Chapter 15 #2
The birthing process went well until it didn’t.
Bart asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s been too long between pups. Something’s not right.”
Molly picked up her cell phone and dialed.
Vivian’s voice could be heard on the speaker phone. “Is Shadow in labor?”
“Yes, and we have four pups out, all healthy, breathing, and looking good.”
“Any problems?”
“The pups were coming out every ten minutes, but it’s been thirty minutes. Shadow is definitely not comfortable, and she’s concerned.”
“You have a blockage. I can come over, but it will be better if you take care of it yourself.”
“Can you walk me through it?”
“You’re going to enlarge the opening by an inch and a half. You’ll first deaden where you’ll make the incision, then several minutes later you’ll make the cut. Do you have Novocain and a sterile scalpel?”
“Yes, in the kit you gave me.”
“After the incision, wearing a plastic glove, you’ll reach inside and find the problem, most likely a pup. He or she may or may not be alive. Either way, you need to remove that pup. Hopefully, it’s just one that’s not cooperating. Got that?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like for me to come over?”
“I’ve seen you do this before. I think I can do it. Can you stay on the line in case I have questions?”
“Of course.”
As Molly was preparing the syringe, Vivian asked, “Is the pup’s father there?”
“Yes, Bear is here with his owner, Bart.”
“Hello, Bart.”
“Hi Doc.”
“Bear isn’t going to like you hurting Shadow. He won’t like the shot or the incision, so Bart needs to reassure Bear that everything is okay. If Bart signals to Bear that all is okay, Bear should accept that. So, Bart, that’s your assignment.”
“Got it.”
Bart wrapped his arm around Bear and pulled him close for a hug, whispering in a gentle soothing voice, “Everything’s okay, boy. Just going to do a little procedure here. Shadow’s just fine. We’re going to stay real calm.”
Molly had the syringe ready. She showed it to Bear and said reassuringly, “Shadow’s going to be just fine.”
While Bart held Bear steady, Molly moved the syringe into place and gave Shadow two shots where she planned the incision. “Good girl, Shadow. Good girl. There, that’s all. Now, we’ll wait just a minute so this won’t hurt.”
Molly took a deep breath. This was stressful. Vet techs didn’t do surgery. That was for the veterinarian, but she’d seen Vivian do this many times, and she had Vivian on the line.
Vivian asked, “How’s it going?”
“I administered two shots. Bear is attentive but holding back. Shadow is trusting me to do what needs to be done. She knows there’s a problem. And, me, well, I’m a wreck.”
Vivian chuckled. “The incision is simple. Just make a clean, straight cut about an inch and a half. After you’ve made the incision, separate the opening with your hand.”
“Okay, here goes.”
Molly’s heart was pounding, but she was focused. She needed to get this done for Shadow. She was worried about the pups and she wanted them out. Holding the scalpel as steady as she could, she made one slow, careful cut.
“Okay, I’ve made the incision.”
“If you reach inside, you should find the obstruction, most likely a weak or deceased pup.”
Taking a deep breath, Molly said to Shadow, “Okay, girl, hold steady. We’re going to help these pups get out.”
Molly gave Bear a big, comforting smile. She didn’t need an overly protective German Shepherd on her right now. Bear was very attentive, but had Bart’s arm firmly around him.
She gently slid her hand inside Shadow and immediately felt a pup sideways at the opening. She managed to get a grip on the pup and pulled it out. It wasn’t moving. Shadow moved in quickly to groom the pup, but Molly could see it wasn’t breathing.
“Okay, Vivian, I’ve got the problem pup out and it doesn’t appear to be breathing. I’m going to remove the pup from Shadow and see if I can resuscitate it.” Molly took the pup and her suction cup off to the side.
Bart said, “Here comes Pup six.” Molly looked over to see Pup six making its way out. That diverted Shadow’s attention so Molly could work on Pup five.
“Vivian, any advice for this pup that’s not responding?”
“Work the suction cup and make sure the breathing passage is open. Was the cord cut when you pulled it out?”
Molly looked. “Yes, it was already severed.”
Vivian said, “The cord was probably prematurely broken. It’s probably too far gone, but give it everything you can. How’s Pup six?”
Bart said, “Pup six is breathing and getting a thorough cleaning from Shadow, and I can see Pup seven.”
Molly worked for about five minutes on Pup five before being convinced it was too late. “I’m afraid we lost Pup five.”
Vivian said, “That’s too bad, but it’s not unusual in a big litter to lose one or two. How’s Pup seven?”
Bart said, “Very active. Looks healthy.”
Vivian said, “Okay, unless you need me, I’m going to sign off. Good job, Molly. After all the pups are out, you’ll want to close the incision with a couple stitches.”
“Yes, no problem. I’m just so sad we lost Pup five.”
“Yes, too bad. But, you’re probably going to have ten healthy pups, so that’s good.”
“Thank you, Vivian. I’ll let you go.”
“Good luck, and call if you need me.”
“Will do. Bye.”
The rest of the birthing process went quickly. The pups wiggled to freedom and were welcomed into the world with Shadow’s active tongue.
Molly was sad over Pup five, a male, and set him aside where Shadow and Bear couldn’t see him. They completed the process of putting on numbered collars and taking photos. Molly then stitched up Shadow, giving her lots of atta girls and scruffs.
“Oh, girl, you did such a good job. What a big, beautiful family you have now.”
Shadow couldn’t keep her eyes or tongue off the little furry balls squirming around on the whelping pad. All the pups had numbered collars and had been photographed.
“We need to get you outside so you can pee and drink some water. We’ll leave Bart and Bear in charge here. Let’s you and me go outside.”
To Bart, she said, “Shadow isn’t going to want to leave her litter, but I’m going to make her. You and Bear stay here and monitor the pups. We’ll be back in a few minutes, then we can start the first feeding.”
Molly manhandled the whimpering Shadow out of the pantry and outside where she had a bowl of water.
Once outside, Shadow relieved herself and let Molly clean and apply antiseptic with a plastic glove to the birth area and stitches.
Molly gave Shadow a couple of her favorite biscuits and made her drink some water.
Once she started drinking, she drank a lot.
Molly finally let her return to the whelping pen.
Once in the pen, Molly positioned Shadow so the pups could get at the feeding stations. Like the miracle that it was, the pups knew exactly what to do.
Bart made a pot of coffee and brought a cup to Molly who was sitting on the floor in the pantry enjoying the feeding scene. The coffee tasted good.
She was spent. She hadn’t expected to do surgery, and the loss of Pup five weighed on her harder than she expected.
It wasn’t the money. She just had an amazing affinity to the new pups, like they were hers, which they were.
She and Shadow were a team and the pups were their new family. Molly acutely felt the responsibility.
Bart had taken Bear outside for some fresh air and exercise and returned, Bear guarding Shadow, Bart with a cup of coffee sitting on the floor next to Molly.
“What’s next?”
“Pretty much this. It looks like Shadow’s milk is in and the pups are going for it. I find it so amazing that they just know how it all works.”
“Do you worry about them getting lost or squished?”
“Yes, we need to keep constant count. Shadow might lean over to groom one and we have to make sure another one doesn’t crawl under Shadow to stay warm. They’re so tiny, Shadow won’t even feel them.”
“When do you name them, or do you? Do they remain numbered until the new owners?”
“You and I are going to name them, but I don’t want to assign a name until we see the characteristics a little more.”
“Do you have names in mind?”
“I went through the internet and I’ve made a list of possible names, male and female. I assume we’ll name the alpha Bear if he’s male.”
“How do you decide who the alpha is?”
“It doesn’t relate to size. It relates to assertiveness. He or she will be the first to get to the best nursing station, the first to the door, the first to the feeding bowl. It will be pretty obvious. Every litter has an alpha.”
“The alpha can be male or female?”
“Yes. If our alpha is female, I’ll name her Shadow.”
“What other names do you have?”
Molly retrieved a notebook from the box with her medical kit.
“The list I’ve made is mostly German boy and girl names.
” Looking at her list, she continued, “For females, I’ve got Heidi, Greta, Brita, Elsa, Lottie, Gretchen, Aida, Stella, Roxy, Mia, Callie, and Rosie.
For males, I’ve got Hans, Baron, Max, Duke, Rocky, Jax, Cooper, Gunnar, Rex, Scout, Maverick, Beau, Buddy, and Ranger. ”
“Good names. I like Maverick.”
“Yeah, right, says the guy named after Bart Maverick.”
“Molly’s a nice name for a dog.”
“So’s Bart.”
While Shadow nursed and fussed over her brood, Molly and Bart made a big breakfast, a huge pile of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and homemade hash browns.
Bart was a great kitchen partner. He was comfortable in the kitchen, knew how to use a knife, and had basic cooking skills.
Well, he should, he cooked three meals a day for his family in the wild.