I'm Having an AUGUST LITTER..............Are You?

[ranant12]

No xray for us either. My vet frowns on them saying there is no need to stress out mom and expose her to disease at the vet's office unless problems are showing. I feel the same way. Diva HATES the vets office and tries to climb to the top of my head when we walk in. That's the last thing I want for her this late in her pregnancy.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by RoxieHart

Bjh, I apologize if I offended you, I was not trying to call you a non-reputable breeder. I just thought an x-ray is something commonly done amongst breeders.. (don't shoot! I'm new to this! lol) Certainly with years of breeding under your belt, you know your lines and you know what to expect

I, myself, feel better knowing if she is indeed pregnant or not, and how many pups she is carrying. The long uncertain wait is enough to drive me crazy!

You in no way offended me. Some people do feel strongly about x-raying and they make others feel guilty if they don't do them. I just think everyone should look at both sides of the story and make a decision based on their experience and individual situation. I have a friend that had two litters and each time she had an x-ray done on the females and the vet was wrong with what he saw. One litter the vet said he saw 5 pups but the female had 4 and the other litter the vet said he saw 3 but she had 4.

Another thing I am not in favor of is taking a pregnant bitch to the vet at 4 weeks for a sonogram or to be palpated. Four weeks is a critical time during the pregnancy and I feel that it is too stressful for the female and it could cause injury to the fetuses. If a female gets to hot it can cause death to the fetus. But, again, it is a personal choice and I respect whatever decision other breeders make.

I recommend anyone that breeds or intends to breed read the following article:
Birth Defects in Dogs.

[Mom2TwoYorkies]

I'm sure this will sound stupid . . .but is there a way when whelping (if no x-ray is done) you can tell when there are no more pups and how would you know for sure?

[RoxysMomma]

Originally Posted by RoxieHart

Here is Roxie's 8 week belly pic, and the other quilt I made for the puppy if it's a boy. (Roxie slept with it last night, hence the wrinkles lol)

I am absolutely envious of your quilt making abilities!

And Roxie is getting CLOSE!!! I can't wait to see the puppy picture!!!

I've had almost a week full of sleepless nights and my Roxy's babies got their tails docked and dew claws pulled yesterday. Poor girl went into sensory overload and almost had a panic attack because of the blood on her babies, it wasn't because they were crying.. they were just actually trying to feed. She calmed down after a few minutes. She was cute, she kept running to me trying to tell me that someone hurt her babies and she wanted me to see (or do something) I just laid next to her with the puppies until she calmed down and they were all nursing.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

I'm sure this will sound stupid . . .but is there a way when whelping (if no x-ray is done) you can tell when there are no more pups and how would you know for sure?

Most of the time you can tell by feeling the uterus but sometimes on a big female it is hard to tell because the uterus is still big and hard after delivering a big litter. I have been fooled before when I thought a female was done but she had one more. Even if you have a x-ray, if you are expecting a large litter you won't know if the x-ray was correct or not. With large litters a pup can be easily hidden.

After a female has a litter she will continue to have contractions after the last pup is delivered. If you feel the uterus when it is contracting it will feel just like there is another puppy in there but if you wait until the uterus is relaxed then feel, you can usually feel if the uterus is empty or if there is another pup. Now on a large bitch it is not quite as easy to do.

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by Mom2TwoYorkies

I'm sure this will sound stupid . . .but is there a way when whelping (if no x-ray is done) you can tell when there are no more pups and how would you know for sure?

From what I've read here, the best ways are by using a stethoscope to listen for puppy heartbeats still in utero, maybe feeling for other pups left and/or watching for movement(???, not sure on this one), and/or if mom is relaxed and not having any more contractions for over a couple of hours, she's probably done. I'd guess your best guess-timation would to be to go by hearing heartbeats, though this is not helpful if there happens to be a dead puppy still inside. But I believe the only absolute sure way would be a trip to the vet's for an exam and/or x-ray.
As always, a more experienced breeder here is welcome to confirm or correct my thoughts.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by RoxieHart

Here is Roxie's 8 week belly pic, and the other quilt I made for the puppy if it's a boy. (Roxie slept with it last night, hence the wrinkles lol)

WOW!!! You do good work! Thats great!!!!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by luckylady

From what I've read here, the best ways are by using a stethoscope to listen for puppy heartbeats still in utero, maybe feeling for other pups left and/or watching for movement(???, not sure on this one), and/or if mom is relaxed and not having any more contractions for over a couple of hours, she's probably done. I'd guess your best guess-timation would to be to go by hearing heartbeats, though this is not helpful if there happens to be a dead puppy still inside. But I believe the only absolute sure way would be a trip to the vet's for an exam and/or x-ray.
As always, a more experienced breeder here is welcome to confirm or correct my thoughts.

That is a great idea about using a stethoscope. I will have to try that next time and see if that works. I have never even listened to puppy heart beats. I need to start doing that.

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by RoxysMomma

I am absolutely envious of your quilt making abilities!

And Roxie is getting CLOSE!!! I can't wait to see the puppy picture!!!

I've had almost a week full of sleepless nights and my Roxy's babies got their tails docked and dew claws pulled yesterday. Poor girl went into sensory overload and almost had a panic attack because of the blood on her babies, it wasn't because they were crying.. they were just actually trying to feed. She calmed down after a few minutes. She was cute, she kept running to me trying to tell me that someone hurt her babies and she wanted me to see (or do something) I just laid next to her with the puppies until she calmed down and they were all nursing.

Awww, poor little Roxy fretting over her babies; if they weren't crying, I'll bet she was stressed sensing that "strangers" had handled her babies. You're such a good mommy in calming her fears.
Yes, Roxie should be next to whelp her puppy, then it will be Halle's turn!!!! She is at 8 weeks today, x-ray is tomorrow. I believe we're having a singleton also, unless there is one hiding up in her rib cage area. We'll know soon enough. I'm off work today and tomorrow, hubby is off next week and will call me the second he thinks something even MIGHT happen so that I can run home, and I'm off again the week after.

[RoxysMomma]

Originally Posted by luckylady

Awww, poor little Roxy fretting over her babies; if they weren't crying, I'll bet she was stressed sensing that "strangers" had handled her babies. You're such a good mommy in calming her fears.
Yes, Roxie should be next to whelp her puppy, then it will be Halle's turn!!!! She is at 8 weeks today, x-ray is tomorrow. I believe we're having a singleton also, unless there is one hiding up in her rib cage area. We'll know soon enough. I'm off work today and tomorrow, hubby is off next week and will call me the second he thinks something even MIGHT happen so that I can run home, and I'm off again the week after.

I'm completely jealous of all the time off you have. The way my PTO (paid time off) is designed where I work, it's very hard to just take a week off. Thankfully I have friends and family that will take shifts watching my babies while I'm at work

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by RoxysMomma

I'm completely jealous of all the time off you have. The way my PTO (paid time off) is designed where I work, it's very hard to just take a week off. Thankfully I have friends and family that will take shifts watching my babies while I'm at work

PTO.....that's what it's called for us also. Actually I have over 200 hours racked up......hubby too. We both work for the same company & we both have worked there for over 30 years. We accrue 8 hours every two weeks. I usually only take a day or two off here and there, saving my full weeks for when we have babies.

[Breny]

I have always xrayed up until my last 4 litters. I didn't do them and I am not going to do them anymore. I don't think it has anything to do with being reputable at all, more about your personal choice.

In my case they have been accurate but thats all I was being told...a number. Not if they were big, not if they would deliver ok. So I decided against it now. My vet said that the xray is not an accurate way to determine size. So who knows.

I could tell when each of the girls were done. I also, from experience, had a "guess" of how many to watch for, by looking at the size of my girls. Also when they are done...they really settle down and become more relaxed.

So I agree with Barbaas post.

But I know lots of ppl get them and feel better doing that. So I think its just personal choice

Originally Posted by bjh

I have been raising yorkies for over 12 years and I have never x-rayed. X-rays are not always accurate, especially with large litters. Why stress out the female by taking her to the vet and also exposing her to parvo and other things that are at the vets.

Some people say that the x-ray will let them know if the pup is too big but most all of them will let the female go into labor and try to whelp naturally anyway. Also the x-ray can be deceptive about the the size of the pup.

In my opinion it is a matter of choice and it has nothing to do if you are a reputable breeder or not. You have to look at each female and each pregnancy. If a person is breeding very small yorkies then it might be helpful but since I don't breed tiny females I just don't find it necessary.

[RoxysMomma]

Originally Posted by luckylady

PTO.....that's what it's called for us also. Actually I have over 200 hours racked up......hubby too. We both work for the same company & we both have worked there for over 30 years. We accrue 8 hours every two weeks. I usually only take a day or two off here and there, saving my full weeks for when we have babies.

Awww..now I'm envious of your PTO.. we accrue ours the same way. Unfortunately we also have sick time and holiday time taken out of the same PTO bucket. I've only been where I am for 5 years and I accrue about 7 hours every two weeks. I've had to hoard most of my PTO for my son's Marching Band competitions, which winds up taking almost all of it. Thank goodness this is his senior year!

[Breny]

Originally Posted by bjh

That is a great idea about using a stethoscope. I will have to try that next time and see if that works. I have never even listened to puppy heart beats. I need to start doing that.

I did that with one of my last litters. Their little heartbeats are sooooo fast. So cute!

[RoxysMomma]

Originally Posted by Breny

I did that with one of my last litters. Their little heartbeats are sooooo fast. So cute!

Would you need a pediatric stethoscope for that? Where can you buy one?