Copeman's Diamond Dixie Babe
Dixie was our first English Bulldog
Dixie had her first litter when she was a 5 y/o. As we discovered in our research on Bulldogs ~~ a C-section is almost a given with English Bulldogs ~~ So we had her C-section day all planned.
Dixie's first litter was delivered by C-section. But her next litter, one year later, Dixie decided to forego the vets and had that litter in the middle of our bed, early on the morning of her planned C-section day...with our assistance. Dixie's final litter - she again decided, to "show us" and started to have them at home, 3 days before the planned C-section day.... but, with her age, Dixie was having a bit of a problem so Chuck took her to the vet clinic that we had depended on ~ even when we were farming - Dixie, with Chuck's help, worked so hard all day at having the pups naturally,
until the clinic decided Chuck and Dixie, needed to leave, because it was their closing time of 4:30 PM. ~ Chuck and Dixie were sent home to finish the job. Dixie lost two of those pups.
Dixie had never lost any pups before. Needless to say we no longer use or recommend that clinic.
The vet clinic we now use is happy to be available 24/7.
But I do have to say ~~ For us the home and vet assisted delivery basically worked ~ because Dixie is a good sized gal and she
did not have any 'water babies'.
Chuck -- being raised on a farm, working around cows and pigs,
is very capable of handling an at home delivery,
if there are no problems.
I, on the other hand, am a town gal so I feel much more comfortable letting the doctors handle the delivery. I get very disappointed in a Doctor that does not care enough about the animal and only cares that they are available only at their convenience ~ and do not care that the loved pet is in great need of a Doctors assistance.
An ~ 'at home' ~ delivery is seldom a smooth process, when the female does start to get down to business, you can find yourself very busy and anxious, our vets feel that if they do start to deliver before the C-section day - they should have a pup at least every
35 - 40 minutes. Otherwise it is wise to get assistance from a veterinarian. "Waterbabies" may not pass down through the birth channel. Therefore, there is the possibility of the loss of any unborn pups and the female. English Bulldog pups, also have large heads which makes for a difficult delivery, and sometimes they are too large, or the female is too narrow to birth them. Also there are quite a few pups that come hind feet first.
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Dixie's last birthing day was a tough day for us
~~~ eventho we welcomed a new litter ~~~
Our 14 y/o Boston Terrier - Copeman's Chester Cheetah
passed due to his failing health.
We miss you Chester.
Also a few days before Dixie's delivery date we lost
Charlie's girl - Copeman's Diamond Jewels.
Jewels died just two days before she was to deliver.
Our hearts are still so heavy.
On July 9th, 2009 we lost a sweet little girl ~~
Copeman's Diamond Precious Wrinkle
to heat stroke.
