Flashback to 2016

Sharing a cute photo of Zene with her 2016 Litter -- Three generations sharing a bed!

Update on Zene - and The Goodies

Thank you for all who wrote to check on Zene, I created a place to share her story: Everything I "never" wanted to know about Canine Mastitis

Update:  The Goodies are doing very well, I will resume blog posts shortly.

Thank You for your concern -- and for your patience.

Please send well wishes to Zene . . .💔

I am broken hearted to share that Zene has been dealing with Acute Septic Mastitis. For this reason the Litter Blog has fallen behind. 

Zene was first brought to the vet on Saturday, November 18th, because she developed a fever of 105 degrees. She received antibiotics and sub-q fluids but continued to sustain a high fever and was brought to an emergency vet hospital on Sunday where she received IV antibiotics, a fever reducer and a fentanyl pain patch. Her fever finally broke, and she came home to rest. 

On Monday morning, she was rushed back to the ER vet where she was diagnosed with “Acute Septic Mastitis” also known as Gangrenous mastitis. Her first of several surgeries was performed on Monday afternoon. She spent several days in the ICU receiving 24 hour wound care for the drains placed in and around the necrotic tissue. Her next is scheduled surgery is after Thanksgiving weekend.

Please send well wishes to her on her long road to recovery.

The Goodies were old enough to be weaned and are doing well despite Zene not being able to be with them. I have posted a few new videos on Instagram and hope to get photos uploaded to the Smugmug. Thank you for your patience in this difficult time. 

Puppy pillows -- it must be genetic

Zene on Gerdie on Greer

Monday is a wrap -- 'night everyone!

Little oinkers 🐷

The Goodies have DOUBLED their weight since birth which is exactly on target for Week One. Zene has plenty of milk and the puppies are falling into a nice routine of eat, sleep, and repeat. 

Gerdie (F - Coral) - 10.9 oz - Week One 22 oz

Granger (M - Blue/Turquoise) - 13.6 oz - Week One 27 oz

Greer (F - Pink) - 13.4 oz - Week One 27 oz

Garth (M - Green/Blue) - 12.8 oz - Week One 25 oz

Gigi (F - Purple) - 11.9 oz - Week One  22 oz 

Griffen (M - Black) - 13.9 oz - Week One 28 oz

Georgie (M - Lt Blue/Purple) - 13.0 oz - Week One 27 oz 

Puppy Photos -- more to come . . .

They're here!

Zene welcomed seven beautiful babies into the world on October 27th, 2017! 

Three girls and four boys -- everyone is happy and healthy!  

Introducing The Goodies: 

Gerdie (F - Coral) - 10.9 oz

Granger (M - Blue/Turquoise) - 13.6 oz

Greer (F - Pink) - 13.4 oz

Garth (M - Green/Blue) - 12.8 oz

Gigi (F - Purple) - 11.9 oz

Griffen (M - Black) - 13.9 oz

Georgie (M - Lt Blue/Purple) - 13.0 oz

The pups were whelped between 3:15-9:15 AM, with a long break in-between the first two. When I called Mary (Teak's owner) midday to let her know the pups had arrived -- she told me she had a dream at 3:20 AM that woke her up and she was up all night thereafter. Goosebumps! 

More photos to come, the Puppy Cam won't be up and running until after the tails and dewclaws are done. Please be patient 😉

WhelpWise is here!

Today we received a very important package via Fed Ex -- our WhelpWise Service!

WhelpWise (http://whelpwise.com) is a monitoring service that leases a uterine contraction monitor and an ultrasound Doppler for use in your home during canine pregnancy.  The equipment hooks into  a regular phone line, and transfers information about labor to the whelping center where it is evaluated. WhelpWise is available to clients on service 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! Use of the whelping equipment begins 4-5 days before the expected due date. The WhelpWise service is ALWAYS offered in conjunction with your veterinarian.

We are excited to get Zene's first reading tonight...! 

Zene at the Vet - Day 55

Zene has gained almost ten pounds -- average is 2 lbs for each puppy at full term. She should gain several more pounds before next weekend and her due date.

Zene waiting for her x-ray -- unfazed at the vet 😊

Day 55 is X-ray day! Take a peek at the upcoming Goodies!

X-rays are an invaluable resource when whelping a litter, a couple reasons "why" I do radiographs on pregnant dogs.

• X-rays are generally done after Day 50+ of gestation, otherwise the skeleton hasn't ossified (calcified) enough to count the babies. 
• You can usually count puppies readily on radiographs, again +/- one puppy. (Count skulls, not spines! Most people count BOTH). Even then, someone can be hiding behind another puppy or along mom's spine. This helps me plan for the whelp and know what to expect. 
• The other advantage is that the skulls can be compared in size to the width of the dam's pelvis (not usually an issue with Vizslas).

Drum roll...🥁 How many babies do you see? Don't forget to count the skulls and the spines!

View #1

View #2

Any guesses? The staff at Dill Veterinary Reproductive Services sees SEVEN babies. I have been looking at the x-rays for several hours (no joke) and I am thinking for sure 6 -- possibly 7. Exciting stuff!

Day 42 of Zene's pregnancy

Beautiful Zene and her baby bump 😍

Drum roll . . .

Today was ultrasound day -- good news -- we're expecting! Thank you Dr. Terri Johnson at Dill Veterinary Reproductive Services for confirming puppies are on the way -- due date approximately October 30, 2017.

Zene . . . Mommie to the Goodies Litter

GCH Moonlight's Rock'N Ow'T, RN JH CGC "Zene"

Sire: GCH/Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM "Rocky"

Dam: CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM "Csilla"

Owner/Breeder: Karen Lake, Co-Breeder: T Westerbeck

AKC #: SR65041506 (Pedigree) - DNA Profile #: V625573

CHIC #: 86671

OFA Hips: VZ-12914G25F-VPI (Good)

OFA Elbows: VZ-EL618F25-VPI (Normal)

OFA Thyroid: VZ-TH729/25F-VPI (Normal)

OFA Eyes: VZ-EYE12/25F-VPI (Normal)

OFA Cardiac: VZ-CA406/31F/P-VPI (Normal)

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 Multiple Best of Breeds 

Finished Grand Championship with FIVE Majors 

Junior Hunter at 10 1/2 months – Owner Handled/Trained

2x's Best Puppy in Sweepstakes Winner

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Zene completed her AKC Conformation Championship with a 4 Point Major; earning the majority of her points from the Bred-By-Exhibitor class. The day after finishing her title, she took back-to-back Best of Breed wins for two 5 Point Grand Champion Majors - and she made the cut both days in the Sporting Group.  In short order she finished her Grand Championship with FIVE majors!

As a baby puppy, she won back-to-back Best Puppy in Sweepstakes from the 6-9 month puppy class. Zene has also dabbled in Obedience and she has one Beginner Novice (BN) Leg, and earned her Novice Rally Obedience with little effort. Prior to those she easily earned Canine Good Citizen title. Her passion, though, is BIRDS! She is birdy can be and has a tremendous prey drive (loves rabbits and lizards when birds aren't around).  At 10.5 months old and owner/handled and trained she earned her Junior Hunter title, and she could easily get advanced Hunt Titles given the time and training to do so.

Besides her good looks and biddability, Zene has a wonderful temperament, with an up for anything attitude. She is a joy to live with and loves sitting upright in my lap (on her back) and being held. She is my first home grown girl and I could not be happier with her.

As a Dam, she has produced multiple AKC Champions with several others Major pointed. She's successfully passed on her good looks and temperament to her progeny (and her good health). She is a natural brood bitch and an amazing mother. I am so proud of her!

Zene's pedigree reflects holds a proven strength in conformation and versatility:

"Rocky"

Her Sire "Rocky" (GCH Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM) finished his AKC Championship at 7 1/2 months old with 5 Majors in only 8 shows. Before age 18 months, Rocky was awarded several Best of Breed wins and earned multiple Sporting Group Placements — all owner handled! With relative ease, Rocky finished his AKC Grand Championship (owner handled) in August 2010. He has also been a formidable producer earning his Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA - with only four litters. He has seven (7) Champions and other titled progeny across multiple venues. In both 2011 and 2012, Zene's Grand-Sire, “Owe’n” (MBISS GCH Tivoliz CC Joint Venture, JH ROM), earned recognition as the #1 Top Producing Sire, and as of 6/2013, he has nineteen (19) AKC Champion offspring.

Her Dam "Csilla" (CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM) is a proven producer earning a Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA in 2014. Her progeny include a Specialty Show Winner (BISS), (5) Champions and two (2) Grand Champions (two more are Major Pointed), seven (7) Junior Hunters, and (2) Rally Novice (RN) titleholders; along with Multiple Best of Breed, Group Placing, Award of Merit, and Multiple BBE Group Placements. Csilla has consistently passed her faultless temperament and good looks to her offspring. She hails from a successful litter with siblings earning Multiple Best in Specialty Show wins, and a Best in Show.