Hi,
I have just joined this forum looking for some advice and reassurance. I have a toy breed bitch who is currently 35 days pregnant, and doing wonderfully. I am not doing quite so well lol.
My mentor has fallen out with me (over a non dog-related issue) and I now feel very alone and frightened. I haven't had a litter for 20 years, and it is my first time with toy breeds. I am fairly confident about the birth, and I do have other dog breeder friends, but not toy breeds specifically. I have so many questions that I would have asked my mentor though. I am sure things have changed since I last bred a litter. I know my attitude to things like food and vaccinations has.
I am doubting myself on worming schedule, diet (especially calcium requirements during pregnancy) when/whether to go to the vet, (for check ups, I know how to recognize an emergency) pretty much everything. I prefer a natural approach, and feed raw, so I don't always see eye to eye with my vets.
I look forward to meeting you all, and hopefully being pointed in the right direction.

Having the same breed, I found it was totally different to "rules" for large breeds.

I expect my bitches to whelp on day 56 far more frequently than going full term.  Biggest problem needs a very, very good eye.  You really do need to know your bitch, and I see inertia in their eyes before anything else. Novices rarely see this, and it means that a bitch goes to the vet far later than she really needed. Yet inertia is a huge problem in breeds that have small litters.

I have always used Panacur 10% on pregnant bitches from day 40, and I too had to do some research when I came back to breeding.  It had changed so much since the 70's!

I never, never, never give calcium to a pregnant bitch.  It can actually cause eclampsia.  I've whelped loads of toy litters if you want to ask specific questions. 

JeanSW I presume you mean extra calcium as it is impossible to avoid calcium in the diet altogether.

I am so sorry to hear you have fallen out with your mentor, there are a few experienced toy dog breeders on the forum and I am sure they will give support but nothing can match the hands on presence of a good mentor, any chance things will change over the next month?

What about the stud dog owner or your bitch's breeder for help or was that your mentor.

I hope all goes well and you have healthy dam and pups post whelping.

Thanks so much for your replies.
My query about calcium is because I have never reared a litter fully on raw before. I feed prey model raw, so 80% meat, 10% organ and 10% bone. Some sources advise continuing the 10% bone throughout the pregnancy, some to stop feeding bone for the final two weeks. I wouldn't dream of giving calcium supplements, but usually offer calcium heavy food directly after birth.
I am on good terms with the stud dog owner, I am sure she will be happy to help, I just feel a bit stupid ending up in this position and don't want her to think I am a total idiot!
I have delivered dozens of animals in the past, everything from rodents to horses, but I am still terrified of letting my little girl down. She is very special to me. She is glowing though, her coat is amazing and she is eating like a horse! She would quite like to spend the rest of her pregnancy on my lap, which is sweet as she is normally quite independent :)

I would continue with the calcium intake she is used to throughout the pregnancy, during labour I give calciboost and vet/nutrodrops as recommended by my mentor[some give vanilla icecream or TUMS as the calcium source], post whelping till pups are weaned goats milk, yoghurt,cottage cheese to prevent eclampsia, they all go down well here on top of the increased diet intake of what ever they will eat, mine can be fussy at this time so get spoilt rotten.

You can't help the mentor situation so don't worry about approaching the studs owner for help, I have had the studs owner and the dams breeder both supporting me with my first litter, the former knew the latter anyway, I was a trained midwife and my cat had 2 lots of kittens back in the early 80's which I was present for the delivery of each time.

Hope she continues to be in the best of health, start daily worming with Panacur 10% and increase food intake in smaller meals at 6 weeks and get ready for action stations 3 weeks later or there abouts.

> I wouldn't dream of giving calcium supplements, but usually offer calcium heavy food directly after birth.

Sorry Chistar - I did actually mean that I don't give pregnant bitches calcium supplements!  Apologies!