Here's Pearl's Story

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Pearl, our beautiful little tri-colored beagle had a pregnancy test done today, and the results are POSITIVE!!!  Pearl's puppies are due March 21st. Keep checking back to see updated pictures of Pearl throughout her pregnancy, AND up to the minute photos as her babies are welcomed into the world!!!!!!

Here's our girl at about 28 days. Pearl is just getting ready to start her fourth week here.  Her appetite will probably begin to increase, as she will more than likely start taking a few extra naps each day.  Her belly is just beginning to make some noticeable changes as it is definitely starting to round out.

From left to right, a photo of Pearl, her dad Willie, and her mom Annie all posing for a family photo. This is the first time Willie and Annie will be grandparents.

Here's a photo of our girl taken on 2/26.  In this photo Pearl is 39 days into her pregnancy. Just 24 days to go. As you can see, her tummy has grown considerably since our last photo above. From here on out is where Pearl will show the most dramatic change in appearance. Her fetuses will grow rapidly and her appetitie will become fierce. Her activity level will quiet down as she begins to save her energy for the big day.

Today, 3/7 Pearl has just 14 days to go.   As you can see in the photos, she is getting huge.  These last two weeks the puppies will grow rapidly.  If you gently place your hand on Pearl's stomach you can feel their tiny little kicks.   Surprisingly Pearl still has a lot of energy for being this far along in her pregnancy, but very soon that will dimish and she will give into more resting and naps.  Last week we went to the vet for her prenatal exam.  All is looking great.  We also had an X-ray done to see how many puppies there were, and even though the vet only saw four, he believes there were more hidden that he couldn't detect.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  The excitement is mounting!

With only about a week to go, Pearl's been officially moved into the house so we can keep a closer eye on her as the time draws closer to her whelping date.  None of the usual signs that birth is close has started, but that could change from one hour to the next.  I'm predicting a 3/19 delivery, but that's just a gut feeling.  I'm hardly ever right about those things.  Stay close for up to the minute upadates and photos as Pearl begins labor.

Pearl has been mostly resting lately.  Her temperature has dropped, which is a definite sign that labor is not too far away.  Her biggest concern right now is where I'm at, and not to be too far away.  At this point some females either want to be by themselves and not bothered, or they become very needy and only want to be by their caretakers side.  That's where Pearl is at, so I'm usually not too far away from her.  Her appetite has dimished considerably and she spends most of her day in her whelping area resting and saving up all her energy for the big day, which I do not think is too far away.

Pearl's puppies were delivered by an emergency c-section 1:45am last night, 3/18.  Unfortunately things did not go very well for Pearl and her puppies.  Only two of the four puppies survived, and due to a ruptured uterus Pearl had to be spayed during the surgery. Her two puppies, a girl and a boy, are beautiful and seem to be in good, but guarded condition.  Pearl is still pretty exhausted and will only lay there for the puppies if I bring them to her to be nursed.  Thanks to Annie, Pearl's mom, she's taking over where Pearl can't right now by cleaning and bathing the puppies and licking them to stimulate their little bodies to go to the bathroom. 

Once a mother, always a mother

Annie will not leave Pearl's side.  In the photo above Annie stands guard over her daughter Pearl, and her two little grandbabies nursing under the covers.  This is a sight I will never forget.  These dogs are incredible creatures with a definite sense when things are not quite right.  Annie sat there protecting her daughter and the puppies since Pearl couldn't.  With Annie's head facing the way it was she could keep watch on all three sides of Pearl and keep them all safe.  It truly was an amazing thing to watch.

Thank you all for your e-mails and phone calls regarding  Pearl.  I really appreciate your support and genuine concern.  She is doing a little better today, and has started bonding with her babies.  They are nursing nicely and Pearl is eating a little food today as well.  I will keep you updated on her condition.

Thanks again, Terry

Pearl is doing a little better today, 3/19.  She's still not eating much, so we've started hand feeding her baby food.  She's definitely feeling more maternal with her puppies though.  Today she's been bathing them, cuddling with them, and even picking them up to move them further back in her whelping area.  The little boy (white) lost about an ounce since yesterday, so today we started giving him supplemental feedings just to be on the safe side. 

Today, 3/22 is the first day I can say Pearl is making good progress and on the mend.  She came out of her crate with her tail wagging and wanted to spend some time sitting by me.  I was thrilled since that was the first time she did that.  She's eating better, but I still have to feed her by hand.  The pups have also started gaining weight.  Weighing in at 9 5/8 ounces and 9 3/4 ounces.  It doesn't sound like much, but yesterday they were bearly reaching the 9 ounce mark.  Definitely a VERY good sign.

Pearl made a huge stride tonight.  For the first time she ate and drank from her own food and water bowl.    She seems a little more like her old self, and has definitely taken a HUGE step on her way to recovery.  The puppies are looking pretty good too.  Today they weighed in at around 11 ounces.  They're pretty strong and are creeping around their whelping box with no trouble.  They only have each other so they're always cuddled together, especially when mommy steps outside for a bathroom break and some fresh air.  I'm very pleased with the way things are going and breathing a little easier tonight.

Today, 3/27, Pearl is doing 100% better.  She is eating and drinking fine and has more pep and energy.  She spends a lot of her time away from her pups, only to return to feed and bathe them, and to check in from time to time to make sure they're okay and safe.  Sometimes she stays by the door outside their room and just guards.  She's a great mom and definitely inherited all those wonderful maternial traits from her mother Annie.  As you can see in the photo, Pearl is already getting her girlish figure back, as she's almost right back to the where she was before she was expecting.

The puppies are doing nicely too.  Weighing in at a little over 12 ounces and getting stronger every day.  Their eyes and ears are not open yet, but that should happen within the next couple of days.  I will try to post some new pictures of the puppies this weekend.

Today, 3/30 I'm happy to report Pearl and her pups are doing great!  She is just about back to her old self, and her puppies are active little buggers weighing in at 14 ounces plus....  Their eyes and ears are starting to open and they are usually very busy making their way around their whelping area looking for their mommy and her belly of goodies.  Pearl spends a lot of her day away from her pups, but makes sure she checks in from time to time for feedings and head counts... I guess it doesn't take long to count to two....

To view a short Quicktime video of Pearl and her puppies taken April 2nd, please click on the link.  As you will see in the video, Pearl and her pups are doing great.  At two weeks old their eyes are open, they're walking around, and even drinking water out of Pearls dish.  It's amazing how far they've come in just two short weeks.  Keep checking back, as I will be adding new video from time to time.   Please note, it may take a minute or two to load depending on the speed of your computer.  Pearls_Puppies.MOV

Here's Grandpa Willie sneaking a peek at Pearl's pups, whom we nicknamed Bandit and Minnie.

Of course Grandma Annie isn't about to let Grandpa peek without her.

Meet Minnie and Bandit.  The pups are doing great.  Today they started their first day of eating puppy food, and they LOVE it as you will see in the video below.

Click to see the pups enjoying their first meal.  Hang in there, it may take a minute or two to load.

Minnie_and_Bandit.MOV

The pups are almost four weeks old here.  Their ears and eyes are wide open, and they run around and play with each other in their crate.  They are cute little tiny dogs with baby barks and baby growls.  They love eating puppy food with their little baby teeth, which have just started to come in.  Every time I start opening their crate to put their food in, they come running to the door hoping I'm going to let them out.  How can I resist?   Of course I do and they love running around the room exploring, as you can see in the photos above.  At that point Pearl usually comes in to check up on her babies, and the pups forget about everything else except the milk mommy has brought with her.  Pearl is very proud of her family and loves sharing the puppies with me, but she's still pretty protective of them and won't let Annie or Willie too close.

On top is Dave, Lisa and the girls posing for their first family photo with their new puppy, Bugle.  Everyone was thrilled to meet their new puppy and can't wait to bring him home.

Below is Tim, Lori and the kids meeting Riley for the first time, which just happened to be delivery day.  Just as I figured, it was love at first sight.  Everyone is happy, including Riley to go home and become one big happy family.

Today 4/22 was a big day for the pups.  Two important things happened.  Grandma and Grandpa got to puppy sit them for a while, AND no mommy ALL day, which means no nursing ALL day.  They did pretty good I must say.  Today Pearl spent the whole day away from her puppies.  She will come in and sleep with them tonight, and that will be the process for the next few days until finally she won't come in at night anymore at all.  It's sad but necessary.  The pups will  probably have an easier time adjusting then Pearl will, since Pearl not only wants to be with her puppies, she also has been enjoying her stay in the house the past 6 weeks and is not too happy about going back out to the kennel with the rest of the gang.

Click on the MOV link below and enjoy.  Please give the video a minute to load.

Grandkids.MOV

Bugle and Riley 5/7/04, taken the day before they leave to go live with their new families.  What beautiful little puppys they've become.  It's bitter sweet for me.  These two little guys are going to be hard for me to give up.  I've spent a lot of time with them the past 7 weeks,  but I know they're going to two great families and will be very well taken care of.  But, I've fallen for them and the fact that they will be the "only" pups Pearl will ever have makes me sad for her as well.  She was a terrific mother, who had a great teacher, her own mother Annie.  She loved and took great care of both her babies.  Now it's time for Bugle and Riley to go out into the big world with their new families where they will get plenty of love and lots of brothers and sisters to play with and show them off to the neighborhood.

Good luck to you all. 

I guess we could close the chapter and say "The End," but the truth of the matter is, it's only

The
Beginning

Good luck to Bugle and Riley and their families.  Have a happy, wonderful life with your new puppys.  I know they'll be happy and well taken care of and that always makes it easier for me to say, "Goodbye."

..........Pearl, You Done Good........

Come visit our beagle shoppe where you can find a large variety of gift and novelty items of our entire beagle family, which NOW includes this GREAT photo of Bugle and Riley at: http://www.cafeshops.com/njbeagles/297611

If you enjoyed watching Pearl's story from the day she was bred, throughout her pregnancy, her delivery, and finally the day her puppies went home with their new families, check out our page on Cutie Pie by clicking on the button "Here Comes the Stork," as we keep track of her pregnancy.  Her puppies are due around June 18th.