Ms. Penelope Does It

You might remember a few months ago I had written that I had a chocolate and white Boston Terrier and her name was Penelope. She was about two and a half years old and we had tried a breeding her a couple times unsuccessfully. It was comical but frustrating at the same time.

In February Ms Penny had a brief meeting with a fellow name Diesel. The brief meeting turned out to be quite successful.. In about seven weeks my poor Penny looked like a miniature cow walking around here. We thought she was going to pop. On Thursday before the birth day or I should say night, we visited the vet to find we were expecting at least five puppies. They were all in position except for one that was breach.

With a lot of research on the Internet and long conversations with the vet I pretty much had an idea of what to expect. The symptoms of her going into labor and about how long it would take between pups.

During the day of April 25 Penny seemed restless. I was starting to wonder if this was it. Other symptoms were panting, shivering and discharge which all started later that evening. I was ready for an all nighter not that I felt the dog really need me but she was quite clingy to her mom. She didn't eat that much that day either.

We had prepared an area in the bathroom of our bedroom so she would have privacy from the other three dogs. We had clean blankets and towels for her. I knew this would be one messy mission.

At one point a sac started out but no puppy. I was wondering if that might be a pup because I thought her water had broken earlier. She kept trying to sit which made me nervous. She finally broke the sack. About a hour later she had a stillborn puppy which broke my heart. It was cold but Penny cleaned her well.

After that she had a two more girls which survived.

She went about two hours, started to deliver another puppy but it was breach. It was still in the sac which I didn't want to break so I gave her some time. In trying to deliver she broke the sac so I gently tried to pull the pup out. It was stuck and wouldn't budge. She kept trying to push with no luck so I actually had to push my fingers up and try and straighten the front legs that were twisted in a weird way. The pup then slid out. I immediately tried shaking it, holding it and rubbing it with the head down. After all that I even tried mouth to snout with no success. In the meantime, Penny just watched. I must say she was very trusting through all of this.

Again she went about two hours then started to deliver once again. The very same situation occurred and the last puppy was breach. I went through all the steps I did before without success. My main concern was hurting Penelope but she was so trusting. Never trying to bite me.

So in the end we had two very healthy little female puppies. They are now a week old and doing well. Penny is also doing great and is a wonderful mother of the two little rollie polly puppies.