Update
 

Well, this is what happened. She still didn't deliver and stopped pushing for about an hour, still some contractions, but not as strong or as often. So we called the vet and took her in for a C-section. Her bubble was still intact but no puppy could be felt in the birth canal.

The section went fine with no complications and we have two healthy puppies a boy and a girl both weighed 4.8 oz. We got home about 4:20 am. Since our regular vet didn't call back after about a half an hour we called another vet and headed to the next town about 27 miles away. Of course when we were half way there the first vet calls (one hour after we called her answering service). Oh well...

But I really would like to know what to do next time (not with this girl, this is her 2nd and last litter). But I do have another girl due on Tuesday.

Tonight Pippin had a bubble about 10 oclock, and contractions, but not really pushing. About 11 o'clock she started pushing and pushed pretty good for about an hour. More and more bubble came out. It looked like a triple decker ice cream cone. But there was still no puppy felt or seen. About 12 o'clock she pretty much stopped pushing, still some contractions, but not as many and no pushing. By one o'clock we called the vet and headed to the next town.

My question is this, could we have waited longer? How long can the pup be there with just a bubble out? Was this just a rest between and she may have started up again and delivered on her own? Of course we will never know for sure, but this time was almost identical to last time she whelped and both ended up C sections, so I am wondering if what we did was more prudent or did we mess up by getting too anxious? Any opinions and/or experiences welcome, as long as they are stated nicely :D.

Thanks so much for all your good thoughts and prayers. I really appreciate them.

Picture of the weird bubble.
Attachment 229947

Little girl.
Attachment 229948

I don't have a good picture of the boy, so I will post some later on.

Good night! (or should I say morning?)

whelping
 

The weird bubble is actually more then one sac....she was pushing out water sac's and no puppies...Ideally, there is a sac and a puppy, a sac and a puppy...when you get two/three etc sacs and no puppies, then you need the vet.

You want a puppy after about 1 to 2 hrs of strong contractions...time depends on other factors, how many pups, size of pups, (one or two large pups will take longer then 3 or 4 smallers as a rule) first whelping, contraction strength, size of bitch etc...

You did right to seek out the vet and have a section..best wishes

I am so glad to see this. :) How are Pippin and the pups doing this morning? What a cutie in the second photo. :p

That first photo just scared the begesus out of me! :eek:

Wow just signed on and seen your thread. I'm glad all went well with the C-section and puppies. I imagine how worried you must have felt seeing those sacs and no puppies. Congrats on the 2 puppies. I would have loved for at least 2 of our puppies to survive but we only have one survive and he is looking at a life of being spoiled rotten :)

Post pics of the momma and babies as soon as you get some rest!


Genie,Cookie,Lola,Angel & Lucky

Thank you so much!! That makes sense. So you think both pups from both horns were trying to come out at the same time?

Here are pictures of the bubble in the order they appeared. First was the dark bubble, then it came out more and the top of it was white, but the same sac.
Attachment 229966Attachment 229967

Then the next dark one could possibly be the second puppy's sac??
Attachment 229968

There was some brown stuff that came out, too. Any idea what this is??
Attachment 229969

They are doing well this morning. Pippin is a good little mommy.

I just took Mazey's temp and it is continuing it's downward trend. I guess I had better get in the shower quick in case I need to go somewhere. I was hoping to go back to bed, but she's in the 2nd whelping box digging right now:eek:!! She has an appointment at the vet for x-rays at 4:15 this afternoon. We'll see if she makes it.

Thanks! Yes, it was quite disconcerting. I feel very blessed that we were able to save all the puppies. We had to work on the 2nd one (the girl) for quite a while before she came around, though. It was scary for awhile, but she's very mobile and vocal still this morning.

Yes, your little boy will certainly be spoiled!

Oh, I forgot to mention the vet who did the C-section just graduated from vet school two months ago and this was his very first C-section!!! :eek: Please pray she doesn't have any complications.

JMO....but there could have possibly been a tear in one of the sacs inside and possibly one of the pups could have had a bowel movement...i know that happens with humans sometimes....so couldnt it happen with puppies too?????????

Oh - I'm so glad everything is okay. I was so worried for you last night and am thrilled to see everyone is doing well this morning!

just graduated.....that's great.....he is more up-to-date.....good to hear...and got a notch on his belt right out of the chute so to speak....

You did the exact right thing by the section. What is in the first photos is 2 separate birth sacs, which means two puppies trying to exit at one time. Doesn't work. During my first whelping, I had the same presentation and called the ER vet, who told me not to worry about it. I did worry about it, but stayed home per her instructions. The first puppy made it out alive and well after a lot of work but the other was dead and could not be revived. He had one heck of a trip-- by the time he was born he had no sac and had basically suffocated. Other puppies were delivered normally after that. I will never again ignore my gut instinct, never. I have not had this presentation again, but if I did it would be an immediate trip to the vet.

Good job and good luck with new babies!

Can this sacs be gently pulled?

I would not pull on the water bubble, it is fluid filled not puppy filled and will break. Many times it will do that on its own but I don't want to be the cause of it. Now a sac filled with a puppy is different, once I can get a decent grip on a puppy, esp. one that is coming rear feet first, I will pull on the puppy in conjunction with the contractions. But these are two different things, one has fluid, the other a puppy.