Don't suppose anyone is up now but hopefully this will be seen in the morning. One of my bitches is whelping. She went into labour in the evening of day 54 from first mating, gave birth to first pup just gone 2 am so officially day 55. Toybreed so I expected early birth but expected day 58 which is what she went before. My mentor says she has had pups born this early and live, but what are the experience of people here? What should I look out for? Sucking reflex might not be strong I would assume? So far just had first pup born, seems strong, looks good size but I've not weighed him yet.

No experience of pups being born early - sorry.  All you can hope is that they are a good weight and kept nice and warm as well as support mum as much as possible.  Have you ever tube fed pups = perhaps an option until they are stronger.
Thinking of you and that all goes well x

Hope everything is going well?

I once had a litter of GSD's born 6 days early and they were fine. They all survived. It was a large litter she had 3 normally and then another 10 by C-sect. The vet said there just was not enough room any more and they had to come out ! Warmth and the ability to suckle will be the most important things in the early days (You know that better than me though !) Hope all's well.
Aileen

I have had two litters ( med sized gundog) one born a week early, the other 5 days early. One litter of 14 the other litter of 10, both litters were fine and didnt need supplementing.

Diane

I know that Jeans says hers are normally born day 56 and survive.

I have always heard that up to a week early pups are viable so day 56, so fingers crossed!!!

I get a lot of 'early' litters, they don't look prem so I treat them normally.
Warmth, fluids and a very watchful eye.

My extremely limited experience of 1 natural born litter, toy breed and they were 7 days early. It did take a few hours for them to get the hang of suckling, they were keen to latch on but hadn't quite twigged that they needed to close their mouths around the teats! After that it was all plain sailing. :-)

Thanks all. We have 4 pups. One is a bit small, the only bitch, but I checked my notes from previous litters and she is not the smallest pup I have had. The 3 dogs pups are huge! All seem okay, do not look premature, despite it definitely being just day 55 at most. I am so surprised! Expected tiny pups with problems. Fingers crossed they thrive now. They are on a heated pad (temperature controlled, for pups) and the house is warm enough for everyone else to complain. :)

Good news :) I hope that they all continue to do well !

Best of luck :)

Good news!

Hope all is going well. I had a litter of 13 born on day 56 (single mating).

Just catching up.  What a fright you must have got but glad to read all is ok for now :-)  Fingers crossed they continue to thrive x

Only just seen this Marianne.  Barbara is right that I find it normal.  And even with pups just under 3oz so hardly amazons!  Yes I do use a heat pad, simply because they don't retain their body heat very well when this tiny.  The house also has the central heating on if the slightest chilly.  I don't mean when it's this time of the year when it is turned to constant anyway.  I'm a delicate hot house flower and need my heat.  :-)

I've never found that the tiny tots suckle less strongly to be honest.  Actually they are normally little greedy guts and they are permanently attached to a teat.  When sleeping, if mum moves they have a natural reflex which says quick suck really hard now, they make sure that they stay glued on. 

Some of my bitches really like the heat pad themselves and book it for 6 weeks.

Oh just thought!  I do not supplement.  Mum can give them far better milk than I can.  It's her job to feed pups and it's my job to feed mum anything and everything she wants.  I do hand feed in the whelping box as my bitches are swines to come out for food.  I have to drag them out kicking and screaming for a visit to the garden.

>Thanks all. We have 4 pups

Congratulations :-) Sounds like they're absolutely fine, maybe because there are 4 and the boys were big Mum just couldn't keep them longer?  I'm sure they'll thrive :-)

maybe because there are 4 and the boys were big Mum just couldn't keep them longer?

Yes -she was so big I've never seen anything like it before!  :)

How are the puppies doing?  Hope all is well

I was a bit worried to start with as all 4 lost quite a lot of weight first and second day. First day would not worry me but second did. I started topping them up with Welpi, and the next day they had gained. Now all are gaining and I don't think need help. I have just been to the vet this morning for two sets of rear dewclaws to be removed and mum has had a check up, all fine. Phew. :) Thanks for asking! Now I am still waiting for my second bitch who is the opposite -day 62 today from first mating. I have never had this breed go that long BUT her breeder/my mentor says she has had it in her lines and she would not worry yet. I am pretty sure she is just carrying two pups. She could of course have taken on second mating and be on day 60 today.

Glad to hear they are still doing well.  Looks like your other girl has gave you a hand to let the little ones get sorted before hers arrive :-)
Good luck Im sure it wont be much longer x