "planning" on getting them outside. They are growing quickly, 9 days old today, but we are still waiting for eyes to open. We should be having sunshine tomorrow so we are going take them out and begin the process of acclimating their little bodies to the outdoors. We have two good sized dog houses so there is plenty of room to put them outside. Cupcake stays out quite a few hours of the day now....she comes in to nurse and sleeps inside overnight. We are already looking for homes. Nice Christmas gifts - ready by the New Year. LOL
Edited by OurCountryHome on Monday, December 11, 2006 at 03:28