Can anyone help?
My bitch whelped on friday, her 2nd litter after 1.5 hours of contractions and straining took her to vets, large puppy stuck so vet advised C-section.
Save all the puppies.

I'm at my wits end as she constantly cleans them, she didn't do this with the first litter, although she did clean them, but this time its all the time and they are soaking wet and getting very cold the heating is on 24/7 set at 70 and I have 2 heat pads on 24/7 as they are so cold from her constant cleaning, I keep towel drying them by the time the 9th one is dry the rest are soaking wet again.

I change the vetbed 3 times a day and the pups are clean. Why is she doing this? could it be something to do with having a c-section? she is my first bitch to have a section.

Lynn

Can you get a lid on her box or at least some sort of cover?

This will settle the bitch and, although wet, the pups wont have any passing air over them and thus will reduce heat loss.
The anaesthetic can have varying effects on bitches but most settle down when pain and hormones stop ruling her.

Meanwhile reducing the sources of chilling is your best plan.

Would a heat lamp be an option, so there is some heat coming from above directly onto them?

As Toolz has said, you need to cover the whelping box and make it into a den.  I always use a covered box anyway but others who don't have fixed puppy panels around the sides with cable ties and then a thick blanket over the top.  When they're wet they need more than 70 degree central heating.  More pups die through cold than anything else so it's really important not to let them chill at all as they can't feed if they're cold.

Thank you all very much, puppies weight has not been good over the last 2 days some have stayed the same some have lost 0.5 of an ounce. First 2 days they were putting on 2-4 ounces each day.

Now put heating up to 80 and covered 2/3rds of whelping box with double duvet. Mum has now settled more, just very heavy panting (I think she is too hot) just hope pups warm up and start feeding better now.

Hope I haven't left it too late.

Lynn

Be careful not to overheat either, that can be just as harmful and cause dehydration. Do not let your bitch overheat. Covering the whelping area should be enough in total agreement I always do the same and make a nice den.

Bitches continue to pant and scratch at varying degrees after whelping for varying lengths of time, the panting is normal and helps with milk production, so may not be to do with the heat at all. ;-)

Just keep an eye on the dam and the pups and check they are not too hot or too cold.

Going to vets with mum and pups, mum temp is normal 38.1 she has 2 large lumps set back abit behind her ears (glands) I would think, I spoke to my mentor and she said  she might need calcium vit D.

Still vet is best place to go, something is not right.

Lynn

Ah good luck, hope all is well with mum and pups, it is very stressful rearing a litter, we had a litter 1 week ago, mum not eating much, puppies thriving but 1 is much smaller than the rest, but he is feeding and seems to have grown, surely if he wernt feeding he wouldnt still be here would he? im stressed too, she had 4 lost 1 day after birth, im paranoid with this little chap,

> im paranoid with this little chap

I get little scraps like this on antibiotic cover and fluid under the skin if vet thinks neccesary.
I also supervise every feed the baby has to ensure that he is sucking when the bitch lets down the maximum milk and not just pulling and sucking until he's tired.

Leave nothing to chance you have gone to extrodinary lengths to get this litter and it would be devastating for you to lose one now.

Good job in being so attentive, yes vets immediately for a full check over. Let us know how she is.

Thank you everyone, will do that.

Been to vets, it was one large lump on her neck not 2, it was from the antibiotic injection vets gave her on saturday it caused an abscess which they have drained.
They have put her on 25mg of Chlorpromazine twice a day which has calmed her down and also calcium-vit D, puppies are now warm and dry and vet was not too worried about their weight.

thanks everyone

Lynn

thats great new goldengirl :) wishing you and your girl +pups all the best x

Rooting for your litter Anastasia....they are special little 'people' which you have put your heart and soul into.

Lynn...so glad they've turned the corner... but keep vigilant :-)

We're here if you need help.

my friend's bitch was constantly licking her 1st litter, we put it down to inexperience & after a couple of days she stopped. Then when my bitch had a singleton pup (her 2nd litter) all she did was lick his 'bits' & made them very sore, that resulted in a trip to the vet, an antibiotic injection, some cream & he was ok. Good point about covering the whelping box, but our little guy was born in the lounge on a duvet, mum flatly refused to go upstairs where a lovely comfy whelping box awaited.

but our little guy was born in the lounge on a duvet, mum flatly refused to go upstairs where a lovely comfy whelping box awaited.
Another plus for the closed whelping box. :)  They feel so save and secure, in 25 years, I've never had a bitch object.
I start to put the bitch in there about a week before her due date and sleep next to the box so that she can see me.  By the 3rd night they will usually take themselves in there and lie down, waiting for me to shut the lid!  So by the time they have their pups, it's the obvious place for them to want to be. :)
They really do make life more simple and safe and are more than worth their cost.

Glad everything is well Lynne, all good here little chap putting weight on, vet said he was fine and probably the correct size for his age, the other 2 are just big, but he is catching up. I brought the whelping box in 3 weeks before our girl had the puppies i slept on the couch, she would sleep in it no problem until labour started, she was pacing round and wouldnt go in her box, she actually had her 1st puppy in her plastic basket, once i put puppy in box she was fine.
Im so excited with this litter fingers xd.

Thanx guys for all your help/advice and best wishes x

Hi Guys,

I am now hand rearing puppies as still no weight gain some have lost an ounce some gained an ounce and a couple stayed the same.
I think the reason they were very wet was because they have diarrhoea (thats just water) and mum was constantly licking the diarrhoea off them, vet has given the pups kaogel suspension at 0.5ml twice daily for 2 days and now feeding welpi, they are doing very well with the bottle.
Mums still cleaning them and letting them suckle, but I don't think she has any milk.

I have breed 4 other litters over the years and they were text book whelpings although hard work still, this one has left me exhulsted and they are only 6 days, I've had no sleep for nearly 2 weeks, too scared to close my eyes even when they are stinging and burning.

Lets hope this will now be the turning point.

Many Thanks Lynn

Oh no so sorry to hear you are hand rearing them now, what a nightmare, yes bet you are exhausted i am and im not feeding them, im still on the couch and will be for another  few weeks yet, i wake at every squeak they make, hope your babies all thrive im sure they be ok, stressful having litters but well worth it when their on their feet and causing mayhem.

Keeping everythng crossed for you x

its so much hard work isnt it , so sorry to hear this ,i do hope you start to get some sleep soon ,ive just helped with a litter here at my house for my friend ,pups are 9weeks now and gone but its left me very tired ,so i no how u feel (((hugs)))
wishing u all well xx

Hows puppies doing today Lynn? hope all is well.

Thanks everyone for your advice and well wishes.
Puppies are very strong and we now have some weight gain, 1oz - 4oz each since yesterday morning, so looking good now.
The diarrhoea is now yellowy/green and slightly thicker, but at least I can see it.

1 week old today, so not out of the woods yet, but getting there.

Lynn

Thats great news Lynn, everyday they will get stronger, hope all continues to go well for you all, x

Well done Lynn...keep going:)