Pups

The pups are doing well.  Momma is back to her old self today and Hades is feeling more happy as well.  Rhea finally feels well enough to play with him a bit :)

All babies are gaining weight and only giving an ounce of Goats milk in evening to help with full bellies so this Mom can get at least a few hours sleep.

Rhea and her look alike. Only pup not sold. Check out the size of Tank.( His adoptive parents have renamed him WALLY). Isn't he a monster of a pup!!!  

We called her little girl, her family has renamed her Matilda, isn't she a doll :) 

This picture is our nephew

, he is playing on the floor while I cook dinner and Mr.Hades wouldn't leave his side. So cute!!!

My personal facebook page facebook,com/picsbycrys 

Helping one little man

The pups are doing ok, but one fella isn't gaining weight. So I am supplementing him a little with some goats milk in between nursing times. He just gets tired and sleeps rather than takes in what he needs.  He will catch up in no time and likely be the bigger one of the bunch.

Third fella in. 

Puppies and Parents

Morning Mastiff friends,

Today is a much better day. Although I am much sleep deprived.. things are getting better with each feeding. Rhea has started to come around now, I assume since the shock has worn off from her surgery and pain.  She has begun to lay down without me making her to nurse the babies.  Today we see even more progress as she is doing all the licking and such to make them go to bathroom. ( prior to this , I had to wipe them with towels till they did the job after each feeding).

The babies are now finishing nursing and finding spots near mommy to snuggle for a few minutes before we put them in the separated basket in the whelping area.

* Giant breeds need babies to be separated when not nursing  at the infancy stages as momma is so large she can easily crush a pup from laying down.  NEVER LEAVE MOM UNATTENDED WITH PUPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is why I am not getting sleep. I am up attending every 2 hours through the night.

All babies are nursing well.

Hades is a bit sucky as he is not sure why Rhea and those little pups are getting so much attention LOL.  Mommy had to give him extra snuggles.

He cried so much yesterday night I slept on floor near whelping box and he took the little couch. Seemed to settle him.

Check out Tank(aka the little fawn's Milk Moustache. 

I should add when owning a large/giant breed this is a costly adventure/experience. 

C-Section is thousands, Constant vet check ups, xray, Needles, Whelping bed alone cost $200ish.  

FOOD COSTS  LOL

Please consider all of this when choosing a pet. 

Koodo's again to having a great Vet and his amazing team that saved our Girl Rhea and all 4 pups!!

Your care and guidance is amazing!! 

The babies have arrived. .... What a day..

After a full night of Rhea labouring, nothing was happening. Then, next day finally the temp dropped and mucus plug came out. So ,we were feeling enthusiastic about progress.  I can tell you it doesn't take long for something to go wrong. Approximately an hour after her plug came out a thick forest green oozed from her. This means a placenta was tearing away. BAD, VERY BAD.  So, we called the doctor. He was to call us right back, by the time he did we were in the car and on our way.
Tried 3 rounds of Oxitocin and calcium to induce natural labour... ending in a C-section and 4 babies born. Mom is now healthy and all babies are good. One ,gave us a scare but the second vet stepped in and calmly took care of him and all came out positive. 

Now.. only problem left is Rhea is not bonding yet. I was up most of night . When they nurse she won't lick them to make them pee or poo.. so Midwife-Chrissy to the rescue LOL.   Quite the learning experience. 

When the babies were born , I cried my eyes out. You can clearly see that in the images. I look like a crazy person all puffy and red. Not to mention wasn't really dressed to leave the house in my pigtails and sloppy clothing LOL.

Rhea is now home with babies, long nights but I am sure each day will bring more ease and of course happiness. The babies are all doing well.  

Thank you to all who have followed us on this journey, what an incredible feeling of support and love. 

xooxoxoxooxoxo

Past due

Rhea is a past the estimated due date.. The waiting is so hard.  I will keep you all posted.

Three days till Rhea is due.

The excitement is building here at home. All of us are feeling it.  I think even Hades is trying to figure out what is going on.   Rhea had a good night and woke up very playful this morning. She was shovelling her block head into mine to wake me up around 6am.  I think she had to pee :).

Now that she is up and had breakfast she just wants to lay down on the cool floor.  Lifting her head up only to see what I am up to when I go into the kitchen.

Hades is lounging around as well but clearly not for same reason.

Hopefully the next posting will be announcing the babies arrivals.

Check the countdown :)

When hubby got up, she got up to greet him at the table. :)  

#englishmastiffs   #lovemypets #puppies #pregnant 

Xray can confirm 4 pups.

Today was interesting. We had to take 2 xrays as the vet was surprised at how unclear it was with her due to her size.  I refused to do it a third time.  She has gained 12lbs and at 166lbs it is pretty hard to get her up on a table.
Rhea was a bit out of sorts but calmed down with treats and praise.  So, although, we ( both vet and us) are suspicious that some were hiding , we can only confirm 4 at moment.

Whelping bed is complete, and we are ready for their arrival.  5 days left till her due date. We are checking her temps day and night to watch for signs of labour :)

Almost done.

Mommy and Rhea checking out her whelping bed that daddy built. 

Just yesterday this is our girl .

This is Rhea on her way to vets.

Whelping box

Well, tonight we are finishing up the whelping box. Hubby was hard a work making it.  These giant breeds take alot of care and preparation for the arrival of the pups.  
Also got all the stuff we need now towels, gloves, heating lamp, whelping box materials, bottles in case she can't feed all, Thermometer to check her and so much more.

I am like an over anxious parent!!!

Rhea had a rough night last night, she got sick once. Not sure if it was eating too fast or just had the puppies starting to move upsetting her belly. Then she had me up again at 4am crying as she wanted on the bed with me but is too chubby now to get up on her own. So , there I am at 4am  helping her up. ( she is bigger than me LOL, so not an easy task).  She then stayed in bed the night. No temperature .   Today she is much better.  

Hades was out of sorts with her crying, but thankfully I let him out at that time for a pee and got her settled... then he got on the bed as well and went to sleep.

Thank goodness we have a king size bed LOL.

7 Days till puppies are due.  Tues at Vets for puppy count and check up.