I could tell Addie was feeling a little off.
It was night time and she was laying in her bed, she wasn’t acting herself and I wasn’t sure why. It was about a week to early for her to have puppies, but it was within the normal timeframe of what we were told to expect.
She was panting so hard, but had no other signs that she was ready. She wasn’t going to the bathroom often, or itching her sides. She just seemed…hot.
I didn’t want to take the chance of her going into labor and not realize it, so I spent the night on the floor with her. She didn’t sleep the entire night…well, neither of us did. She was antsy and bothered, but again didn’t have any other signs that she was ready to deliver her babies.
Once the sun came up, it was time. She was ready to have her babies. The vet had seen her a few weeks prior, so we were expecting between 6-8 pups. Once after another, they were popping right out and Addie knew exactly what to do. She licked them clean and cut their cords.
Before we knew it, Addie was a mom…to 11 beautiful, healthy puppies. Addie’s motherly instincts immediately kicked in. It was truly amazing how caring and nurturing she was.
She needed a little help getting all of the puppies to find where milk comes from. But once they found it, she knew exactly what to do. She consistently nursed and cleaned them, ensuring she didn’t need us to help her take care of them anymore. The 6 girls and 5 boys are beyond adorable, and the experience was truly one of a lifetime.
The days have flown by…
Watching these puppies grow from hours old to days is incredible. Everyday they become more resilient and their personalities begin to shine. Knowing I’ll have to send them to their new families soon is sad, but knowing what great homes they’re going to is heartwarming.
Today’s Lesson: let your instinct take over. Addie went from Squirrel Stopper to Mom in minutes. I didn’t know she had it in her, but I’m so glad she did.
Today’s [human] Lesson: trust your gut. If something seems off, it probably is. Don’t second guess yourself and follow how you feel.
#blog-07
