Whelping box

My husband has been working on Gidget's whelping box all day(7 hours so far). No where near done. I told him it didn't need to be a piece of fine furniture. 

When we moved here, we didn't think we would be living here very long (now, 11 years later) so we didn't worry about having a place for him to set up a workshop. Now, whenever he wants to build anything or work on anything, he has to move the cars out of the driveway and set up outside of the garage. 

Hopefully she'll like it. 

My husband figured out last night that she was not able to stretch out in the crate we were using in our room. Originally she seemed to like the bed with the rim around it to lay her head on. She was pretty antsy night before last and when we went to bed last night, she was sitting up panting. So we moved the crate from the family room into our bedroom (it's bigger) and just put a towel in there for a bed. She was thrilled and zonked right out and slept through to almost 5 am. 

She has started telling me when she needs to go out. Previously I was taking her out before she needed to go but evidently I'm not doing it often enough for her all the time so she barks at me. My dog just goes and stands by the door and stares at me. Gidget comes over to me, looks right at me and barks, a sort of combo bark and howl. Not to be mistaken.

Day 54

Not a good photo. I wasn't holding the camera very steady and she got up as soon as I took it. She is not comfortable but has her appetite back.

My dog and I went to Rally class last night and I believe that Gidget was bigger when we got home than when we left 2 hours previously.

She got us up at midnight to go outside. Really loose stool. She didn't seem to want to be in the crate at all last night. She just looks uncomfortable.

Don't know if you can tell how big her stomach is here. She's taken to staying in the alcove leading into our bedroom and really doesn't want much to do with anyone right now. I tried to go sit on the floor with her and she just got up and left.

I Felt a Puppy Move!!!

OMG, I was sitting in the grass hoping Gidget would come up and get some loving. She's been staying pretty much to herself today. Anyway, she came over and rolled onto her back so I put my hand on her tummy and felt a puppy move. I could fel the head kind of bump out and it rolled a bit so that I could feel the body as well. There really are babies in there!!!

She's also getting finicky about her food. I added some high quality caned food the last few days and this afternoon when I put down plain kibble, she just walked away. When I got a can out she chowed down but left most of the kibble. Guess she's getting full:-) Didn't think that would ever happen. She even turned her nose up at a treat I offered when she peed outside and when she came back in. She's usually all over treats.

I checked the calendar. The Vet said that he thought she has 3 more weeks but according to my calendar, if she was bred around July 16 or 17 which is the info I have, She'll be due around September 16 which is 63 days. 10 days!!!

Growing belly

It's as though going to the vet gave her permission to expand. I can't believe how big her belly as gotten in the last couple of days. It seems to have dropped. Guess after 10 previous litters, shes got very little muscle tone left. 

She still hates to have her picture taken (can't figure out what that's about so I fed her treats and tried to get a photo at the same time- with a little help from my dog). I've spent the last few days reading everything I can get my hands on about pregnancy, whelping and newborn puppy care. I am still processing... and reading. 

I've also started getting supplies together. Not an easy task. No one stop shopping here. I'll probably do some ordering online soon. My husband is starting the whelping box soon. 

We Have Puppies!

I doubt that you can tell anything from this but the Vet saw 4 puppies and as they are spaced far apart and as the skeletons are just beginning to show up, he figures there are possibly more in there that he just doesn't see. He thinks we are looking at around 3 more weeks. The thing that surprised me the most is that he said she is underweight! Oh, she is going to be so happy. She gets to eat more!!!

Vet Day

We're off to see the Vet this morning. Here's a photo from this morning. There doesn't seem to be that noticeable ridge between her tummy and her chest that was so noticeable last week.

Here's the one from Friday (below). It was taken a bit closer but it seems to me that her belly is bigger lower down today and more smoothly rounded than before. May just be a slightly different position for her and for the camera)We're off to the Vet in about 1 1/2 hours. I'm so excited to find out what's up. More news soon:-)