Worming day

Just a little playing

I got Strongid wormer from Pup Squad yesterday so this morning everyone got wormed. I hadn't realized that you could use Strongid for dogs. I used to put it in my horses feed every day and still have green 5 gallon buckets that we use around here that it came in. This is probably a different strength although it looks like the stuff that came in tubes for once a month worming. Everyone took it so nicely. No struggling, even Gidget. Must not taste bad.

Last night around midnight, Gidget wanted to go out. Haymitch was out of the whelping box. Then again when we got us this morning, he was out of the box. Gidget was sleeping next to him. My rescue coordinator warned me to keep an eye on him as Gidget might be rejecting him. I had a dental appointment this morning and was super worried about leaving the house in case she was. I put a board in the opening to the box so that it would be difficult for him to get out or for her to put him out.

I haven't seen her pick any of the pups up yet so if she is taking him out, it's unusual. Also, I think I might have heard him cry if she had. We have a baby monitor in the bedroom so I can hear her during the night.

When I got back from the dentist, I mixed up some milk replacer and tried to see if he would lap it up. He would lick it off my finger and I could lure him almost to the surface of the liquid but he really wansn't showing much interest. Gidget nursed him along with the others after that and she cleaned him up. I didn't see any signs that she didn't want him to nurse or that she was treating him any differently than the others. I will keep a close eye on him and will put the board in before I go to bed tonight.

Haymitch and Peeta are both showing signs they want to get out of the box. They will climb up on to the ledge and get their front ends over but haven't gotten their rear ends over when I have been watching.

I cleaned out the box before they nursed a bit ago and held each one up for Gidget to clean. She takes a good 2-3 minutes to do that per puppy. Then after she left the box, they were all playing around and I noticed Peeta squatting. Sure enough, he peed. Then I noticed that Gael was squatting too. So I put both of them on a pee pee pad. No more pee but both of them pooped. What a mess. I'm trying to clean it up so they don't step in it and they are waking all over and pooping all over.

The good news is that I think I will be able to tell when they are going and can put them on the pad and start potty training. I am doing so many loads of laundry every day. I know it's going to get worse before it gets better but at least I am seeing a way to get from here to there.

Everyone is still gaining weight. All looking good and playing a bit more with each other every time they finish eating. They'll chew on my hand if they can get a chance. I know I probably shouldn't let them do it but they are so cute. Once they get their teeth, I'll really have to stop letting them  I've got bunches of toys for them so it'll be easy to redirect them.

I ordered a cat tunnel the other day. It's supposed to get here next week. I can't wait to watch them playing. I put the Nylabone teething keys with them today and Prim showed some interest. They will chew on Gidget's legs and sometimes after nursing. She has been so patient with them. No telling what she'll do when they get teeth.

and some more playing