Decided not to do 2nd xray today
 

I was supposed to take Lily in to do a second xray today to see exactly how many puppies she is having. We did one on March 24th and saw about 3 puppies in there. She's due in about a week and a half. I just didn't feel it necesary to do another xray, so I cancelled the appointment. I hope it was the right decision....:confused:

Was there something wrong with the first x-ray to warrant you having a second one done?

The vet wanted to "recheck" the xrays. :confused:

I think she wanted to do another one to get the exact number in there, but I'm happy knowing there's at least 3. If she has more, that would be great and a surprise. I think she's big enough to handle giving birth (or at least I hope she is).

It makes me wonder if she had concerns with how they were lined up or something. Regardless, I wish you luck!

Liquidgirl - I fretted about doing this too, (x-ray/scan) and decided after advice, not to.:)
Tammy is day 39 today, and I've no idea how many puppies she has in her - I will just do whatever I need to at the time, rather than risk her to stress and infection at the vets now.

How heavy is your Yorkie usually ?

p.s. I saw your pregnant pictures of Lilly, and she is gorgeous - do me a favour and put them on my PREGNANCY PICTURES PLEASE thread....so we can see how they are all doing together. ;) Thanks !

:animal-pa Debra x x x x

pics 1+2: Tammy today - 3rd April
pics 3+4: My three babies, Tara, Tammy and Casper(Dad to be) ;)

xray
 

Xrays are an excellent tool, done at the proper time. IMO all bitches should be xrayed at about 57, 58 days.
If we see 4 pups, then I do not go to bed until 4 pups are born and so on..when it is 3 AM, the game of guessing if the bitch is empty, gets old, fast...
If you take your bitch to the vet in a carrier, ask for the tables to be wiped down properly, then the risk of contracting anything is nil....

Good advice. Also, when the bitch is closer to her due date, the vet will be able to judge how big the pups are and if her pelvic area will be able to expand for each pup to pass safely through. JMO.

It would be all too tempting to vet check, but anyways, I am up most nights, all night anyway - when a lot of you are on in the evening, it's the middle of the night here - so 3am won't make any difference to me, and I will be sleeping in the warmest room with her around that time anyway - I am not a heavy sleeper, and my hubby does nights, so I'll be up ;)

I will see how she looks nearer the time (day 39 today) and decide then. She's not bad yet, but I guess she has the most growing to do yet:confused:

I am here 24/7 anyway. ;)

GOOD LUCK LIQUIDGIRL !!! :D

Pat is right, it should be routine to have an x-ray done before whelping. Not only staying up late, but Mom's labor could ease up altogether and seem to be the end labor and in fact (humans not knowing) there was another pup. This is when a vet would need to be called immediately or this baby and/or mom could die. The xray tells us things their bodies may not.

I spoke to the vet today and she didn't seem to mind that I changed my mind about the 2nd xray. We just touched base about what to do if something goes wrong, etc. She also told me where to get a food scale so I can weigh the pups after they're born. She also recommended I get a brand new pair of manicure scissors that I should soak in alcohol to use if I need to cut the umbilicol cord(s). She wants me to come by Saturday to get a dose of the deworming stuff for Lily. She told me that after Lily gives birth, I should bring both her and the pups in either the next day or day after to get all of them checked out and she does want me to do an xray on Lily at that time to make sure all is okay inside of her.

We think we're on day 51. They tied on Feb. 10th. My friend who works as a vet tech said that it's possible that from the day they tied, it could actually take another week before she actually got impregnated. So, if that's the case, then we're on day 45. Gosh, it's so hard to know for sure!

I wish I would've known about this before. I would've definitely waited. :(

Beautiful babies!

I will try to get some pics posted for you soon....:)

Seems to be in America you all go the vet route for everything.
I will see how she is nearer the time, but I'm not going to panic - she is doing well, and not big at the moment, so not worried. A vet can be called to visit if needed, and if she gets big, I'll be getting her checked anyway.
Here are pics of her last night - she is quite happy so far. :D




1+2 Tammy pregnant
3+4 Casper the dad

Thanks for saying you like them - I'd love to see pics of yours ! :D

I love your bag pipes!
 

I think you are so cool! :) :D

:thumbup:

vet
 

Your vet is going to hate me...worming is done before breeding, not during gestation, or after whelping..not until the pups are weaned. If you had a stool check and your bitch was negative, there is no reason to worm her...but it is possible for a negatvie bitch to pass worm larva to pups..can be dormant in the bitch....if you are concerned..get a stool afte whelping (mom) and the pups at 3 weeks or so...but do not worm them if the stool is negative. You can do a routine worming at 6 to 8 weeks.

Ask the vet for a Oxyie shot after whelping to clean her out, makes the discharge much less also, mine are very clean by the 3rd day..5 tops..there can be spotting, but nothing heavy..and there is no need for an xray..the uterus can be palpitated the next day and any retained pups can be felt...right after whelping the uterus is still swollen and sometimes it feels like a retained pup..but a shot will ease any doubts.
As a rule the bitch will not settle with her pups and eat as long as there are pups in need of delivery...
Take her temp AM and PM for the first week at least...any spiking and you can get on it..
Good luck

Ps
 

I really do not think I am one to run to the vet unless there is cause. What I have found with 35 yrs of breeding that there are a few things we can do to produce the best result...we do not get "do-overs"...
When all goes well, none of what I said is needed, when it all hits the fan, then perhaps one or two things might have made the results better for mom and pups.
There have had many bitches I have not xrayed..BUT I can tell by palpitating the number, they are predictable ones...I am not fond of guessing with a first time girl..especailly if she looks to have only one..or even two large ones...
Sitting up all night is okay the first few litters, but after about 20 it gets old hat..LOL

Taking her into the vets is fine for a POP (which as Pat mentioned will clean her out and help bring down milk) shot 12- 24 hours after whelping. Puppies I'm not sure I would do it. I've learned to do my own tails and dew claws so as not expose them to anything. As a matter of fact my vet doesn't want to see them in his office until between their 5-6 week and only during off hours.

Who is running their vet ?

Highland yorkie is from Scotland. She raises Yorkies.
These dogs originated there. She not only knows their history, she knows their character. Good luck competing with that.
And besides she herself has a wonderful disposiition.
And A sense of humor.

\\


????? Clue me in did I miss something?

Yes. You should speak to this lady. God bless and I mean it.

Ok, so I guess I should call the vet and tell her I'm not going to pick up the deworming meds this weekend afterall. I know this particular vet is not the owner of the clinic and is not all that experienced with pregnant dogs. In fact, she was going to check with the owner (the main vet) about how much they would charge me to bring in all the pups in after they were born. I had asked her if they were going to charge me per pup or as a litter.:confused: She said that it would be a good thing to get them all checked out, but I didn't even think about how I could be exposing them to stuff at the vet's office! :eek: Ok, so she also told me that the pups first shots should be at 6 weeks or so. So, the pups should just stay home until 6 weeks? Just making sure. How about Lily? Should I go ahead and bring her in the next day or so to get that Oxyie shot but no xray??

if you missed it, then so did i because i'm confused too. :confused:

Puppies should be given 1st shot between 8-9 weeks of age and from that point at 3 week intervals....up to 3 vaccinations. With a booster 1 year and 4 months after the final vaccination. After dinner I will post the new criteria from A Vetinary School of Medicine...Can you wait a bit.

vet
 

It is best to have a talk with your vet..you are not getting theses ideas randomly off the top of your head. Tell the vet you are in contact with several show/hobby breeders of Yorkies, with years of experince.
IF you suspected hook worms or something serious, of course that needs to be addressed...but a stool will be enough to start out...

Take Lilly after whelping, within 24 hrs..have a clean out shot, check for a retained pup..if the vet can not feel for pusp, tehn I guess you have no choice but to do an xray...ask for an experinced vet to palpatiate the uterus.....the only thing the vet can tell about a puppy is whether it has a cleft palate or not...and you can look at the roof of its mouth and know yourself. If the pups are warm and nursing, then there is no reason to go to the vet...believe if one has a defective heart or serious problem..it can not be dealt with at this stage..infact they can not even take blood from a newborn to check much..they only have about a teaspoon of it.
Let the pups nurse and then take Lilly to the vet...keep them warm while you are gone. The vet will have to see them at 3 to 5 days anyway for tails unless you are doing them yourself..or a breeder friend.

vet
 

I think you might be referring to the comment Highland made about Americans running to the vet for every little thing...and I responded that I am about the last perosn to sit on the vets doorsteps..but we agree to disagree about our way of breeding..no problem there..

Because a person comes from the "land of the Yorkie" does not mean they know beans about Yorkies or any other dog..I find Highlands posts quite informative...but she is not knowledgable because she is in Scotland..she is knowledgable because she has experince, reads, learns...

We are giving advise to many novices here...it is always best to err on the side of safe, then sorry...so you waste $50 on an xray..in some cases it would have saved $1000 and perhaps a puppy ...or your bitch for which there is NO $$$ value in my eyes.

Here's the guidelines for vaccines:

RESULTS - FINALLY!
New, Safer, More Effective VACCINE PROTOCOL

dateline June 2006

VACCINATION NEWSFLASH June 2006 re: J Dodd's vaccine protocol - I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats.

Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects.

Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well-being should not be a factor in medical decision.

NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY:
Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced.

Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines.

Puppies receive antibodies through their mother?s milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced.

Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first highly effective vaccine.

Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the Immune system.

A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age.

Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year and 4 months will provide lifetime immunity.

Very good info. I will def keep all of this info handy.

Great info as well. I truly appreciate your guidance.

Eeeeek !
One thing I hate to see is people going on about docking tails ! It is seen as cruelty here, and is illegal, thank heavens !
Leave them poor waggy tails alone !!! All my dogs have tails, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Vets here can be charged even if they do it - as can owners. It's cruel and un-necessary.
I feel the same about dew-claws ! :(

No doubt a lot of you over there will disagree, but thankfully we have law on our side here ;)
I am glad I am in this country :) ....though I don't like Tony Blair, ha ha ha;)
:animal-pa Debra x x x x