Hi,
I'm wondering if I should be worried. My bitch had her pups on Tuesday night and she still not really eating (just picking at her food), I have soaked the kibble and added meat and everything else I can give. She is having replacement milk. And still offering her meals. Will she be ok just drinking milk.

Thanks in advance

Nessa

My bitches would starve themselves rather than leaving their precious pups.  I have to drag them out to have a wee.  When you think of it, in the wild they wouldn't leave newborns to wee or poo.  They would just shut their systems down for a while.

I always allow a bitch to stay in the whelping box and I hold her food under her chin.  All my bitches are fed this way.  I hand feed if necessary.  You could try poached white fish - supermarkets do their value range, and if poached in goats milk it means you're getting vital fluids into them as well as food.

Thanks JeanSW,
                        I've tried hand feeding and holding it under her chin. But she just turns her head away. Im offering her 4 small meals but she only eats small amounts of only 2 of the 4 meals. She did only have 4 pups of which one died. Im also giving her whelpi. Im worried she's not getting enough.
Thanks in advance

Nessa

Will definitely try the fish in goats milk thanks

Did you have her checked for retained birthing material immediately after finishing whelping?   This could be because she's not feeling well, and if it is going on, she'll be feeling increasingly unwell too.    She should be on a high protein diet now, probably not bulk yet although as it gets towards the time you'll be weaning the puppies, at a time they will be making the highest demand on her, she will need all the food you can provide.

She doesn't need MILK!!   And especially not cows milk, or Whelpi for that matter.   And the suggestion of getting her out of the box with the puppies when you feed her, is a good one.

Do have your vet check her, just in case.

My girl would not eat a couple of days after whelping, she had an infection and high temp. Took her to the vets and she had AB and anti inflamm injections, right as rain the day after. Vet visit is best. I did take the puppies as well (in a carrier with mum) as should would not be happy leaving them.

I agree that there may be an infection. Have you taken her temperature? If it turns out that she is just being fussy or whatever, Royal Cabin starter mousse is very very tempting so try that.

MamaBas, I haven't given any COWS MILK.I've tried royal canin milk and turned her nose up at that, she is on high protein food and. She was taken to vets for check up when we had to let the little boy to rainbow bridge.

Nessa

Thanks rubydoo.
Have just ordered some Royal canin starter mousse. Am trying the fish in goats milk so will see if that works till the mousse arrives. And also try her away from pups.
Thankyou everyone for all the advice very much appreciated.

Nessa

A roast chicken always goes down pretty well.

I had no problem with my recent bitch. In fact, she woke up from her emergency section and inhaled a dinner! Stopping her stealing has actually been more of a problem. I have found this pretty unusual but this is my first litter with these breed and I was warned by more experienced people in the breed that they do everything opposite to the book;-)

Nessa..........pop a bit of tasty chicken or cheese in her mouth like giving a pill....let her swallow it. Try another.

Something clicks in their brain to remember to eat...a function many bitches switch off just after whelping. She should then take quite a bit more from your fingers.
You may need to do this for a few days until normal appetite returns.

I once had to force fee a bitch three weeks before and for 6 weeks after whelping.

I soaked the food and rolled the mush into balls, and stuffed them in her mouth and then massaged the throat.  she actually happily ate that way with no force needed, but would not eat by herself.

In her case she had violent gastro enteritis and just would not eat.  She wasn't one of mine but a bitch I had to whelp for someone in my breed who was unable to.

Again, she doesn't need milk - of any kind.   Our nursing bitches went back on their normal good quality food, just loads of it, and with some extra meat, chicken, raw mince, even cottage cheese to encourage max. lactation once past the first week.

If she's really not interested in food I'd get her checked. 

ps   We had one who only had two puppies, one doa.   This was my first litter and I panicked when she'd not eat up much.   Turned out she KNEW she was only going to be providing for one puppy and didn't need loads of food.   More sensible than me.

Thank you for all your advice, i will try everything you say. MamaBas I did think maybe she isn't eating as much because of small litter, as she is eating but not eating all I'm giving her. Thanks again very much appreciated.

Will defiantly try hand feeding cheese thanks again.

Nessa

With three pups I would not expect her to eat much more than two times, rising to three times her normal ration

Thanks Brainless, and thanks to everyone else that replied to my thread, I'm gonna try not to worry and listen to my bitch a bit more lol

A friend of mine gave me this recipe and it really helps bring the milk through, and give the bitch her appetite back.
1 Tablespoon of glucose powder
1/3 Tin of evaporated milk
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon spirinlina
Shot of hot water.
Serve tepid.
Just offer her small amounts for her to lap in the whelping box several times a day.
I also make a beef bone broth from beef bones and a chicken bone broth. Very often they won't eat much the day after whelping, but they need plenty of fluids for milk production.
Tempt her in the whelping box with little bits of chicken, scrambled egg or whatever she will eat.
After the first couple of days they usually start to get their normal appetite back, I feed plenty of red meat, minced beef etc. That has been previously frozen then defrosted.

Just an update. Kyra is doing well and eating well. And learning to listen to my bitch lol. Thanks again for all your advice have taken it all onboard and its worked thanks

Nessa

That's great Nessa x

I'm really pleased for you. 

Thank you jeanSW