Whew!  It has been a scary night, but the babies are here and Cadence is safe!  Before I get into that, I’m going to rewind.

Two days ago Kerry let me know that Cadence had started nesting, panting, and giving all the signs she was in stage 1 of labor.  We were all excited, puppies were on the way!  I assumed the babies would probably be born during the night on the 16th, though sometimes this can last a long time with a first time mom, so I wasn’t really worried when she didn’t.  I spoke to Kerry and her best friend Tanya yesterday about the labor and how she was doing.  They were concerned, because Cadence had been in stage 1 of labor for a LONG time.  She wasn’t progressing like she should.  However, just when we were ready to give up and take her to the vet, she started into stage 2.  Since we were again making progress, we decided to let her try.  I fully expected to see Kerry announcing babies within an hour or two.  That didn’t happen.  When I checked in with Kerry she told me they called their fertility vet, and she had walk them through pulling out a stuck puppy.  A STUCK PUPPY!  Again, I thought that would clear things up, as that boy must have been blocking the way.  Now Cadence would get down to business… but not so!  Cadence was tired and nothing was happening.

First and only puppy born at Kerry’s home.

At around 2AM they arrived at the fertility vet’s office, thankfully right down the road.  Kerry called me at 3:30AM.  The vet was able to get a couple pups out, but each time it was a tight squeeze, and one puppy wasn’t doing well.  There was no room for the pups to move through naturally, so the vet was pulling them out when they would drop down near enough for her to grab with two fingers.  I told Kerry to listen to her expert.  If the vet thought Cadence could deliver without a C-section, great.  If the vet felt she needed one, I was totally on board.  We would do whatever to kept Cadence safe.

This vet worked her tail off all night getting puppy after puppy down and out of Cadence’s tiny pelvic opening.  However, at 7:30 AM I get the phone call.  There was one puppy left, and Cadence was exhausted.  The vet told me she didn’t think Cadence had it in her to whelp that baby.  Two hours had passed since the last puppy, and there was no energy left.  Cadence had two rounds of oxytocin, and her uterus was not willing to go more.  The long first stage of labor and the 12 hours of stage 2 labor was taking its toll.   It was time for surgery.  If she had whelped even one puppy on her own, I might have let her rest and try later.  However, there was simply to much risk.

You will all be happy to know that Cadence is safely out of surgery.  7 babies were born, though one was tiny with several health issues and did not make it.  We have 6 healthy BOYS, 3 creams and 3 blacks.  All are eating well and settling in. 

Keep Cadence and Kerry in your thoughts and prayers.  C-sections are never easy, even when they go smoothly.  At least Cadence was able to whelp most of them, so she understands they are hers and what she needs to do.

~Becky

P. S.  This is why we don’t take breeding lightly.  This might not be common in Poodles, but we are taking a risk with every cycle and pregnancy.   Remember that if you think you want to breed your beloved pet.   Risk vs Reward is ever present in a breeders decision making process.  I’ve been whelping litters for most of my life.  This was my first ever C-section.   There is a saying in dog breeding.  Do this long enough, you will see everything.  Cadence will not be having any more litters.  I will not risk her life.  Even if she did have a girl we would not have kept her for breeding, because I will not move forward with a narrow pelvic line.  That is a risk I am unwilling to take.