***Question is directed ideally at experienced breeders/Vets***
Hey everyone – my dog has just had her 1st litter (and last – so don’t mention spaying in your responses please as it is of no relevance to my question! She’ll be done once she’s finished weaning the pups)
It has faced me with my first situation of being unsure of what do to with my lil lady & Co. Everyone’s doing great. Had a few hiccups by letting people into her too much and it was a bit touch and go with whether she was going to mind the babies (see http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnTKNCEH2qkjiqwCvd1xtjMazKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20090905064824AAZ3iN8 if you want to read all about that – my entire question didn’t come out there however so my important questions go here! If you have any further help with that one though, please feel free to comment!)
She’s back in her room now and has remained there for the last 2 days back to just popping down to say hello – I have a few final questions on her though!
She hops in and out of the box when im in the room with her (probably when im not there too) she does jump back in once they start crying or anything so she’s fine! I just wanted to make sure that’s okay and normal for dam’s that have gotten used to the mothering thing… She tucks the pups up to keep them warm and everyone’s cosy to touch so no heat escaping fears (theres a hot water bottle if needed) I just want to make sure she’s okay to be getting sociable again (the fear of rejection thing scarred me – I’m paranoid about being vigilant for signs to watch!)
Also, is there anything I can give her to help with her up keep of milk production? The pups are hungry lil buggers and twice she’s ran out of milk. I give her bowls of kitten milk (see previous link) I had been giving her a condensed milk(tiny amounts)/warm water mix however after hearing what happened pups when honey was given to the nursing mother stopped for fear of the sugar content doing the same thing.. (horrid tales of a litter of pups anus’ closing over preventing excretion – poor things!) and moved to ensure securing the proper pups milk. Any other calcium increasing tips? Everyone in the last thread answered that with ‘she’s producing enough milk if they’re fat’/'she has enough milk i promise!’.. Well, No. She isn’t and no she doesn’t. Cause she’s running out when they’re hungry and I have half hour sessions of crying puppies who wont drink the formula milk and an increasingly distressed mum who takes a while to calm down.
So no – there isn’t enough milk. Does further feeding help increase her stores? Weight has dropped off her (normal??) Shes back to what she looked like pre-pregnancy. (Pups aren’t even 1 week yet) Except for the teats obviously.
She still isn’t drinking bowls of plain water so I’ve kept putting a drop of milk in warm water and she drinks that okay. People have recommended a pinch of salt in her water to help with water retention, some clarification on that please :-s, or is there anything else I could give her to do the same thing which won’t pass on to the pups? (please only address this point if you’re an experienced breeder or vet/veterinary nurse – and please state you are!!)
Regarding the little guys: Everyone’s growing huge. They’re quiet until they’re hungry or need warming. 3 are enormous, the other 2 grow to the size the big one’s were the day previous (i.e All gaining weight) Everyone has big fat bellies and no deformities are present. Day 2 visit to the vet went excellent. My issue is: This is my 1st litter (and last for a long long time!!) and I unfortunately have no breeders or kennels/rescue centres near me to go get a crash course in puppy care, So I was hoping someone could take the time to give me a week by week of their development. I recognise this could entail a lot so if someone even has a reputable website to direct me too that would be awesome (experience is always better though!)
Understandably so breeders don’t seem to make this information readily available online (otherwise everyone would be breeding ‘cute little puppies!!!!’ – that’s fair enough!) but I still would like to know everyone is moving along okay and know when I should be concerned of someone being under developed. This is the most important question really!!
o0o0o one more: Walks for the Mom. Would it be okay to take her out for a quick walk? She had been getting fed up and restless so I did take her for a 5 min walk (she didn’t want to go far herself before coming home), Obviously not if its raining so she doesn’t chill the pups hoping back in, but again the rejection fear stopped me doing that until someone could confirm what they do with their dam’s – she was coming back – eating and not moving far from the pups when I did – and wrecked. she had a huge sleep.
I think that’s all my fears and questions for the mean time. Anything anyone may think useful to me would be grateful too, and much much appreciated.
Thanks in advance an
Been there, done That: Your response is something I was doing in my sleep hence the ignoring 
If the post is too long – DON’T COMMENT you don’t know what you’re commenting on.
If I’ve heard from you before – DON’T COMMENT – I don’t want your advice again cause it obviously wasn’t good enough.
To repeat the extremely SIMPLE directions you were already given & obviously prefer to IGNORE ……..for your own bizarre reasons.
KEEP it in the ENCLOSED whelping pen except for putting outside to eliminate! Feed & water in the box.
KEEP everybody (& thing) WAY!
It WILL make enough milk!!! WILL! BUTT OUT! Do *NOT* supplement w/ANYTHING!!!
Pups need NOTHING from humans(except keeping bedding clean!) for 3
PLUS wks!
Here’s a tip for a dimbulb who can’t tell a DOG from a cow…….& REFUSES to listen to those that DO know WTF they’re doing=DOGS DON"T BAG UP LIKE CATTLE!! Each pup can only take a few CCs at a time…DO NOT BUTT IN & KILL THEM!!
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