I don’t usually write in first person. This may be the first blog post I’ve ever written this way, but I want to talk about something very personal. It feels a bit awkward for me, but I think this topic is rarely addressed.

It’s almost 2 week post-birth and I have been thinking a lot about momma Martini. Honestly, I always do. But now more than ever. I LOVE my dogs. It’s kind of ridiculous actually. We have two others – Gin, who is my very protective black Lab, and Rambo who is my husband’s Service Dog. But Martini…she literally shares my pillow at night. I am an active duty Army Veteran that served all over the world, including Afghanistan in 2011. That I have C-PTSD probably goes without saying. Martini provides deep pressure therapy throughout the day and wakes me up from nightmares.

I respect the author Myra Savant Harris a because she wrote a lot about our pup mother’s in her book, Advanced Canine Reproduction and Puppy Care (2011). She wrote:

The girls in your kennel are your true treasure and one of your most valued possessions. They are your priority. Our lovely girls gestate without complaint, whelp quietly …[for the most part], and spend weeks gently caring for their babies. They spend hours on end licking their little bottoms and nursing. Although you have undoubtedly invested a lot of time and money in breeding, and you have a tremendous amount of emotional investment in the unborn babies, the [momma] is undoubtedly your treasure….your pet…your loving companion…your treasure….Base your decisions on her health and well-being and you will be a better dog breeder as a result.

I agree 1000%!

It’s easy to overlook momma when the babies are so adorable. When we are so excited to welcome these beautiful being into the world. But… birthing seven little lives is not a risk-free endeavor. Let’s take a look at all the issues that could potentially arrive for momma during breeding and whelping.

🩺 Stage 1: Conception & Breeding Risks

• Uterine Infections (Pyometra): Bacteria introduced during mating or artificial insemination can trigger a life-threatening infection inside the uterus, often requiring emergency surgery.
• Transmissible Diseases: Unscreened natural matings can pass hazardous canine diseases like Brucella canis, which causes reproductive failure and permanent infertility.
• Vaginal Trauma: Physical injury, tearing, or localized vaginitis can occur during a difficult natural tie or improper insemination techniques.

🤰 Stage 2: Pregnancy (Gestation) Risks

• Pregnancy Toxemia: If a pregnant dog doesn’t get enough high-calorie nutrition to support a large litter, her body enters a dangerous metabolic energy deficit.
• Spontaneous Abortion or Resorption: Hormonal imbalances, viral infections, or genetic abnormalities can cause the mother’s body to reabsorb or miscarry the fetuses.
• Gestational Diabetes: Sudden hormonal shifts during pregnancy can occasionally cause insulin resistance, requiring strict veterinary management.
• Parasite Migration: Hidden worm larvae encysted in the mom’s body activate during pregnancy, migrating across the placenta to infect the puppies before they are even born.

🍼 Stage 3: Delivery (Whelping) Risks

• Dystocia (Prolonged Labor): Uterine exhaustion or a physically blocked birth canal can completely halt delivery, requiring an emergency C-section or medical intervention.
• Retained Tissue: A placenta or deceased puppy left behind inside the reproductive tract will quickly decompose and poison the mother’s system.
• Uterine Rupture or Prolapse: Intense straining during delivery can cause the uterus to tear internally or physically push outward through the vagina.
• Maternal Anxiety & Aggression: Extreme pain or hormonal confusion can cause a first-time mother to reject, abandon, or accidentally harm her newborn puppies.

🐾 Stage 4: Postpartum Risks (The First 10 Days)

• Eclampsia (Milk Fever): A sudden, life-threatening drop in blood calcium caused by the massive physical demand of milk production. It triggers muscle tremors, stiffness, and seizures.
• Acute Mastitis: A painful, aggressive bacterial infection of the mammary glands, often caused by bacteria entering tiny scratches left by sharp puppy claws.
• Metritis: A severe bacterial infection of the uterus (often linked to retained tissue) that causes a foul-smelling discharge, high fever, and systemic illness.
• Agalactia (No Milk): A complete failure to produce colostrum or milk, leaving the entire litter vulnerable to starvation without immediate human intervention.

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These are all the things I look out for throughout this process. Some of these complications are rare, but still… Can we say ANXIETY! Yep! It’s not always easy. This is a high risk, high reward endeavor. It reminds me of being in the Army actually.

I’m going to tell you a secret – buried in this blog post I kind of doubt anyone will actually read. We lost a puppy this litter. The little boy that was born last died. It was a first for us and we’ve tried hard to focus on the lessons we can learn from our experience. But we cried and it broke our hearts. When we took that puppy to the Vet, I promise you we did not think for a moment about what it might cost. Next time, we will do better. We will be better prepared.

So why do we do it? When their are thousands of pups in shelters and that need homes. I know there are other options for pet ownership. Those pets need people and there are people perfect for those pets. After long conversations with people, I’ve actually referred them to shelters because I thought there was a better fit for them.

Why do we do it? When their are risks to our momma dogs, whom we treasure.

I can’t speak for everyone. But I can tell you why I do it…

I want Martini to live forever. This thought it ridiculous. But it’s the truest truth I have. I want some part of her to continue in the world. I want some part of her to be there for other people in need. Other Veterans, other First Responders, other families. I believe in the Labrador Retriever breed. They were born to help people. Look up the history of the St. John’s Water Dog. Look up the history of the famous Honest Abe and Dual Champion Banchory Bolo. My first service dog “Vino” was related to both. The Labrador Retriever breed has a history of working side by side with their human companions in the most intimate way possible.

So let’s spend a few moments appreciating my Princess, momma Martini, and the glorious job she’s done bringing these six little lives into the world: