I honestly couldn’t remember what day it was when I woke up. And when I woke up it wasn’t morning, but the middle of the day. The day that I couldn’t remember which one it was. I’m starting to sound like I’m running in circles here.

It’s been a hard’s day night, and I’ve been working like a dog.

It’s been a hard day’s night, I should be sleeping like a log.

Well, maybe I wasn’t working like a dog, but I was up with the dog. I definitely ended up sleeping like a log though. Do logs sleep?

Or maybe my song should be…. “Oh, what a night”

Oh, what a night

Late December back in ’63

What a very special time for me

As I remember, what a night

Although my version might read….

Oh, what a night

All through the night back in ’19

What a very sleepless time for me

As I remember, what a night

As I’m sure you’ve figured out Mercy and I had a long, long night once things became evident that whelping was approaching. (And as you can see my brain was lacking sleep when I started rambling on this blog) 😛

She would fuss and act like she might be having contractions, then she would lay down and rest. This went on into the night. When it was apparent that the work she was doing between naps wasn’t producing anything. I finally called the vet…..at 1 am. (I hate calling my vet in the middle of the night. But I needed her help. I figured we were in for another C-section).

I loaded my truck with a small crate and heating pad for the expected babies, my whelping supplies (just in case they were needed along the way), put Mercy in a crate and hit the road.

About two miles from home she starting crying out in pain. It was much more intense and frequent then it had been at home. Poor girl. I felt so helpless so just keep driving as fast as I could safely go.

She was in the back seat so I couldn’t really check on her. About thirteen miles from home I finally pulled off the highway on a side road to check on her. And low and behold, she had managed to finally deliver that first pup. What a chunk it was! No wonder she was having trouble delivering the plump little creature.

Well, that was a relief. Usually, if there’s a big pup blocking the road, once it gets out of the way things can progress as they should. I called the doctor back and let her know the pup had arrived and she could go back to bed as we turned around and headed home.

I got Mercy and the pup settled in their crate and laid on the couch next to her to hopefully catch a few winks. And the labor continued. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a repeat of what was happening earlier in the night. We weren’t getting anywhere.

**warning graphic description coming**

Time to check her. I gloved up and felt for a puppy. And there it was. I could feel it’s head just ready to enter the world, but that was all. Only a large head with no front legs nearby. Oh, great. They were probably tucked back and the pup was stuck by the shoulders in the pelvis. I tried several different things but couldn’t get that pup to budge.

It was now nearing 4:30 am. And I had to call the vet again. (Of course, with hindsight, had I known there would be a problem with number two getting stuck we would’ve continued on to the clinic on our first run at 1:00. But usually, if you have a big first pup once it’s out of the way the next came come out normally.)

So back in the truck we went and headed off on our hour+ drive to the clinic.

Once we arrived, the first pup was placed in the incubator to keep it warm. Mom was quickly assessed and anesthetized. And with her now asleep and relaxed, the doctor was able to pull the stuck pup out. And it was still alive!

(oxygen and hot water bottle)

The puppy was suctioned, rubbed, given medication to help it breath (it was gasping and gurgly) and put on oxygen while mom was prepped for a c-section. The tech was back and forth between helping the vet and checking on the puppy which I continued to stimulate and keep hooked up to the oxygen.

Finally, the third and last puppy was successfully delivered via C-section. Every single pup was big; 8.8-9.2 ounces! (They were bigger than some of Lucy’s pups who are ten days older!) Mercy’s first litter was six normal sized puppies which she delivered very easily. This litter was half that size so they sucked down the nutrients of six and just grew too big!

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the second pup did not make it.

(in recovery)

(sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia)

Pocket puppies❤️

But I’m thankful we do have two gorgeous pups to love on; a tricolor female and a black and tan male.