Breathing changes came throughout the day Feb 13, from slightly increased breathing rates during the morning to panting beginning at noon. A milky-white vaginal discharge was visible by noon time also.
Digging in the box and panting increased and accelerated into rapid panting, pacing and visible contractions by 2pm. Wide-eyed, distant look accompanied by overall body shaking, visible muscular contractions (throughout whole body, concentrated thru abdomen and haunches) and anxiousness continued from @2:30pm. Entire abdomen, flanks and haunches were taut, hard and warm. Tude began arching her tail from the root, turning towards her tail and pushing for almost 10 minutes before the first pup.
First pup, female, born at 4:12pm; visibly moving inside the placental sac and rooted immediately to Tude. Was preceeded by fluid discharge. Tude immediately began cleaning her and attending to the placenta and cord.
Pups appeared at a fairly consistent pace until #6 was born; there was a 1 hr 45min gap between #6 and #7 - Tude rested and cared for the 6 on the ground, but still visibly had more pups; could see the uterine horns still extended and feel how taut that area was in the abdomen.
After #8 was born, could still feel possibly one more pup along Tude's right side; Tude still acted as though there was another. #9 was slower to move and breathe than the others; due to longer time in utero and the pressures of the labor?
After #9 was born and the other eight were returned to a clean warm box, Tude cleaned all the pups again and slept - completely relaxed, no further signs of labor, lying on her side.
Tude appears to have plenty of milk, which is white and appears normal; pups are eating and sleeping happily with no foaming of the nose, no crying, no apparent signs of distress.
