A friend has a bitch who is expecting approx 12 pups, (medium/large gundog breed). I have always been involved with the dogs, walking, training, showing on occasion, and will be there when she whelps. We are both reading and re-reading Book of the Bitch!
Is there anyone out there who has had a litter of this size, we are both 1st timers and would like to know of any specific things to look out for when whelping and rearing a litter of this size.
Mentor will be available by phone, and Vet is aware.

I've had big litters three times. Twice everything went fine with no problems and once where I had to rush the bitch to the vets for an emergency caesar. I found that the bitches eyes, more than anything else, told me she was having problems. She started to look worried, more so than a normal staring into space look that whelping bitches have. I would pre-warn your vet that she has started labour, just so that they can be prepared for an early morning call. Hopefully your friend won't need to make that call :-) Tell her to put the vets number on speed dial, if she hasn't already. :-)

The bitches themselves got really fed up towards the end, with all that extra weight. In this latest heat wave things will be worse, poor thing. Take things as slowly as she wants towards the end. She won't want to go for long walks, it will just take too much out of her. Once the pups are born then treat them as you would any other litter. Mum will possibly look far skinnier than you expect, but the weight will start to come back soon, once she is only eating for herself.

Apart from that I wouldn't treat her any different to any other pregnant bitch. Good luck to you both. I hope everything goes fine for you.

ETA: i almost forgot. She might not want to eat, seeing as there is less room for food ;-) so give her small meals more frequently than normal. If she doesn't want to eat then try tasty things, like tinned rice pudding, scrambled eggs, sardines, etc.

12 is normal in my breed :) just make sure no one isgetting pushed off the milk bar.

I had a litter if 12 . I own med sized gundog breed if you want to PM me

Diane

Hi, thanks for your advice. Mum to be is not getting too tired on her walks yet, and has coped well with the heat so far. She seems to be very hungry and is on 2 meals per day now instead of one, (about 2 weeks to go). :-)
Wirelincs, will pm you

with only 2weeks left id give her 3meals now if shes so hungry :)

Yes that's probably a good idea, thanks :-)

I think I would be dividing up a substantial amount into 4-5 smaller meals a day as I doubt she has room for 2-3 huge meals if carrying a big litter.

Yes, I agreee, at least 4 meals now, as her stomach wont be able to cope with the amount of food.
Just to add re walks, mine was still leaping Lincolnshire dykes days before birth, although I didnt know I was about to get a Delighful Dozen!
Diane

We have recently had litter of 11. She was scanned for 6 at 28 days, and luckily had no problems giving birth. It was our first time, and I'm grateful for that more than anything else.

We used our common sense during the whelping. With the first puppy, she was pushing for about 45 minutes, and rather than intervene, we put a slip lead on her and led her out into the garden. She immediately started giving meaningful downwards pushes and out popped first puppy. After that it was quite regular pups. By number 11 she was obviously getting very tired, and I could see baby's nose appearing and then disappearing. We literally lifted her onto her feet (2 of us) put her lead on again and out into the garden. My husband caught the last puppy in a towel and rushed it indoors.

We knew after 8 that there were more in there by gently feeling her stomach, and could feel more pups inside ready to be born.

Good luck, take a big breath when the time comes, stay as calm as possible especially around the bitch, and have everything to hand you will need, including the vets phone number. Also worth checking who will be on night duty around the time of the whelping.

Oh yes, and my bitch whelped 61 days after the first mating. Two days before the 63 days, but I presume the size of litter may have hurried things on a bit.

All the best, and let us know how it went...

Tanya