Baskin Robbins Litter
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May 16 Afternoon - So, the progesterone came back at 3.8. Vet said it was ok to proceed with a c-section but we have always been instructed by our mentors and other breeders to wait until it drops below 2. Since Annie was not showing any other signs yet (not nesting, no colostrum etc.) we decided to wait until tomorrow's c-section appointment (which was supposed to be Lilibeth's). Annie's temp had dropped to 98.5 this morning, but, again, no other signs. It's a risk because this could mean a trip to ER vet tonight, and not all vets are experienced with anesthesia for brachy breeds. But, we tried to listen to our gut and follow the advice of many other experienced breeders.
"Dogs typically enter stage I labor within 24 hours of a decline in serum progesterone to < 2 ng/mL, which develops in conjunction with increased circulating prostaglandins and is commonly associated with a transient drop in body temperature (< 99°F [37.2°C]). Monitoring serial progesterone levels for impending labor is problematic because in-house kits enabling rapid results are inherently inaccurate between 2 and 5 ng/mL. Commercial laboratories offering quantitative progesterone by chemiluminescence typically have a 12- to 24-hour turnaround time, which is not rapid enough to make decisions about immediate obstetric intervention. Progesterone levels can drop rapidly in a matter of hours. If progesterone is < 2 ng/mL, gestation is likely at term and labor is pending. Clearly, it is beneficial to obtain information about ovulation timing, minimally by determining the onset of cytologic diestrus (the diestrual shift), to evaluate length of gestation at term. Elective cesarean sections can be performed safely at >62 days gestation; earlier, neonatal surfactant is not reliably present."
All of this means nothing to Annie, except she got to eat breakfast after all! (Not that she's that interested in food right now, but the attention with Amy sitting on floor with her hand feeding her is pretty swell to Annie. "Bless your heart" is all that comes to mind right now with these 2 girls who are about to pop. Annie's tail is wagging still, though. She's the happiest and sweetest pug on earth (well, except for Lilibeth).
"Dogs typically enter stage I labor within 24 hours of a decline in serum progesterone to < 2 ng/mL, which develops in conjunction with increased circulating prostaglandins and is commonly associated with a transient drop in body temperature (< 99°F [37.2°C]). Monitoring serial progesterone levels for impending labor is problematic because in-house kits enabling rapid results are inherently inaccurate between 2 and 5 ng/mL. Commercial laboratories offering quantitative progesterone by chemiluminescence typically have a 12- to 24-hour turnaround time, which is not rapid enough to make decisions about immediate obstetric intervention. Progesterone levels can drop rapidly in a matter of hours. If progesterone is < 2 ng/mL, gestation is likely at term and labor is pending. Clearly, it is beneficial to obtain information about ovulation timing, minimally by determining the onset of cytologic diestrus (the diestrual shift), to evaluate length of gestation at term. Elective cesarean sections can be performed safely at >62 days gestation; earlier, neonatal surfactant is not reliably present."
All of this means nothing to Annie, except she got to eat breakfast after all! (Not that she's that interested in food right now, but the attention with Amy sitting on floor with her hand feeding her is pretty swell to Annie. "Bless your heart" is all that comes to mind right now with these 2 girls who are about to pop. Annie's tail is wagging still, though. She's the happiest and sweetest pug on earth (well, except for Lilibeth).
May 16 AM - This morning Jeff took Annie to the vet for a reverse progesterone test. If the number is low enough (under 2) we will proceed with the scheduled c-section at 11 today. She is about to pop, bless her heart. And no breakfast in case we do the c-section. We're waiting now ... should be a few more minutes. It's so nerve wracking!
May 15 - Appetites are not what they used to be ... Annie is so stuffed so all I could find that Lilibeth and Annie would eat tonight was MY sirloin steak I had planned to cook for myself. Alas, they enjoyed it (but only after I cut it up into small bites and hand fed them.) Insert eye roll here ;)
May 13 - Annie and Lilibeth went to the vet this morning to get their radiographs. It looks like Annie has 2 pups.
May 12
May 10 - 1 week to go!
April 15, 2024: Annie's ultrasound this morning at Hope Animal Clinic revealed, according to the veterinarian Dr. Fuller, that there are at least 3-4 pups!
March 16 and 18, 2024: Progesterone testing took awhile (so expensive!) but Annie finally decided it was time and her numbers climbed. Since Amy was out of town at the dog show with Eliza and Mr. Drysdale, Jeff took Annie to the vet to help with the AI's (#1 on March 16 and #2 on March 18).
If all is going well and there are pups, this is about the day we will head to do an X-ray (radiograph) to do a puppy count and check sizes, positioning etc. Day 63 from ovulation will be the following Friday, May 17th. These dates are always approximations and we are not sure if we will do a c-section prior or not. So much depends upon number and size of pups and other factors. But, it's nice to have a "ballpark" of approximate dates planned ahead of time.
Here are some possible names we are considering for kennel names and registered names:
- Pickwick's Oreo Cookie (Oreo)
- Pickwick's Double Scoop of Love (Scoop)
- Pickwick's Pink Bubble Gum (Bubbles)
- Pickwick's York Peppermint Pattie (Pattie)
- Pickwick's Rainbow Sherbet (Rainbow)
- Pickwick's Love Potion #31 (Amore)
- Pickwick's Cherry Cordial with Kisses (Cherry)
- Pickwick's Extra Cherry on Top (Cherry)
- Pickwick's Cotton Candy Crackle (Candy)
- Pickwick's Sundae Special (Sundae)
- Pickwick's Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (Reese)
- Pickwick's Caramel Macchiato (Macchi)
- Pickwick's Oregon Blackberry (Oregon)
- Pickwick's French Vanilla (French)
- Pickwick's Magic Mango (Mango)
- Pickwick's Bourbon Street (Bourbon)
- Pickwick's Quarterback Crunch (Joe)
- Pickwick's Rocky Road (Rocky)
- Pralines
- Icing On The Cake
- Nutty Coconut
- Rock 'n' Pop Swirl
- Made With Snickers
- Wild 'n' Reckless Sherbet
- Rum Raisin