Page 34 - 9 Spring 2023 Newsletter

Cinders - The Singleton Puppy
By Sally Newman

When Flo had her first litter in
October 2020, it was such an
easy whelping with two 9oz and
one 11oz puppies, which just
simply slid out. The second, in
April 2022, Flo was in the first
stage of labour for 48 hours and
I just knew something was not
quite right. She was not very fat,
so there were not many puppies
arriving. Her waters broke at
12:30pm but there was very
little pushing going on for the
next two hours. I was waiting for The squirrel companion
a call back from my vet, as it was a and she did just that. After a few
Saturday afternoon, as I thought Flo days she got used to being on her
may need oxytocin, when I felt little own, and being big and so well fed,
paws! I have dealt with a breach did not need it so much, but I left it
birth before so I managed to ease the in the whelping box anyway.
pup out using paper towels, but she I was delighted to get my first choice
was not breathing and was blue in of pedigree name from the KC,
the mouth. I was swinging her while Leazehond Cinderella.
Flo was still chewing the cord, there
was a little ‘pop’ of air and she started Being the only one, Cinders got a lot
breathing and pinking up. The vet of attention from me from the start
called and I said all was well with this and by two weeks with her eyes
one. She said to phone back if I beginning to open, she started
needed further help, but Flo
settled with this one pup that
was suckling well, and there
were no more. This one was
16oz and with being breach, no
wonder it was a difficult birth.
Cinders, name already chosen,
was the first singleton puppy I
had ever had, so I knew things
would be a bit different. For a
start I gave her a new soft toy,
an orange squirrel, as her
companion as pups do like to The lamb toy
snuggle together to keep warm,

34