For the first several days we will periodically use the incubator to keep the pups warm and receiving oxygen and the proper amount of humidity. This is a time for mom to get a little rest.

Pegasus taking a little after dinner snooze with mom.

The pups are weighed every day, sometimes twice a day, to make sure that they are gaining as expected. This picture shows Sky being weighed and, if you look closely, you can see that her eyes have opened, which normally occurs around 12 - 14 days.

On the left is one of the x-rays taken to count pups about a week before they were born. As you can see, it was pretty obvious that there were at least eight pups but we thought there may be another pup or two hiding in the mix. Below you see the eight pups just hours after they were born. Mom is catching up on some needed rest and and the pups are busily getting their bellies full.

This litter’s naming scheme is a compilation of the names of various

horses from the CBC TV show, Heartland.

By birth order they are:

Bailey - Blue collar Phoenix - Pink collar Copper - Orange collar

Apollo - Red collar Ghost - Green collar Cisco - Yellow collar

Sky - Light blue collar Pegasus - Purple collar

If you can’t find Bailey in the picture, look closely at the pup under

Phoenix and you will see a hint of his blue collar.

They are two days old here and doing great. Weights are increasing and they are beginning to fill out some.

Bailey and Phoenix are on the right (above) and Apollo and Pegasus are on the left. We presume they are comfortable.

The pups are two weeks old now and have certainly grown as expected. On this day they had their first worming and their second toenail trim. What a way to spend your birthday.