Elsie Update: The Wide Load Gets Wider :o)

Sweet Elsie Girl.

We have no doubt she has a tummy full of puppies now. We'll take her to get x-rayed in about 10 days (Sept 8, 9, or 10 depending on when we can get in to see our vet), but there's no doubt about her pregnancy. :o)

She's sleeping a lot lately, lazing around much of the time, and not really interested in playing with Pinot, Kenya, or Tuc (they seem to "know" something's different with her, too, leaving her in peace most of the time). She still runs, and barks, and eats as she should, and she wants to retrieve, but she's definitely lower key than her usual low-key. ;o)

It seems she's widening every day (maybe I just really feel for her!). These shots were taken early this morning before DH left for work (sorry about the lighting; it's overcast and the sun was barely up). In the first shot, that's DH having his usual yogurt and homemade granola for breakfast out in the backyard with the canine kiddos (Elsie didn't leave his side):




She's also redeveloped her udder (so much for a girlish figure, eh?!):



Elsie is, of course, people-needy, too. But she seems less insecure this time. Perhaps it's because this is her second pregnancy (Elsie is an experienced dam now) and she has a better idea of what's happening. Or maybe it's that she's matured. I don't know (I'll never claim to know what goes on in Labrador heads). In any case, she wants attention, but she's not quite as insistent as she was a year ago with her first pregancy.

She does, however, still like to hide her head between our knees (a little difficult when her humans both have short inseams!):



She's obviously getting more uncomfortable (pant more; restless when she tries to sit, etc.), so soon we'll change her feedings to three smaller meals a day (instead of her regular two larger ones). All those puppies in there tend to squish the stomach. :o)

If you recall, last time Elsie delivered nine pups (we lost one the next day, so ended up with eight). I suspect she'll have just as many in this litter, perhaps even more (based on her belly size already).

But I hope not. She only has nine teats, one for each pup if that's how many she has. If she ends up with more, we'll have to rotate feedings or supplement the pups who don't get as much. It becomes more complicated as the size of the litter grows.

We'll have an idea of what we'll be dealing with in ten or twelve days, after we count puppy spines in the x-rays. :o)

Until then, there's really not much we can do but wait and watch her grow. :o)



Poor thing... she's huge. I can't imagine how big she'll be when it's time for her to deliver! But she's doing just fine.

All is well and going as expected.

Stay tuned!

Til next time,
Joan