3 Weeks to Go....

Until PUPPIES!!!!
So much to do yet, I feel a sense of calm at the same time....weird. Ordered some whelping supplies and a set of fleece pads for the bottom of the whelping box. We are setting the box up this week and then Bob will start building mini agility equipment for the pups to play on when they are old enough. I'm always thinking enrichment and keeping puppies occupied in the middle of winter ;-)

Siena is back to normal this morning. Last night she wouldn't settle, which is odd since she is an expert cuddler. She appeared to be uncomfortable and now I'm wondering if she snatched a piece of pepper jack cheese off the platter during the football game yesterday....hmm...that would certainly cause some digestive distress. I have noticed her appetite has increased and am adding a 3rd meal to her schedule. She also enjoys having a hard boiled egg with me in the morning. We've been working field training drills in the yard to keep fit and to satisfy that powerful retrieving gene she has!

According to my chart puppy organ formation is complete, the fetuses now look like dogs, displaying head and trunk differentiation, gender can be determined (COOL!), skin pigment develops, may be able to hear fetal heartbeat with stethoscope~that was all acually last weeks developments. The puppies bones begin to mineralize this week. Also, I've read that the puppies are easily felt through the abdominal wall at this stage....haven't done that yet. Siena should start to lose hair around the abdomen starting this week too. This is facinating!