Gracie's puppy update
 

We had tails and dews done this morning. All 5 did wonderfully. No problems, and vet said she was very please with how healthy and plump they looked. My little girl, who was 6 oz at birth is now about 7.5 oz. I'm THRILLED about that. This has been a stressful week, but very rewarding at the same time.

I told my older sister that, who could give-or-take the whole dog/puppy raising thing, and she just rolled her eyes. She said after one night of lost sleep she would have said "Never again!" I guess you just have to have this in your blood.

The only thing that is making me NOT want to ever breed Gracie again is the memory of that entire night (8 hours) of her having contractions and occassional pushing, but producing no pup. She could have died. Pups could have died. I was so stupid, looking back, not to have packed her up after a couple of hours and driven the hour drive to the emergency clinic. I feel so bad that she endured that and then went through a c-section. It makes me want to just cry.

She is just fine and the vet gave her a thumbs-up, but I still feel very guilty and stupid and so so so sorry. I have told her I'm sorry so much, she's probably sick of hearing it.

Thanks for listening. I didn't mean to get off on this whole emotional thing. I only wanted to tell you about how well the pups are all doing.

i am glad gracie and the babies are doing well.

thats the one thing I worry about more than anything. My hubby was wanting to persue in breeding my Elle. I have a hard time thinking about my baby being in pain for any length in time. Anytime she gets hurt she helps and will look at me to see if I'm going to baby her, and then she runs to me. Sometimes I think she does it just for attention.
But you have to be thankful, that things did go ok and that Gracie is ok. Don't even look back anymore. There is nothing you can do about it now.
I'm glad the pups and Gracie are doing good as well. I hate to hear bad stories. Congrats by the way :)

Congratulations. I'm happy they are all doing well for you.

Don't beat yourself up. You will know better next time.

Everything is a learning experince...I am so happy to hear all is going so well...

Yes, but did you learn from making your baby girl miserable for hours upon end? Needlessly? I just hate myself for that, and I think it would be completely unfair to put her through it ever again.

Then, I watch her with her babies, and I see what an incredibly awesome mommy she is, and how much I, a human mother, could learn from her, it makes me think that it's ok. Give her a couple of cycles of a break, and then maybe. . . .

Does the vet think she will be able to give birth vaginally next time? Sometimes after giving birth once things get easier, unless she just too small. Our little female had a c-section that did not go well (puppies didn't make it), but one of our vets said he could see no reason why she shouldn't be able to give birth normally. The next time she was pregnant she surprised us one morning with two little puppies that she produced all by herself! And she's had several litters vaginally since then. In fact, she does better when she labors by herself...I think I make her uptight.

Congratulations, sounds like everyones doing well

This is her second litter. And she is typically about 8 pounds, so her size is not the issue. And, yes, the vet said she saw no reason why she (Gracie) couldn't give birth vaginally in the future. It's just my own issue. I'm just dealing with the guilt.

It did help this morning, though, when she ate her breakfast, and then went running through the living room, wagging her tail and wanting to play. She also wouldn't go out to potty when my husband opened the door for her. She ran back in my bedroom and waited until I climbed out of bed and took her to the door.

I guess she has forgiven and forgotten. Maybe I should do the same.