Unfortunately (despite trying very hard) we lost the only pup born. We have shown mum and she seems to know but is still a bit frantic (pacing around, panting, whinining). We are shattered and devastated but how should we treat mum to calm her down?

Thanks

Mum seems to have calmed down now and is resting.

Advice please on what to do with her in practical terms. Drying up milk? Her stress? Does anyone know of anything herbal or the like. Should I take her to the vet for them to administer something or just see how it goes?

Really not prepared for this as I didn't imagine I would be in this position. Any suggestions appreciated.

The only thing you can do is to treat her as if she was having a phantom pregnancy, and that there hadn't been any pups born at all. Cut down her food and water, but not to the point where she is dehydrated, and take all things away that she might try to mother. Encourage her to go for longer walks to get her mind off things. Do not get all cuddly with her, try not to feel sorry for her. Dogs get over this far much quicker than people do. I would only take her to the vet if she is really full of milk and it is causing discomfort.

Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets is a safe herbal stress reducer. A few drops on the tongue might help and you can't overdose.
Try www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

There was someone on here recently who was looking for a surrogate mum for some orphaned puppies; I'll see if I can find the thread, but in the meantime you could ask all your local vet practices if they know of anyone in a similar situation.

ETA: This thread.

Sorry to hear this, Dancer

xxx

Im sorry for your loss Dancer.  I hope you can settle your girl down soon xxx :(

I'm sorry. I've been through it with one of mine and it was awful, so very sad. She did eventually pick a toy she decided to mother, I wasn't sure whether to let her or not, asked various people's advice (think it was here) and let her keep it. That calmed her down, and after a couple of weeks she stopped mothering the toy and went back to normal. She also got more exercise.

I'm so sorry dancer xx i'm afraid i have no experience with this, i hope somebody can help you.

There was someone on here recently who was looking for a surrogate mum for some orphaned puppies
I believe this was a racing Greyhound litter and they eventually got a surrogate mother over from Ireland.

So sorry to hear your news dancer. If your girl has excessive milk Galastop, obtainable from your Vet, is very effective and quick to dry it up.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and suggestions.

Mum is doing much better, she's been out for a lead walk with our males and seems more relaxed most of the time. Her milk has already stared drying, it didn't really come through properly anyway.

I had a bitch give birth to one dead puppy about 4 weeks ago.  2 days later, another bitch whelped, and I gave her a puppy, as she had milk.  It wasn't HER puppy, and she was having none of it.  So, even when wet nurses are needed, it doesn't always work out for us.

I have a breed that has very small litters, and having 2 litters was supposed to give me more chance of getting the pup I wanted to keep!!  Well, I have decided to keep both pups from the other bitch!

But the girl that had the dead pup was given more exercise, food reduced, and sent out to play in the garden with the rest of the gang.  I felt awful doing it, and all I wanted to do was cuddle her, feeling so sorry for her.  But it would not have been the best thing for her.  I have never, ever used Galastop, relying on exercise and keeping the food quantity down.  It has always resulted in milk drying up naturally.

Have to admit, I don't ever try to draw milk off them, it only encourages them to make more.

"I have never, ever used Galastop, relying on exercise and keeping the food quantity down.  It has always resulted in milk drying up naturally."
When a large breed bitch has no way of getting rid of her unwanted milk to the point where her breasts are very swollen, tight and painful action has to be taken.  Not only will the bitch not want to move about because of the pain but can start sucking herself to relieve the situation.  As you say if the milk is drawn off they only make more. Galastop is a most effective milk suppressant and works very quickly. I did not intend to advise it should be used unless there is a real deperate need to do so and would like to correct it if I gave that impression.

> Galastop is a most effective milk suppressant and works very quickly. I did not intend to advise it should be used unless there is a real deperate need to do so and would like to correct it if I gave that impression.

No, I certainly didn't think that you were giving a "one size fits all" reply, and didn't read your post that way.

As we all have different breeds, with different needs, I was just giving my experience from a "little dog" owner point of view.  I would not have hesitated to get veterinary advice had she looked as if milk production wasn't going to dry up naturally.

In my girls case, she had enough milk to feed a couple of pups - but didn't want someone else's baby!  :-)

I thought that I would be helping her by giving her a pup to feed - but hey, who are we to tell them what to do!

And keeping her active has worked in this particular scenario.  I'm not saying that it works for all.