Don't know why it gets narrow but I guess it is about to spring back to a full page any moment now before it dissapears off it's own right margin. Jackie H

The postings get narrower, when you view the full thread, as they indent to show they or subordinate to the above post- ie a reply - they all line up the same when they are all a reply to the same post. Hope that makes sense

so if you have post 1 - if 5 people reply to post 1, not the other posts - then you will get 5 messages all lined up the same. If you get post 1 and one person replies, post 2, it will indent if another replies to post 2, then that will indent and so one - theoretically you could end up with a line of single letters which could be awkward. If you view as new posts then you will see them generally as a page width.

hth

Pam n the boys

I'm glad that I know that it is ok to feed in the whelping box...thanks.She is in the kitchen so knows we are very close,plus I keep sitting with her just watching...so cute,already i'm dreading the day that I have to say goodbye to them(sob)...want to keep them all!

As for docking them...I don't intend to,they're fine just the way they are in my opinion.
Kay

Kay ---I left you a msg on Idle chat board.

Bee,
You were such a good and attentive coach! This thread is the best yet!
Your advice was really good, you put everything in it that I would have.
Great minds think alike!
By the way, those pups you helped into the world across the sea were born on my birthday! It made it extra special to read.
Way to go guys!

Think I spoke to soon about Matilda being happy in her whelping box!
She got me up twice in the night to search the house for somewhere else to put them...and this morning she is very stressed and keeps picking one of the pups up and taking it next to the sofa...really concerned now,any suggestions please.
Kay

This could be a sign of Eclampsia, is she staring at ghosts and panting a lot. this is a real emergency and needs the vet to give her a shot of Calcium, and special liquid calcium supplementation may be needed throughout her lactation. Eclampsia occurs when the body doesn't rally the calcium reserves properly. The vet and quickly!

She is settled again now...and sleeping.
Eclampsia did cross my mind to...but she is'nt showing any off the symptons,apart from moving the pups (been reading my books on it).
Think perhaps she is feeling insecure at the moment.
Anyway thanks for the quick response and I will take her straight to the vet if she starts again.

Oh I am glad :D

Hi Kay,
Little soon for eclampsia I would think, also you would definately notice extreme panting and shaking. But don't let me discourage you from overlooking the possibility. I think if you were to give her a calcium supplement (it can be human) it would not only possibly prevent this, but it would be good to help her replace the draw on her reserves especially as the pups start to nurse more.
As for wanting to move the pups to the sofa. I think she just's likes that sofa. :) Isn't that were she had them? Earlier you had said you had her in a hippo sand box? This may seem a little too wide open for her and she may not feel she can protect the pups; so maybe she thinks she'll move them to the sofa for your help protecting them.....You may want to put her in a travel carrier (Big enough so she has room to stretch out an sleep while the pups are nursing. It may help by giving her a sense of security kinda like a 'den' atmosphere and you can even drape a lite blanket over it to enhance the effect.
But not to worry, it won't be long before they will be too chubby for her to pick up and carry off.
Hang in there,
Bee
P.S. Cheddar Cheese - If you look on the package it has a very high calcium content. My dogs "really" like it. (But not too much - it's also high in sodium)

I phoned the vet earlier but he was operating,so spoke to the nurse who also breeds dogs,she said she was probably fine but that she would get the vet to phone me back...that was 3 hours ago!
Anyway Matilda has been in with her pups all afternoon,feeding,cleaning and sleeping.
Think your right about the hippo being to big but I wanted to make sure the pups did'nt get squashed...i'm just a novice but learning quickly!
If she gets upset again I will have to find something else for her.
Off to give her some cheese now...
Many Thanks Kay

What you are describing happened with my first litter. Number one, are you sure her waters did not break somewhere other than the whelping box. If so they can think that they have left a puppy there.

Secondly I always give a calcium supplement in the first few days after whelping, it does seem to calm this situation down. Get some into her as soon as you can.

Don't get the stuff from the vets I was precribed one that was made out of soap. I Buy all my stuff from a canine chemist place in Thirsk. I tend to get better stuff than the vets will supply.