I have seen a lot of different options and just wondered which is best??
I have heard of people offering vanilla ice cream to mum or Tums or even chicken broth or carnation milk watered down...???

My girls won't eat during whelping, they are normally sick anyway so I tend to not give them anything to eat, just water with a little glucose in it for energy

I don't feed them during whelping - I offer water/glucose water but they usually bring it back so I wait until all over and she's settled before offering her a small helping of the gruel recipe that's often featured on here.

I personally would steer away from feeding once she has properly started whelping - just in case a ceasar is required.  If you're happy she has had sufficient nutrition up until she starts, it won't do her much harm going without food for a day or so.

Yes thats what i thought, i think it was more to drink than eat, shall look up the gruel recipe..
There are so many different ideas out there..

Just do what you feel is common sense and what's good for your girl.  Every bitch/delivery is different so be prepared!

I offered my girl water/glucose after the first few pups were born, just for a bit of energy.

I used this Gruel recipe, courtesy of AlisonGold - my bitch loved it!

Cup of Porridge
2 cups of Water
1 Egg
Tablespoon of Honey
Tablespoon of Milk powder (whelpi or similar)
Tablespoon of Glucose

Boil up everything together, stirring until porridge is thick, dilute with a cup of milk and cool. Feed lukewarm.

I had NutroLac so used this as the milk powder.

She ate her tea prior to whelping but then wouldn't eat for 24 hours.

That is great, thanks i shall take a note of this.. :))

Same as the others water with glucose only.

The 'original' recipe is as follows;

1 cup porridge oats
1 tablespoon Complan
1 tablespoon Glucose
2 cups cold water
cook as you would porridge - once cooked add
1 Egg - only 1 per day though
1 tablespoon Honey
1 cup Milk to help cool

This can be given several times a day following whelping - my girls love it so I reduce it gradually to once a day and continue for 2/3 weeks.

Thank you for this :))

Oooh, errr, I shall try this one out, as well as the one I've tried, with my next girly!! Thank you :-)

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can you buy glucose powder? Ive never heard of it? Is it just sugar? (sorry) :-/

yes you'll find it at pharmacy's

Yep, can buy glucose powder at Boots, it's a very simple sugar, sometimes called dextrose.

Ahhh Fab! Thank you :-))

> I have heard of people offering vanilla ice cream to mum or Tums or even chicken broth or carnation milk watered down...???

It sounds as if you mean that you have heard of folk giving calcium?  Do I understand that right?

If so, far too many people get carried away thinking that a bitch just has to have it.  Whereas I have never had a bitch need it.  Sometimes you can do more harm than good with supplements.

Same as Sharon, I never feed a bitch that has started labour, but ensure she has fresh water with gucose powder added.

I have heard that some people give tums after the birth, this being calcium, never understood why they would need it... i think its to help with the milk production..
Someone may know the reasoning behind this..

i can't see how Tums are any good to the dog as they're an antacid.  But apparrently its for the calcium boost/release for contractions.  would they really need this if it been activated anyway. 

i thought you wern't meant to interfere with the calcium, hense watching the intake before due date.

I'm no expert but I think it's to help with the bitch not getting eclampsia. You give it to the bitch whilst she's in labour and it also helps to keep the contractions regular and strong.

I apologise if I've got that wrong but I'm sure that's what I've read

X

That is interesting to know, many thanks
Yvonne xx

You can actually cause a bitch to have eclampsia by giving calcium.

If you are not medically qualified - don't prescribe! 

A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing to have sometimes.

> I have heard that some people give tums after the birth, this being calcium, never understood why they would need it... i think its to help with the milk production..
> Someone may know the reasoning behind this..

Anything not understood is far better dealt with by someone experienced.  A great deal of damage can be caused otherwise.

i think its to help with the milk production..  No - it isn't.

I didnt prescribe anything, I simply said what I had read.

I do apologise.

Calcium given at the wrong time I agree can give a dog Eclampsia. I never mentioned giving extra calcium while pregnant.

> I never mentioned giving extra calcium while pregnant

No, I never said that you did.  And I was not "having a go" so apologies if that is how it sounded.

Very often you will see different people make an emphasis, for no other reason than novices will come looking for advice from our boards.  And I was making the point for the benefit of any newbie browsing our site.  It is difficult to set the balance, but I always try to take into account that not everyone has delivered loads of pups, and a lot of us will make a point, for the benefit of the less knowledgeable.

I do hope that clarifies.

Yes i know that you shouldnt mess with her calcium intake, thats why i was looking for the reason behind the Tums in the whelping kit..
Yvonne x

If calcium is given throughout the pregnancy then that can have serious consequences but given at the right time after whelping may actually help the mum. Eclampsia is caused by a rapid depletion of calcium for the bitches body. More common in smaller breeds and first time litters and more so in large litters Normally if the diet is rich in calcium it should lessen the chances of eclampsia. One of the reasons we should feed the bitch puppy food in the second half of pregnacy. My girl whelped 7 small breed puppies on Wed and was showing slight signs of eclampsia. Shivering, unsteady on her feet. lack of interest in her pups. restless. I gave her a few tums until the vet was able to get over to the surgery where she gave her a calcium injection. Hope this helps a bit.

just wanted to say a huge thank you for the Gruel recipe. My bitch actually wagged her tail with excitement for this (i have NEVER seen her do this with food) and after she had pretty much gone on hunger strike (i tried every trick in the book and was well aware of hand feeding soft food in the whelping box etc etc etc ) it was a very welcome sight. she has now progressed and is happily eating RC starter kibble and mousse with enthusiasm :)