Chloe's Puppy Tale

Here I will tell the tale of the puppies being born! Yesterday, we went to bed around 9:00ish. Chloe was in the bathroom like she had been for the past few nights just in case anything happened. Well around 10:00-10:30ish I heard her making noises. Pacing and jumping off the tub and digging and whining. I thought well, maybe this is it. I went in to check on her and she was panting like crazy and shivering and seemed to get calmer when I was in there. I thought, I bet this is it. We might have puppies tonight! I couldn’t leave her by herself so I gathered the supplies and made a pallet on the bathroom floor and tried to get some sleep. Yeah right, sleep with a dog in labor…you wish.  Alli knew what was going on because I told her Chloe was acting nervous and we might have puppies tonight. I explained to her that this stage of labor might take awhile and could last up to 24 hours, but you know Alli. She begged me to let her in the bathroom. So eventually I gave in. She settled down into the bathtub and I attempted, once again, to settle down on the floor, and to, once again, keep Chloe calm. All the while Trey was in bed trying to sleep for work the next day. Eventually Alli got hot and bored and wanted to go back to the living room and was texting me WAY TOO MUCH. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I let her quietly go back into the other room – remember we were trying to keep Trey asleep.  A bit more time passed. Chloe started having what seemed like contractions and was lying next to me for a second then up to change positions then lying down again then pacing the snuggling to me then up again. She couldn’t make up her mind. Looking back now, I assume this is where the active labor started instead of the first stage. Mind you this is after  1:00 AM now. So there I was, laying on the floor of the bathroom trying to keep Chloe calm and reassured when she shakes her bottom area. Liquid flew everywhere. I’m like really? Was that a water breaking? I finally turned on the light and sure enough there were big water spots in a few places on my blanket. About that time, Chloe was in the corner and I hear a splash. The water really had broken this time all over the floor. Chloe went to lapping it up. While she was lapping I was feeling her birth canal and sure enough, there was a puppy a coming. I called out the door for Trey telling him he should get in here now – a puppy was coming! By the time Trey got in the door good and settled down, little Jewel was here. We were unsure about what to do at first, being first time puppy birth assistants and all, especially when her sac had already broken. But we figured it out eventually. Chloe had a good long chew on the placenta until we finally took it from her and disposed of it. She was a really good mom, licking and stimulating the puppy. She had some issues with letting Jewel suckle at first, but she eventually gave in. Eventually I told Trey to go back to bed, that I would wake him again when the next one comes. Over an hour later, I had to wake him up! Mr. Jack was on his way. This time, Chloe ate the placenta before we could say “don’t.” We were still talking about Jack’s delivery and helping him to get started when at 3:00 AM, just FIFTEEN minutes after Jack was born, another contraction hit and Chloe started pushing again. Blaze just couldn’t wait to see his new brother and sister. Blaze came out fine but his placenta got stuck in the canal. It seemed to halt labor and Chloe apparently thought she wasn’t having anymore puppies. She kept licking and tending to herself and the placenta never showed so we either think she secretly ate that one too, or it is still inside. Vet appointment today for new mom. She will get a shot of Oxytocin to get rid of anything else that is still inside her. Contractions had stopped and Chloe was now in that relaxed state they say dogs get into when labor is over. She really started tending to her puppies and letting them nurse. But Trey could feel another puppy inside. We decided to try the feathering technique to induce contractions – originally trying to get her to expel Blaze’s placenta but also to start contractions again for the other puppy we knew was inside. Now if you don’t know what feathering is, I suggest you google it, as that is one technique I am not going into detail about on a cooking blog. Feathering done and Viola! Contractions started again, and at 3:30 AM, Hope was born. Puppy four was out! After this pup, Chloe really calmed down. All the puppies were snuggled and nursing. She sure seemed like she was done this time. We waited around a bit – just to be sure!, took pictures, and eventually got Chloe and the pups settled into their spot for the night. We were in bed by 4:10 AM so Trey could get at least one hour of sleep before work today.  So think that is our tale of our puppies being born – Mom and pups are fine and we get four fine full-blooded AKC registered American Cocker Spaniel puppies out of this experience??  True but not quite. I come back at 6:00 AM this morning after taking Trey to work and go in to check on Chloe and the puppies. I hear this heartbreaking whimpering sound. I only see three puppies. I start hunting around. I notice Chloe has squished one of the pups between her back and the shower. I pick it up. Not the culprit of the whimpering. Eventually I see a wriggling mass under the blanket. I pick up the blanket and Oh My Gosh there is another black puppy underneath there!! It took me a few counts to realize we now had 3 black pups for a total for 5 puppies. Chloe had birthed, stimulated, and clean up after this puppy all by herself. I couldn’t tell a thing by looking at the surroundings that she had had another. I called Trey and he said I knew we shouldn’t have left her alone that fast. So my friends, THAT is the end. We have FIVE wonderful Cocker Spaniel puppies. Chloe is an amazing mother – she’ll have to be to put up with those rambunctious pups, they do have Clark in them after all, and she was no picnic either. So there you have it. Our puppy tale.