The 'Infirmary and its occupants'. Pup surgeries. (Update)

The infirmary is read for the patients to arrive!

Here are the poor babies.  Couper needed a cone but the rest did not.  Hopefully, by tomorrow it will come off.

It has been quite a busy, busy day!  First thing this morning was getting the pups ready for their trip to the vet for their spays and neuters plus blood work, stool samples and health certificates.  They cannot eat in the morning, so dinner was served late last night at around 9:30 pm in hopes they would not be STARVING prior to surgery.  All the surgeries were fine - whew.

I picked them up roughly 5:30 pm and had a very quiet ride home as they were still a bit groggy.  I wanted to keep them somewhat separated so that they would remain quiet and calm for healing purposes.  This will continue for a couple of days prior to your pick ups this weekend.  You will be provided with a surgical sheet on what to watch for, etc.  They cannot have baths for 10 days after surgery, so all were bathed last night so they would be fresh and clean.

While they were at the vets, my husband and I went shopping.  To my great delight, I found the 'crates' you see above which are nice and tall with full walk through gates.  They will also configure  (as well as connect together) to many different shapes which is so necessary for my dog hobby business.   They were just what I needed to divide the pups for safety.  I spent the afternoon putting them together and getting each compartment set up for the pups.  Then it was back to pick up the pups, take more pics of Camden's litter, make every one's dinner and now I must bathe Piper.  I will sleep well tonight, unless my patients complain.

Update on January 24, 2012

This morning all the pups were full of energy and yelled loudly for breakfast which they ate with gusto!  Couper no longer has the cone on his head and they actually went outside to potty - it was a brief outdoor outing.  They were allowed to play inside the puppy room but had to take turns.  Vivi and Couper; then Cooper and Tessa; and finally, Camden's litter had a turn to play in the room.  Each had a 15 minute session.  Next,  I had to load up the four pups to go for their CERF eye exam in Portsmouth, NH with Dr. Cassotis.  Fortunately, none showed any eye disease - which is a very good thing!  I am also happy to report than none of them were car sick and the car ride to and from was as quiet as falling snow.  :+)

Although these pups are not being 'crated' in the general sense, the pens they are in now are very much 'crate-like'.  They are sleeping two together which is not the same as being in a crate alone but does give them some crate exposure.  PLEASE expect your puppy to cry for a few nights when in their crate.  This is NORMAL and if you must, sleep on the floor near them but do not take them out of the crate and into your bed - worse thing you can do.  Struggle through it - it only lasts for a few days.  :+)

I will continue to do timed play sessions and more 'crating' until they go home.

Cooper on the left and Tessa on the right.

Vivi in front and Couper in back.