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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Bitch 7 weeks Monday
- By Hazenaide [gb] Date 01.02.14 09:05 UTC
My girl is 7 weeks on Monday. For her she is still fairly big but does not seem to be putting on much now. She was eating ravenously but although still eating is not so obviously going for it. Had to put cheese in this morning with her normal food for example. Should she be getting bigger still.
Totally paranoid since losing an entire litter at the 6/7 weeks several years ago. I think her sides are even slightly less to the touch. She has started producing milk already by the way.
- By lucysmith [gb] Date 01.02.14 11:12 UTC
As puppies take up more room, there is less room for food in her belly. Is she having a large litter?  I would divide her meals up during the day so she is having little and often. Add something tasty and nutritious to encourage her to eat.
- By JeanSW Date 01.02.14 23:23 UTC
Before I read the previous reply I automatically thought about filling up quickly with not so much room.

I totally agree - try little and often, I'm sure that she'll respond.  Just to say that I never try to second guess litter size in comparison to a previous pregnancy.  I'm fairly certain that Barbara once said that one of her bitches looked smaller with a second litter, yet had more pups, and they weren't smaller in size compared to the first set of pups.  So many variables - they don't always carry the same amount of fluid, so no hard and fast rules.

And apologies to Barbara if it wasn't you!  :-)
- By Brainless [gb] Date 02.02.14 01:07 UTC
Yep it was me, 4 live one stillborn pup and she was huge, loads of fluid.

Had 7 large live pups next time and was quite small by comparison.
- By Hazenaide [gb] Date 02.02.14 07:19 UTC
It is so hard to think back isn't it and visualise. I had a litter of 4 boys once, all OK and I was shocked as I expected more puppies to follow. This is a small litter for the breed and by her size I expected more but I think she was already heavier in shape from her previous litter.
For a large litter and my biggest was 15 ( 1 stillborn ) after the event I could not imagine where they had all been laying but all 14 were strong and healthy.
I just hate these last couple of weeks as everyone does as you want it to be over and pups to be on the ground.
- By MamaBas [gb] Date 02.02.14 10:52 UTC
By 7 weeks, you should be starting to see them moving around, unless she only has a few and is still carrying them tucked up under her ribcage.    I had one bitch who at 5+ weeks, was starting to look a decent size.   Towards the end of her pregnancy (which was uneventful, no nasty discharge to alarm) she was really not the size I'd have expected - and had just one puppy, albeit a bitch (Sods Law, singletons are usually male).   Nothing untoward was found to indicate she'd reabsorbed, but I always suspected this might have happened.   

Food consumption, all in one go, may be difficult if she does have a significant number - logic suggests they will be taking up the room leaving none for a big meal.   Small meals and often.

I'd suggest you don't milk her at this point - this will encourage lactation and probably too much too soon.   Newborn puppies don't need much in terms of quantity and too much milk could mean they can't draw it off which could lead to mastitis.   Nature should provide (assuming she's in good condition from the mating) once the litter has arrived.   I've had many C.Sections when the milk isn't always let down immediately - not so with mine.   There was always milk available, when needed.
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Bitch 7 weeks Monday

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