He's Here!!!

Finn, 4 days old

Finn developing his proprioceptory system

The wait is over, Katrina had her pup on Valentine's Day.  Twenty-four hours in first stage labor without advancement forced the decision to take the pup by c-section. We knew from previous ultrasound and xray evaluations that she was carrying only one pup.  Seeing that she was primiparous and carrying a singleton, the chances of complications with a standard delivery were higher than normal.  So, with fantastic support of the staff at the Animal Medical Center in Marquette and the expertise of Dr. Laura Klar, Dr. Kellie Holmstrom and Dr. Jo Gerrish, little Finn is doing great and is on day four of his existence on this planet with us!  He is absolutely beautiful and Katrina is finding her way as a new mom.  Singleton pups face their own set of challenges, but a singleton with a first-time mom even more!  Very soon after the birth it was clear that Katrina was a little unsure of her pup, as she lifted her lip when initially introduced to him. Still, the wonder of nature is something to see unfold.    Initially groggy from surgery, within 18-24 hours Katrina began responding  to Finn's every  squeak and squeal, presenting her teats for nursing and generally behaving like a doting mom.   Lots of questions, lots of reading and lots of research has made me keenly aware of the many issues to watch for in any neonatal pup, but also of those that are even more pressing since Finn is an "only." We will be watching his weight carefully, making sure Katrina is cleaning him properly, making sure she is not developing mastitis in unused nipples, making sure he is staying warm, and this list goes on and on.  One area that we must be sure to address is the necessity of making sure he has physical contact with objects (like the wadded up towel, above) as he would in a litter of pups. 

As a dog behaviorist, I have seen a lot, but I have never until now whelped a litter.  While I have always appreciated careful and involved breeders, I now  have an even greater appreciation for the dedication and commitment required to produce a healthy, well-rounded pup.  Tomorrow I'll write about the program we're using to create a "Super Pup."