My girl's nearing her season (fingers crossed), is already late.  last two matings didn't work but I think they just missed.

What I did before was, worming tab a few days before mating last time, I wondered if this might have had anything to do with one of the misses.

I did the blood test second time but only did one mating.

She was off her food the second time and didn't even act pregnant, the first time she had a lovely little  (mini) phantom.  She doesn't suffer from these ordinarily.

I'm wondering if the worming tablet had something to do with or it was just one of those things.

I worried about her eating last time and did try and get her to eat for a week which I think could have stressed her out, would that affect anything in the first week.

Is it safe to leave her to her own devices or just feed her the treats that she will eat, i suppose its something in her tummy and doesn't start a no eating cycle.  This does worry me that shes' not getting the nutrients she needs even without pregnancy.  I know the babies don't drain her yet but do they get anything from her before implantation.

Now for feeding

Given that I can get her to eat when would you swap her onto puppy food.  I've read that it can interfere witht he calcium levels as the puppy food contains a lot of calcium which will interfere with the whelping; she not get a good calcium serge to cause contractions.  Any ideas or is there a good one that might be low on calcium.  She's small breed so won't tollerate anything but mini kibble (little diva).  I have been giving her a part raw diet so will continue with that.

The first mating she had an appitite like a horse and had no problem feeding her (which was a joy)

Will giving her puppy food help to possibly save her coat condition pre and post whelp.

Sorry its a long one and thanks for advice.

I understand your concern & the only advice I would give would be...wait for the season....keep your girl relaxed, as they do pick up on our worries. Take her for her mating, possibly 2 matings with a day in between. Then....leave her to her own devices as you put it, let her get on with it. If she goes off her food, don't panic & don't try to force her to eat. She'll have raging hormones whether she's in whelp or not. When the time comes....maybe pop her along to the Vets for a scan to put your mind at rest. I know how hard it is, playing the waiting game. I'm not sure about worming so soon before a season, but someone will be able to advise you on that one. I think you need to have the pregnancy confirmed, then make plans for feeding. Puppy food usually from week 6 of pregnancy. When my girl had a litter 20 months ago, I took her for a Post Whelp check up & had Calcium Levels checked & they were fine. (I'd been giving her Puppy food, plus 2 Calcium Tabs per day (as advised by my Mentor) As for her coat....they usually drop the coat just as prospective Puppy Owners are due to view lol...my beautiful girl looked like a bag 'o rags when the pups were 8 weeks old! I'd advise taking photo's of her in full coat. You can then email the pics to new Puppy Families :) All I can say is...wait for her to come into season, arrange your matings, then shout for help on here if you need it. Good Luck! Do let us know when it all 'kicks off' xx

Thanks for your reply.  i was hoping there could be a chance of saving the coat lol.  Yes your right they'll drop it when you want people to see her.

Would you do anything else different aprt fromt he feeding or giving suppliments?

dont give suppliments once shes been mated ,she should get all she needs from her food has long as its a good puppy food from 6/7 weeks in whelp! theres nothing you can give for the coat but once it starts to come back i looks beautiful again :) 1 of my girls had pups 5months ago and her coat is looking stunning now :)

Don't get me started on coats, my Cavalier girl looks like a chinese crested in parts, her throat in particular is completely bald!!!!!! (single pup, I'm keeping her, not an advert)

It's hormones, no coated breed bitch will be remotely showable until her pups are at least 4 months, and not in top form until 6 months after their birth. 

So breeding from a show bitch takes her out of real contention for about 8 or 9 months.

Ellie's pretty good actually because most of her bare patches aren't visible in show pose, so I'm pretty lucky really. Last litter she got 3rd of 5 at an open show when the puppies were 10 weeks old, and this litter she got 5th of 7 at an open show, and a 4th and 2 1sts at a companion show!! Her muscle tone at the back is all over the place though, I keep trying to throw things for her to run and fetch when we are on walks otherwise she just slouches along behind me begging for treats!

> So breeding from a show bitch takes her out of real contention for about 8 or 9 months

This is what i thought but was hoping the was chance it could at least be attempted to prevent it. oh well.   The coat takes a good year to come back if it throws.

Have you any thoughts on the calcium issues.  I still keep seeing not to give it to them through puppy food.  I know ruffandready had levels tested and ok but is that a one off.  Why would it interfere with the calcium serge.

not sure if im reading this right ? the mums calcium can drop when feeding pups because of the milk shes makeing so if shes feeding a big litter it can make it worse ,tbh i give calcium to mum ONCE shes had her pups and give it every day till she stops feeding them ,i get my girls tested if they show any signs of a lack of calcium just to make sure as it can kill mum! if given before whelping mum carnt holdon to the calcium after pups are born x

The amount in puppy food is fine, it is additional calcium supplementation that is to be avoided. 

There should be no excessive calcium in puppy food as this could cause skeletal problems in growing pups where too much is almost worse than not enough.

I've also read about the calcium not being given, esoecially in supplements, as said prior to whelping.  i don't know enough to say either way although i do think the bitch willl benefit from the puppy food before her body is feeding the pups.

Another thing I saw on this was giving the dog Tums antacids during birth to give each contraction a boost.  I can't see that being any good for her tummy, I can't go over what is needed without problems.  Is this necessary?

I did also read that too much calcium or not properly corrected can be bad for her later on and cause problems with future whelps. 

> Another thing I saw on this was giving the dog Tums antacids during birth to give each contraction a boost.  I can't see that being any good for her tummy, I can't go over what is needed without problems.  Is this necessary?
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I think, from what I've read that the Tums is just an easily available source of calcium.

I use Colla Cal D during labour, it really does help boost contractions.  But definitely not before or during pregnancy.

were do you get colla cal D from sharon ? thanks :) x

Off the internet and I've seen it in Manor Pharmacy.  Its about £8.00.  This is what I've been recommended also.  I don't think Tums can be good for the stomoch acid production in those amounts.