07/14/2026
The last week is definitely one I will remember. Monday morning I let the dogs out first thing in the morning and turns out there was a critter in my fenced in backyard. Of course the dog that was pregnant and due the NEXT DAY was the one to find and dispatch said critter. At first I thought it was just the usual rabbit but quickly realized that was not the case. It turned out to be some kind of rodent, one I’d never seen before where the body looks like a beaver but the tail is rat-like. Based on my research it appears to have been a muskrat, which I’ve never seen before. Of course the darn thing tried protecting itself from Ries and she ended up with some punctures and a good-sized gouge in her face so off to the vet we went. Thankfully no stitches and just some antibiotics.
Then came Tuesday, Ries’ due date. She has always whelped at night so I was pleasantly surprised when she showed signs of imminent puppies at 6:15 AM. After about an hour of active contractions and no puppies I knew something was off so after a call to the vet and we were on our way to them. Once we arrived we evaluated her and determined the best course of action at that time was to give her a shot of oxytocin and have her whelp in the car where she was more comfortable. That way if the shot did not work within the allotted timeframe we could quickly act and take her back inside to do a c-section. Thankfully that was an unnecessary precaution as she had her first puppy, a boy, within minutes. On the way home she had her second puppy, a girl. Ries then stalled out… we knew based on radiographs that she was anticipating 3 puppies so after a few hours of no third puppy and only intermittent, halfhearted contractions I examined her and could feel the third, she just needed a little more help. After another call to the vet we decided to give her another shot of oxytocin and, sure enough, number 3 was born within 30 minutes of administering the shot. Unfortunately, that boy was a stillborn. But Ries still had 2 beautiful puppies that were nursing and acting just like puppies should. Then evening came. At around 9:30 PM the boy was crying out in distress and acting erratically for no reason. Another call to the vet it was. After discussing with them we tried several different things to help him out but unfortunately at 12:30 AM he passed away being cuddled by his mom, sister, and myself. Those first 24 hours can be so rough and so many things can go wrong for absolutely no reason so, so quickly. They can get hypothermia, hypoglycemia, fading puppy syndrome, aspiration pneumonia, and more all at the drop of a hat. Any complications with the delivery or with the mama postpartum (such as eclampsia) just further adds to the stress that is breeding.
Wednesday was a challenge for both Ries and I-watching closely over the new little one with bated breath to make sure she has what she needs to thrive. Singletons bring their own risks and challenges so I made a rice sock, got her a Snuggle Puppy, and a larger heating pad that doesn’t automatically turn off like my personal one does. Thank you to those who helped out or offered to help those first few days as I was too anxious to leave mom and baby to get the supplies needed to raise an unexpected singleton, it means the world to me. Speaking of anxiety, throughout all this Ries starting crying on Wednesday which is not her normal behavior after whelping so another vet visit was scheduled just to be sure nothing was going on with her. After said exam Thursday the vet indicated that they did not see anything physical-no retained puppies that hadn’t been seen in the radiographs, no other infections, eclampsia, mastitis, etc. and that the likely cause was anxiety and grief over the little boy lost in the middle of the night. Since that appointment she has settled down quite a bit but does occasionally get anxious but she is healing both physically and mentally.
All that being said, now that a week has gone by and the trauma has faded somewhat I’d like to introduce Oddball, the sole puppy of the Cliche litter! Oddball, the brave little singleton, takes her name from the iconic Dalmatian who proved that standing out is its own kind of strength. Just like her namesake from the movie, she’s already showing the same perseverance, courage, and against‑the‑odds spirit that makes a one‑and‑only puppy unforgettable. She started out life at a whopping 1lb 3oz (these puppies were Ries’ largest at birth yet and all weighed between 1lb 1.5oz and 1lb 3.5oz) and has had daily gains since to the tune of as of last night she was officially 2lb 3.5oz. She’s also made her first foray away from home and had a trip to the vet Friday to get her dew claws removed, she made it very clear how displeased she was about the experience. Her personality already shows she’s a sassy fighter that is going to be SOOO spoiled (and may be a little chunky being the only resident at the milk bar 😉)!
Oddball is spoken for at this time.
