Chellesdiamond
Member
- Mar 17, 2017
- 84
- 2
- Country
- USA
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Diamond
A week ago I thought I knew what was the better option for my girl. Now, after feeling the guilt- I'm unsure!
Diamond is a healthy 23 month old English Bulldog. She was vet checked and cleared to breed. Her 2 year old stud Benny had been checked and cleared as well. This would be both of their first babies and us owners couldn't be more excited! I chose her stud carefully knowing that the betterment of the breed was on the top of my goal list. Benny is a smaller guy which is one of the reasons we chose him- knowing we would attempt a free whelp. I always thought that breeding a breed that required a cesarean section wasn't IMO what was best for Mom. Here's my story....
Diamond and Benny met on January 18th where the first AI was done with fresh semen. It was repeated again on January 19th. It was day 18-19 of Diamonds heat. I knew my girl and she has very long heats so the standard insemination at day 11-13 and 15 was too early. I was right, on day 50 8 little skulls and spines were seen via x ray. Pregnancy had been confirmed on day 30 via blood test and ultrasound. 8!!! Wow!!! I had done my research, I have bred the breed before. We had all successful free whelps. I thought I was doing my part for the breed. No surgery!! Diamond had a very healthy uneventful pregnancy. I took her to see her vet often just to double and triple check. I had people lined up wanting one of my bullies who already had one from years before. All was well. Her due date came and went so I took her in to check on everyone- all was good, healthy heartbeats, growing pups and heads that would safely fit in the birth canal. I tracked her temperature 3 times a day and on day 65, the drop happened. First stage of labor was a walk in the park for my strong girl. She began pushing and easily out came our first little girl kicking and screaming. The second and third followed. My girl was a champ! 3 big bully babies in less than two hours. And then things took a turn. She pushed hard for an hour and 20 minutes with no pup. I called the vet- they said to give her at least another hour before I should be concerned. No sooner than I hung up I saw she had a baby in the canal. Two hard pushes and out came a big, still girl. Her tongue was white, her placenta was black. I could see some tissue around her mouth had started to break down. I tried anyways. I gave CPR for an hour while delivering a healthy baby girl runt that Diamond pushed out in one push- alive and screaming!! I decided there was nothing more I could do for the baby born still so we wrapped her in a blanket and put her in a box. The next big boy was born (I lost time). He was gasping and his tongue was turning white. I gave CPR for an hour and a half until my husband said- Diamond isn't doing well. We loaded everyone up and headed to the vet. I continued CPR on the pup and there was a heartbeat when we got to the vet. Sadly, he passed minutes after getting there. A c section was immediately decided because Diamond was now leaking green discharge. We waited for the news- another big boy had passed and we had another LIVE little girl. I don't know what went wrong, neither does the vet. I don't know if the three pups died from being overdue, I don't know if the combination of a large litter and hard labor at the end were to blame. I do know that if I would have had a planned c section on my girl- we'd likely have 8 healthy babies. I am blessed beyond words to have the 5 beautiful babies I stare at every chance I get. I thought I was doing what was best for my girl and not forcing surgery. Money was never a factor in any of my decisions, just Diamonds well being. She can free whelp, but should I have allowed her to? Probably not
Diamond is a healthy 23 month old English Bulldog. She was vet checked and cleared to breed. Her 2 year old stud Benny had been checked and cleared as well. This would be both of their first babies and us owners couldn't be more excited! I chose her stud carefully knowing that the betterment of the breed was on the top of my goal list. Benny is a smaller guy which is one of the reasons we chose him- knowing we would attempt a free whelp. I always thought that breeding a breed that required a cesarean section wasn't IMO what was best for Mom. Here's my story....
Diamond and Benny met on January 18th where the first AI was done with fresh semen. It was repeated again on January 19th. It was day 18-19 of Diamonds heat. I knew my girl and she has very long heats so the standard insemination at day 11-13 and 15 was too early. I was right, on day 50 8 little skulls and spines were seen via x ray. Pregnancy had been confirmed on day 30 via blood test and ultrasound. 8!!! Wow!!! I had done my research, I have bred the breed before. We had all successful free whelps. I thought I was doing my part for the breed. No surgery!! Diamond had a very healthy uneventful pregnancy. I took her to see her vet often just to double and triple check. I had people lined up wanting one of my bullies who already had one from years before. All was well. Her due date came and went so I took her in to check on everyone- all was good, healthy heartbeats, growing pups and heads that would safely fit in the birth canal. I tracked her temperature 3 times a day and on day 65, the drop happened. First stage of labor was a walk in the park for my strong girl. She began pushing and easily out came our first little girl kicking and screaming. The second and third followed. My girl was a champ! 3 big bully babies in less than two hours. And then things took a turn. She pushed hard for an hour and 20 minutes with no pup. I called the vet- they said to give her at least another hour before I should be concerned. No sooner than I hung up I saw she had a baby in the canal. Two hard pushes and out came a big, still girl. Her tongue was white, her placenta was black. I could see some tissue around her mouth had started to break down. I tried anyways. I gave CPR for an hour while delivering a healthy baby girl runt that Diamond pushed out in one push- alive and screaming!! I decided there was nothing more I could do for the baby born still so we wrapped her in a blanket and put her in a box. The next big boy was born (I lost time). He was gasping and his tongue was turning white. I gave CPR for an hour and a half until my husband said- Diamond isn't doing well. We loaded everyone up and headed to the vet. I continued CPR on the pup and there was a heartbeat when we got to the vet. Sadly, he passed minutes after getting there. A c section was immediately decided because Diamond was now leaking green discharge. We waited for the news- another big boy had passed and we had another LIVE little girl. I don't know what went wrong, neither does the vet. I don't know if the three pups died from being overdue, I don't know if the combination of a large litter and hard labor at the end were to blame. I do know that if I would have had a planned c section on my girl- we'd likely have 8 healthy babies. I am blessed beyond words to have the 5 beautiful babies I stare at every chance I get. I thought I was doing what was best for my girl and not forcing surgery. Money was never a factor in any of my decisions, just Diamonds well being. She can free whelp, but should I have allowed her to? Probably not