Last night Iska was very uncomfortable and I was worried that pups might be arriving sooner than anticipated. But, thankfully, she was finally able to sleep and appears to feel fine and normal today. She ate breakfast and lunch. Other that, Iska has been sleeping most of the day. We'll see how it goes tonight.
Here is the schedule for Crufts tomorrow, which includes Gundog and the International Junior Handler competition, in addition to Best in Show. Link to live streaming web broadcast. View highlights, including an interview with winner of Best of Breed for Schnauzers, here.
Iska, Ash and Flute and I will all be watching if pups are not coming!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
What Iska will be doing on Saturday
if she's not having puppies, that is!
Watching live streaming video from the Crufts dog show. See video here.
The Utility Group will be judged and Iska will want to root on her standard schnauzer cousin in the ring. In the United Kingdom, the standard schnauzer is called simply the Schnauzer, in recognition of it being the original schnauzer from which the Giant and Miniature Schnauzers were derived.
The whole show, including agility and other fun dogs things, is streaming live on the Eukanuba website if you are interested. Here is the link to the schedule for Saturday: http://www.crufts.org.uk/whats-on/day3
The times are 5 hrs ahead of EST.
Watching live streaming video from the Crufts dog show. See video here.
The Utility Group will be judged and Iska will want to root on her standard schnauzer cousin in the ring. In the United Kingdom, the standard schnauzer is called simply the Schnauzer, in recognition of it being the original schnauzer from which the Giant and Miniature Schnauzers were derived.
The whole show, including agility and other fun dogs things, is streaming live on the Eukanuba website if you are interested. Here is the link to the schedule for Saturday: http://www.crufts.org.uk/
The times are 5 hrs ahead of EST.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Iska's Xray
How many pups do you see?Look for little skulls and long spinal columns.
Tip: our reproductive vet used a black sharpie pen to make a dot on each pup's skull. Click on the image to see it larger and you can follow the spines leading off from each skull.
Spoiler alert: number of pups listed several spaces below. If you want to calculate on your own, look at the image before scrolling further!
Number of pups seen by our vet on the Xray: 6
Six is a great number. We are very happy about this. A nice, moderate litter gives pups plenty of siblings with whom to socialize, but is also easier on mums and the humans who pitch in to help care for the growing schnauzers.
Waiting
Iska looks quite composed and lovely as she waits for her appointment for the xray to determine number of pups.
A little schnauzer & a big scary machine
Iska seems to be asking, "what is that big machine?"More worryingly, Iska troubles, "what is that strange red monster with four arms on the wall?"
It's hard to be a little schnauzer sometimes ...
especially after a long wait in such a worrisome environment.
After the Xray
Here Iska shows us what position she was in for the xray.She also generously allows us a peek at her bare belly.
Iska does not look too happy :-((.
The only fun part of Iska's vet adventure
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
How many pups?? Xray tomorrow!
Yes, tomorrow Iska goes for an xray at our reproductive vet's office. The pups are now old enough to have developed calcified skeletons, so an xray will help us have a pretty good idea of how many pups to expect.
The vet predicted 5-6 based on the ultrasound. Pups can always be hiding, though. How many will we see tomorrow?
I am eager to know.
Iska is getting bigger and is more uncomfortable. She managed a short walk this afternoon, though, to help keep in shape which is important to whelping. She is sleeping so much.
Until now, Iska has been a great eater and reliably--and enthusiastically--packing away the needed chow for both herself and the growing pups. Today was the second day that she was very picky about eating. I had to tempt her with new food options and have been shopping to be sure to have a variety of even more exotic, tempting options on hand.
As she gets closer to birth (properly called whelping in dog terms), she will have less and less space for her stomach, will feel more uncomfortable, and will be more choosy about what she is willing to eat. She will be particularly concerned about the amount of food presented to her and if it is the same food/smell she ate at the previous meal. For example, for most of her pregnancy, she has had a hard-boiled egg added to her meal at the suggestion of our reproductive vet. Although she previously loved this, she has been on hard-boiled egg strike this week. Iska normally does not get canned food and eats a high-quality kibble. As a result, like a kid who never gets candy, canned food is super exciting to Iska. Last night she was more than happy to eat a canned puppy formula of chicken and rice from Purina Pro Plan. This morning, she would not eat this, but she would happily eat an egg, cheese, mushroom, tomato, ham and zucchini frittata (last night's human dinner) with a side of baked sweet potato. I was able to work from home this afternoon, so fed her a lunch of a canned Lamb and Rice formula from Canidae, which met with her approval.
Tonight, the same meal of Canidae did not meet with her approval.
On my way home from work, I stopped at my butcher's and got a variety of items to tempt her (beef heart, chicken innards, whole chicken, country style pork ribs, ground beef). Right now, I am making the chicken innards boiled with carrot. I think she will like the meat and the resultant stock for breakfast. If not, I am also roasting the chicken for human dinner so there will be leftovers for Iska and puppies-in-progress.
If desperate, I can always give her the leftover shrimp, tomato, parsley, garlic linguine I made on Monday and that she seems to REALLY DESIRE.
Fun times with a very pregnant and picky girl! Wish me luck keeping Iska eating through the births!
The vet predicted 5-6 based on the ultrasound. Pups can always be hiding, though. How many will we see tomorrow?
I am eager to know.
Iska is getting bigger and is more uncomfortable. She managed a short walk this afternoon, though, to help keep in shape which is important to whelping. She is sleeping so much.
Until now, Iska has been a great eater and reliably--and enthusiastically--packing away the needed chow for both herself and the growing pups. Today was the second day that she was very picky about eating. I had to tempt her with new food options and have been shopping to be sure to have a variety of even more exotic, tempting options on hand.
As she gets closer to birth (properly called whelping in dog terms), she will have less and less space for her stomach, will feel more uncomfortable, and will be more choosy about what she is willing to eat. She will be particularly concerned about the amount of food presented to her and if it is the same food/smell she ate at the previous meal. For example, for most of her pregnancy, she has had a hard-boiled egg added to her meal at the suggestion of our reproductive vet. Although she previously loved this, she has been on hard-boiled egg strike this week. Iska normally does not get canned food and eats a high-quality kibble. As a result, like a kid who never gets candy, canned food is super exciting to Iska. Last night she was more than happy to eat a canned puppy formula of chicken and rice from Purina Pro Plan. This morning, she would not eat this, but she would happily eat an egg, cheese, mushroom, tomato, ham and zucchini frittata (last night's human dinner) with a side of baked sweet potato. I was able to work from home this afternoon, so fed her a lunch of a canned Lamb and Rice formula from Canidae, which met with her approval.
Tonight, the same meal of Canidae did not meet with her approval.
On my way home from work, I stopped at my butcher's and got a variety of items to tempt her (beef heart, chicken innards, whole chicken, country style pork ribs, ground beef). Right now, I am making the chicken innards boiled with carrot. I think she will like the meat and the resultant stock for breakfast. If not, I am also roasting the chicken for human dinner so there will be leftovers for Iska and puppies-in-progress.
If desperate, I can always give her the leftover shrimp, tomato, parsley, garlic linguine I made on Monday and that she seems to REALLY DESIRE.
Fun times with a very pregnant and picky girl! Wish me luck keeping Iska eating through the births!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What? No dog shows for pregnant girls??
That's what Iska would probably ask if she could see this photo of herself stacked up and alert like she was competing to win Best of Breed.Standard schnauzers are not known for their humility and Iska is certainly no exception.
Although due to give birth in 7-10 days, Iska still can show off with the best of them :-).
What Iska is doing a lot these days ...
Sleeping. More sleeping. And more sleeping.
Brewing up babies apparently makes a girl very sleepy.
Unfortunately, Iska prefers to sleep with her puppies under her and does not roll onto her side so that we can see how large she has become.
Oh, well. Whatever works and Iska is clearly in charge!
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