Hi,
I was wondering what youa all think would be best for toileting pups.
As you all know Lucy just refuses and clean them. I've tried putting a little honey on them,tasty chicken paste
and various other things that you have all suggested,but nothing is going to make her do it so it's down to me
but at least she's letting them feed which is a huge bonus.
I have been using baby wipes but already went through loads of packs,do you think warm water and damp cloth
is ok? also as I have never had bitch that has done this before how many times should I be expecting them to poo
a day as I am toileting every hour but not always poo there.

Try cotton wool with the warm water.  i think its a circular motion, need to check.  Hope it helps.

Cheapest and best I have found to be cottonwool and warm water. As for frequency required for poos rub the anus very gently and they will soon let you know if they are ready to go or not!

Thanks will invest in large amounts of cotton wool.x

Hi Kane - I was just about to post a similar thread and found yours ! I have the same issue - so our routine is now put them on the teat,then when they have finished I rub rummy with kitchen roll for them to pee,then get warm water and cotton wool in a circular motion inbetween belly button and 'lady garden' and then the anus.

I was worried as they don't go every hour - i was wondering what the frequency should be ? every hour ? every two hours ?

Hi Piratebear,
I am doing the same routine as you and they seem to pee every time which I know is to be expected.
I feel as if I am having to constantly rub their wee bottoms and they seem a little constipated as the poo when it does come
seems rather hard.I have the water quite warm and rub gently but they do seem to be straining I don't now if there is anything
else I could do to help relieve them. Mum is not at all constipated has plenty milk and is eating RC mother and baby with a little meat added so feel as if her diet is well balanced.
They only seem to poo twice a day but not sure if that's normal as never had this situation before where I have to do all the toileting while madam sits back watching.
I am also not sure how frequent they should be going.x

Hi Kane ! - Ditto - So glad we had pups at the same time! I was just about to post and say that now the pooh's seem rather firm/hard and they are going about twice a day and I had expected more.
Maybe this is normal seeing as this is what we are both experiencing? Mum is trying a bit more now cleaning them,but leaves them still very dirty so I'm still doing it after every feed.
Started the Battaglia handling yesterday,they have all started yawning & stretching.So cute,they are growing before my eyes but I don't seem to have time to enjoy it inbetween vetting new owners,cooking for the kids,house work and preparing puppy packs . .keep forgetting to eat myself !
Mum is also on RC mother and baby,we bought a few canine chicken flavoured electrolite drinks and add that for flavour or a tiny bit of meet/sardines/tuna or a spoon of heinz baby food !

Hi Piratebear,
Same here it would be lovely to just have to deal with the pups and nothing else.
I have three kids to cook for the other dogs to care for and well as all the household chores.
I have consant emails from potential new owners some I already know others I want to get to know a better
before making any decisions and they all want to know how they are,what they are like etc which is lovely
just tiring although very rewarding when you know they will be going to new homes with owners that you are 100%
happy with.
It would be lovely in an ideal world to just have one job to do.
Are you keeping one? I feel as if I want to keep them all ha they are just a joy to have,but that's just the maternal
thing kicking in ask me that in another seven weeks time when they are like naughty toddlers.x

Yes,we are keeping one.I have two girls aged 12 and 11 and they have fallen in love with one of them though I was going to chose when they have little personalities.
Its constant isnt it? take pics - email pics-work on a puppy pack,dates in diary for worming,order wormer,check got enough food,wash Mums back end,walk other dogs - also,we have a double coat long haired breed that takes an hour to grrom so I have to keep on top of the other two dogs,plus I'm 'Milton' washing the floors every day  - then helping out at 'Milk bar' and toileting... I go to bed very emotional and tearful and wake up in a panic until I know all is well with my bitch and the babies! hardly have time to bond or enjoy the little ones :-( but still worth it x

The longer the poo stays in the rectum the more solid it becomes as the fluid is naturally removed from it so ladies I think you need to potty them more frequently.

So sorry that the dams are not doing this procedure for you.

I have three teenage boys 14,16,17 I def think girls are more helpful mine like the stage when they can have rough and tumble
with them. My youngest has decided what one we are having but will wait a bit to decide what one would fit in best.
I ordered wormer yesterday and it arrived today,very impressed. I use panacur paste and also use milton which is fab.
Like you say piratebear it would be lovely to just have mum and pups to deal with but suppose in the real world not many have that privelidge.I know what you mean when you say you are emotional but bet everyone is just the same as us.
I don't have such a big grooming issue,I can only start to imagine how time consuming that must be.
When I am feeling low,tired,emotional I take a look inside my whelping box and remember  how lucky I am to be blessed
with these little miracles.x

Thanks,I have been trying every hour will just need to keep at it.
They seem settled enough,suppose you just question everything as just want to do my best for them.

Yes,I am trying every hour too but nothing,then when they do go its quite bit and firmer - I thought this was because milk has come in and not colostrum.
How often should they be going ?

dont worry to much when ive had to do mine i give them a wipe around before they feed and after ,pups dont poo after every meal and some pups might only poo 3-4 times aday.plus it also depends how worm burdend they are too as to how much they poo!.
xxxx

do they pooh more if worm burdened ? or less ? Im sure mine are only going 2 times ina 12 hour shift - if that

they poo less if worm burdened ,are your due to be wormed soon? if so this could be why, dont worry tho once done they will be fine till their due again and then youll notist this again ,it can look like ther constipated.
xxxx

I would say mine are about same twice in about twelve hours. I have been trying constantly but they do seem to
be straining when doing it. I have never had this before so bit concerned but just need to keep at it.
What would be the solution if it is worms?

> so our routine is now put them on the teat,then when they have finished I rub rummy with kitchen roll for them to pee,then get warm water and cotton wool in a circular motion inbetween belly button and 'lady garden' and then the anus.
>
>

You have to poo them and pee them prior to putting on the teat.

Maybe that's where I'm going wrong then :-( I have been doing it afterwards.OOops !

Not due to be wormed - only 4 days old and wormed Mum from day 40 till 2 days post whelp ( even though she was 3 days late - so actually for 28 days )

> Not due to be wormed - only 4 days old and wormed Mum from day 40 till 2 days post whelp ( even though she was 3 days late - so actually for 28 days )

Good on you!   Your pups would have been born 98% worm free.  :-)  :-)  :-)

I don't think we would have worms followed same routine as before worming from day 40 onwards.
Actually seems a bit looser tonight and she had a wee lick at one of them things are looking up.x

I have started toileting before meals - works much better! thanks guys - I would not have tried this without your advice!
Minnie is not as interested in pups today,having longer breaks.Poor thing.Mind you,the heaviest reached a kilo in weight today! 5 days old

I have been toileting before and after as was so worried about lack of poo.
Today Lucy started cleaning her pups can't tell you how much of a relief this is.
She has become much more interested so the maternal instinct must be kicking in.
She has been great at letting them feed and she is a first time mum,but at least she's started helping with the toileting.
Minnie must be so tired poor girl.I hope she's just having a rest wow what big pups. I weighed mine today and the heaviest
is 8oz hard to imagine the size of minnies babies no wonder she is having a rest.x

Do you think now we are on day 6 the bitch is safe from haing any infection inside ? would it just be eclampsia to worry about still ?

Hi Piratebear,
I'm not to sure about that I've had a bitch that had constant discharge and as it continued I took her along to vets for check up
and she had an infection although not life threatning it was making her uncomfortable and restless with her pups but it was cleared within days of antibiotics. Are you worried about Minnie?x

Not sure,but a few years ago someone in my breed lost a bitch as they washed her back end after birth and then couldnt smell her when she had infection - so i have not washed her I(i've used milton and saltly water,just nothing perfumed) for this reason . . . and would really like to use something perfumed!
She still has discharge and is still digging

Hi, I think if you at all worried I would get vets advice.
Lucy is still panting and digging and still has stringy discharge when she has been out to pee.
I have just wiped her with milton baby wipes as think it's too soon to bath and would not want to upset her.
They give us more worry than babies but I know what it's like because I am constantly thinking is this normal?
it's just an added worry if you feel unsure but I'm sure you will know what's best.
Hugs to Minnie.x

Sounds like Minnie and Lucy read the same books - both not cleaning pups and both having us worried about toileting - and both giving birth the same day ! ha ha!
Minnie is pretty much the same,every now and then stringy dark discharge,digging quite a bit and today she is very tired again,but i think pups were sucking her dry so have suplemented them with bottle a bit.
Have not bathed her,and was wondering when to,as being long haired everything sticks! nice!
Hugs to Lucy

please dont take this the wrong way ...but why give pups a bottle??? pups need to be sucking all the time so mum can make enough milk for them all if they dont suck she not make it :) only top up with milk if their weights are not good or starting to loose weight ;0)
xxxx

> Have not bathed her,and was wondering when to,as being long haired everything sticks! nice!
>

Don't know what longhaired breed you have, but I clip the back end off a little for comfort with my toy breeds pantaloons.  And, as my bitches loathe being moved away from pups, getting quite distressed if taken away for any length of time, I don't shampoo until day 3.  I couldn't leave them all cacky any longer than that. 

I just shove bum end in the shower, and, using dog shampoo, I just clean where I have to, and make it as fast as possible.  There is going to be further discharge anway, but I do like them freshened up.

If there was a serious infection you would be able to smell it regardless of how often you cleaned her, when I was a midwife we had to check the post delivery pads and you could smell a problem before you got too close to the patient.

I just used baby wet ones and cleaned up the worse of the tail feathering and combed it through, it gave her a start in taking over that care for herself.

I agree don't start supplementing the pups now as this is when the demand decides her supply. Have you tried nutridrops to boost her energy levels, they will be greatly depleted feeding pups of those sizes, is she taking in enough fluids and diet to keep herself going as well as the pups.

I tried my girl with nutrifrops yesterday as she was a little off her food.  i couldn't believe she volutarily took them.  Piratebear doen't worry too much, mine is still very tired and not sleeping at night.  She's started catching up in the daytime. 

Hi all,nothing taken the wrong way - its advice as I don't know whats best and need to weigh up the options - so appreciate all the input.
We tried 2 feeds,one yesterday and one today and decided the same - not to continue unless we have to as she is supplying plenty of milk.
Not sure if I can say which breed on here? but VERY long haired-think haired and double coat,and too big to fit in a bath! ha ha
I really do need to wash her soon, I hvae been daily wipeing her with milton water and warm salty water,but the time is coming when it needs to be a bath!

If you can't get her in the bath stand her in a washing up bowl.  Do a second one to make sure she's fully rinced.  if you can get some sort of shower attachment, that would help.  Take it back, we've not the same breeds, i can get mine in the bath.

Are they all doing well for you today.

All doing well today - 3 over a kilo.Milk has really come on as her teats are huge today.
We have outside shower facilities for her,but really dont want to get her that wet yet as she is still digging in the dirt and dont want her to get wet and bring grubby infection in to the babes.
We have had a hibbi scrub wash instead !