Middle Of the Night Emergency

 My phone went off around 10:15 pm last night. We were sound asleep in bed and my brain didn't really want to wake up but then it went off 3 more times. That got me up in a hurry. When the phone rings over and over it MUST be an emergency.  Rhoda had sent a text that she needed help! Could I bring Oxytocin. The other call was from mom, she left a message but I didn't call her back I was in a hurry to find the Oxytocin and then make the drive to Bloomington. Hazel had started labor around 7:30 pm with the breaking of a water sack, then nothing but green fluid. She wasn't even trying to push. This was Hazel's first litter and she is just a little miniature Poodle of about 10 pounds. I arrived at Rhoda's to find Taunya was also there helping. She had arrived to clamp the cords as she is now learning all about whelping dogs.  Rhoda gave Hazel a tiny bit actually 2 tenths of Oxytocin but that didn't do the trick. We finally called Hoerr Vet clinic's emergency number and woke up Dr. Pallen first. She told us that she would call Dr. Hoerr as he is the surgeon. He called back right away and told Rhoda to try calcium as sometimes that will help the cervix to relax and give the mom a bit of energy. Rhoda was suppose to give her 1 Tums but we couldn't find any. I left to buy some at the gas station but by this time it was after midnight and the gas station was closed. Rhoda and Taunya found a bottle that Rhoda had locked up and gave one of the Tums to Hazel before I could get back. We were suppose to wait an hour then call Dr. Hoerr back to see if there was any progress but after waiting 34 minutes Rhoda noticed the puppies were no longer moving around. We left for Morton, IL and called Dr. Hoerr as soon as we arrived which just happened to be an hour later. Dr. Hoerr came right over to the clinic. Rhoda shaved Hazel's leg for the IV then her tummy for the incision. 

Below he is in the vein and ready to put in the IV.

Below he is giving her the sedative.

Hazel was then flipped over and washed down well then given more pain killers directly over the incision line.

From there she was moved to the operating table which is heated and folds and also has ties to hold the legs down during surgery just in case Hazel would wake up.

The first incision was made around 2:15 am.

Below Rhoda is giving more anesthesia while Dr. Hoerr cuts. 

By this time Rhoda was not feeling very optimistic about her chances of a live puppy. When Dr. Hoerr opened her up the first puppy was so big there was no way Hazel could have delivered him.

Below Rhoda and Tauyna are holding towels waiting for a puppy. Dr. Hoerr had just told Rhoda he felt a heart beat.

Below is the first puppy being delivered.

Rhoda took that puppy and was trying hard to get the puppy's lungs clear and get the puppy to breathe.

Below Dr. Hoerr is delivering that puppy's placenta.

This went on for probably 15 minutes as Dr. Hoerr pulled 3 more puppies out of Hazel. Tauyna and I were very busy with a puppy each while Rhoda worked on 2 of them. BUT at the end of the time we had 4 LIVE male puppies!

Below Dr. Hoerr is sewing everything back up.

I left at 3:30 am when Hazel was finished and all the puppies moving around looking for food. I arrived home at 4:00 am and Emma had to check my clothes out carefully and wouldn't stop sniffing. I was asleep within minutes and didn't wake up until 6:00 am.  This morning Rhoda reported 3 of the puppies are nursing well, the 4th is having a little trouble latching on but once Rhoda gets him latched on he is nursing well. Hazel is eating and drinking and letting them nurse but has been too tired and weak to clean them up but that will come. We are rejoicing that they lived!  All of these puppies are spoken for.