A friend of mine has just had a litter of 4 born, 3 days ago, the vet has checked mum and pups over on the day they were born, but now mum needs to see a vet for possible abs, the vet has asked her to go tomorrow, before they open or while they shut during the afternoon. She has been advised to leave pups at home in a box with vet bedding and heat pad, she has nobody she can ask to watch over pups, will they be okay for about 2 hours alone and away from their mum? Any ideas welcome.

maybe if you put what area of the country she is from, somebody might pm you and offer to come and baby sit. personally i wouldnt leave them, but i know some that would

I have never taken a bitch with pups to the Vet.  I'd be asking the Vet to visit if I thought it was really necessary.

im sorry but i wouldnt leave them either,does the vet not have a clean warm place for pups while mum is being seen?i dont know how this would go but i certainly wouldnt be leaving pups behind either.its a shame she has no one to ask to baby sit like tanya says what area is she in?this would help.

> I have never taken a bitch with pups to the Vet.  I'd be asking the Vet to visit if I thought it was really necessary.

not even for a check up after the birth?
i thought this was a well needed thing???
am i being conned by the vet then he always lkes to see bitch and pups after the birth.

not even for a check up after the birth?
No, not in 25 years and I've never had a nursing bitch need any veterinary treatment.  I count the placentas, (some come up to 24 hours late!) and wouldn't dream of distrubing an bitch exhausted from whelping.
But then I feed good food, make sure they are drinking plenty and use an effective cleaning/sterilizing methods.

Thank you westcoast.you have saved me a whole lot of worry.
not MONEY ....worry.(for the record)i have had my girl at the vets after a litter born and knew in my heart there was no need but took her anyway,she was happy(i could tell she was smiling)pups were fatties and happy and yet was told its a must to get her to the vets in the morning!!!
ive counted the placentas and weighed pups and i also feed my dogs very well throughout.she gets the best and yet i was told by a lady been breeding for 13 years she always takes them along to see her vet.i thought i was doing what responsible owners/breeders would do.
it was a year ago now and i feel really guilty for dragging them all out :-(

cant she get the vet to visit her? it would have to be a near death emergency for me to seperate a bitch from her pups like that

>not even for a check up after the birth?
>am i being conned by the vet then he always lkes to see bitch and pups after the birth.

No. I get the vet to do a housecall. He's being very sensible.

The vets has asked her to take the bitch in, it will take her 1  hour there and back, plus time in with vet 2 hours at the very most! 

She is in a right panic.

If she absolutely must take the bitch in then she should put the puppies into a warm box - a hot waterbottle at the bottom covered with a towel, pups on top and the box covered to keep the warmth in - and have someone hold the box securely in the car.

Is there really not a Vet nearer than an hours driving? :(

She has no body to help her, this is the problem her husband is working away back on tuesday, she either leaves the pups at home alone or takes them with her in a box with no one to steady them as she drives, that is why vet has said to leave them at home, he said they would be perfectly fine left for a short amount of time, feed them an hour before leaving make sure mum has toileted them.

She is going to ring up in the morning and see

The vet she uses knows the breed, i cant name the breed but they are in the utility group

Unless the bitch is showing signs of being unwell I would not take the to the Vet, the vet is where sick animals will have been, and this poses more risk to the bitch than not having a once over from a vet, but then I don't get mine routinely checked.

I wouldn't take her even if she was showing signs of illness Brainless.  With a depressed immune system, where other sick dogs have been would be the last place that I'd take a recently whelped bitch!  If I was worried I really would insist on a home visit even if it meant using a different Vet.

And at 3 days old, pups are feeding almost constantly with a nap in between! :(

pups are 3days old? i wouldnt be happy if vet told me to make sure pups feed 1h before going! and then it could take 2h thts 3h maybe without pups feeding :( i wouldnt do it ....and "WHAT IF" SHE BROKE DOWN ? or anything could happen that means pups being left longer sorry its a BIG NO NO for me !!!! pups would have to come if noone at home x

Didn't take the bitch to day, will let you know what happens when i get more details.