Sad news...

This morning I woke with a start: Zsa Zsa was sleeping comfortably. Alarmed, I took her temperature which had gone up to 100.1.  I called the vet, who said to bring her in right away. The vet did an exam and said she thought the puppies had been absorbed, then to confirm, she took an x-ray.  Zsa Zsa's body absorbed the puppies. The vet reviewed her notes, the sonogram, my notes of the mucus plug, nesting behavior, and temperature chart. The sonogram had absolutely revealed 2 -- possibly 3 -- pups...and her behavior throughout was consistent with that of a mother-to-be. 

The news is sad, and disappointing, but there is good news too. Zsa Zsa is healthy, and she did not have to undergo surgery to remove the pups. Her hormones will return to normal, and given that we all got sleep last night, that process has begun. We will return to our daily dose of vigorous activities: swimming; agility; and Frisbee.

Our genuine thanks to all of you for your interest and concern in the mudi puppies.  We will now ensure that all is right and perfect with Zsa Zsa and move forward...taking with us all we learned (which is a ton!).

So, for now, signing off...

Day 65

Appetite holding, temperature beginning to dip...

Day 64, Giving thanks for the small things...

We have a mucus plug!  Hopefully, we will have some puppy news to post in the next few days. 

Day 63

Today is Zsa Zsa's due date, but as commented about the last post, we may need to squeeze her!  She must want to keep those puppies in the oven a little longer, so they're baked just right.  Clearly, she saves all her speed for running, puppy delivery...a little slow.  So we wait, and look at a head shot of the sire...Rush has a gorgeous coat of curls, and a regal lion head.



Ugo Du Clos Saint-Joseph (Rush)



Day 62

It's beautiful weather in Florida.  Zsa Zsa joined me in the pool this evening and we followed her swim with a bath.  Her temperature and appetite are holding steady.  The evening is lovely, balmy, and we wait...

Zsa Zsa

Day 61

When you're up most of the night, panting and nesting...it's remarkably easy to snooze in the light of day.  All signs good, temperature and appetite are steady.

Kilvan Hamvas Harmat (Zsa Zsa)

Day 60

Everything good.  Waiting...

Kilvan Hamvas Harmat (Zsa Zsa)





Day 59

Zsa Zsa continues to nest, temperature and appetite holding steady.  Below is a picture of the sire, Ugo Du Clos Saint-Joseph (Rush), during his recent visit to Florida, in May, 2011 (of course he went to the beach!).  Rush is both AKC and CKC registered.

Ugo Du Clos Saint-Joseph

Day 58

The dam's temperature is steadily above 100, so we wait.  Nesting activity now includes collecting every dog toy ever, and caching it in the sheets of the whelping box (balls show up that I've never seen before!).  Certain toys are chosen, presented with much carrying on, then carted off again, and I can hear a flurry of activity coming from the other room. 

While I am sure that hormones drive the above behavior, it illustrates one of my favorite Zsa Zsa traits, that at least occasionally, this mudi has her own agenda.  In the herding group, the energy is for the team - "What's on our agenda? I'm ready - whatever you want me to do - give the command!"   The connection is great and I like being buds; it's why we have dogs, right?  AND...I like the streak of independence that shows up in this mudi, "Okay, if we're done, and you don't need me right now, I've got a list of things...let's meet back when you're ready to go again, just say my name."  It's a small tweak of a difference, and maybe it just shows how smart this mudi is, that she knows when I need to focus on my work, solo.  What I'm sure of is that her companionship is pure pleasure, and that for her coming agenda, " Zsa Zsa, I'm ready - whatever you want me to do - just bark!"

Day 57

More restless activity from the dam interspersed with heavy napping.  Today we check in with the vet, ready the whelping kit, and prepare the whelping box by lining it with paper and towels.  Also, I'll adjust the front gate of the box to make entry easier for the dam.  Then, we hurry up and wait! 

We expect little to happen (which is good) for the next few days.  The only unusual thing happening at all is seeing a mudi sleep so soundly in the middle of the day...making puppies sure tires a girl out!

Day 56

Zsa Zsa's primary agenda each day is napping and nesting.  She has taken to the whelping box, and I am glad she has a place for her nesting energy, especially when she feels the need to work the nest in the wee hours!  Currently, she is living what most of us would consider an ideal life: napping, walking, eating, napping, nesting, playing, napping, and so on.

Of course she may be placating me with her whelping box napping, and have other plans for a birthing place...

Week 7

The whelping box is built, set in place, and the dam is napping...though as pictured here, she is letting me know I need to make a canopy for privacy from paparazzi.  I will add a removable tent-like top and a hinged front gate this week.  The box is screwed together so that the front is completely removable, and the whole thing can be taken apart and stored easily.

Mudi Puppies expected! Due date is July 20, 2011...

                                       

 Kilvan Hamvas Harmat x Ugo Du Clos Staint-Joseph