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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Mam not really intrested in pups advice needed
- By Marc0124 [gb] Date 07.03.16 11:31 UTC
Hi my toy breed girl gave birth to 9 pups yesterday unfortunatly the last one took abit of effort to get out and it was born still born ;( but we have 8 very healthy pups. During labour my bitch was great very proud of her but she was not intrested in any of the pups i had to cut cords tear sacs ect she would just give birth and not evan look at the pups just walk away its her first litter so i thought she will soon get the hang of it any way she is still not took to mother hood shes not cleaning them and only feeding them because im encouraging her too do so she wont evan go in the whelping box would prefer to be with me on the couch. And she will leave them given any oppertunity. She has quite a large litter for her breed and im thinking about getting some puppy milk and maybe helping her out feeding them ?? Is it ok to feed puppy formula and mams milk? The pups are very demanding and suckling all the time. Im currently cleaning them but trying to encourage her to do it with no success yet. Mam is doing great and bouncing about as usual (wish i had the same amount of energy) advice appreciated
- By LucyDogs [gb] Date 07.03.16 11:33 UTC
You'll have to set yourself up to live by the whelping box for a while, some toy breeds aren't naturally good mothers and do need the encouragement. With you sat on a nice cushion at floor level so you can stroke her while she lies in the whelping box with the puppies she will hopefully get the idea.
- By Marc0124 [gb] Date 07.03.16 11:38 UTC
Yeah im sleeping down stairs on the couch whelping box right next to me so no sleep at all last night constantly rotating pups making sure they are all fed there was allways at least one wanting to go on the nipple do you think it would be good to help her feed with puppy formula or not ?
- By Merlot [gb] Date 07.03.16 12:05 UTC Upvotes 1
If the pups look plump and have nice shiney coats and do not cry constantly they should be fine with Mums milk. Her milk will increase the more she feeds them and they should not really need any extra.
I would just continue to rotate them maybe putting half in a box while half feed and swapping them over regularly till she has got the hang of it. You could try smearing a bit of butter on the pups to encourage her to clean them. Some Mothers never get the hang of it but as long as she will feed them with your encouragement then try not to bottle feed if you can
Good luck its a time for sleep deprivation ! we have all done it and feel your tiredness xx
- By Marc0124 [gb] Date 07.03.16 12:59 UTC
Yeah the pups look plump they are lively and very vocal when they want too feed im going to try the butter thanks. Soooooo tired time to get that cofee machine in action. If they continue doing well i wont bother with the bottle feeding
- By JeanSW Date 07.03.16 16:23 UTC Edited 07.03.16 16:25 UTC Upvotes 3
You have chosen the breed most known to hate motherhood.  I haven't seen Gwen online for a long time, but she's the expert on your breed. She has often mentioned having to clean poops bums and stimulate urination.  Often right up until the time that pups can do it for themselves. 

I have to admit, having the tiniest of the toys, that I would hate one of mine to have 8!  Resign yourself to being the one to regularly be on bum duty.  Regularly being the operative word.  They are going to be an eye opener for you after having larger breeds.  I'm afraid that you will have to accept this as being part of your bitches' downsides.

While I have always preferred that a bitch does all the feeding (because it's best for pups) I have helped out sometimes if needed.  I have always waited until after the pups have been fed by mum though.  Only intending to give a 'top up'.  I have personally only used Whelpi though so can't give an opinion on anything else.

Don't want to try and tell you how to suck eggs, but a dampened bit of cotton wool to stimulate urinated is helpful.  You need to wee wee for them until they have bladder control.

Just to let you know that you will soon look like a zombie and your hair will go grey.  :grin:  :grin:  :grin:
- By Marc0124 [gb] Date 07.03.16 18:11 UTC
Thanks for the reply jean its funny as i have littrally just used cotton wipes to toilet them (boiled water then waited until cool) i no its quite a large litter she has and they seem to want to feed constantly i just wasnt sure if it was ok to mix the milk as in let them suckle off mam and thrn me give them formula milk
- By Brainless [gb] Date 08.03.16 00:27 UTC

> they seem to want to feed constantly


This is what they need to do to get the milk supply in, as demand causes supply.

I would expect my bitches to stay with their pups solidly and basically be feeding tem all the time for the first few days (at least three) and only go out for a wee and straight back in.

After about the 5th day my bitches will rest outside the box for a time, but generally stay with the pups for the first 10 days.

You need to encourage the maternal bond which is confused/weakened by their attachment to us
- By Marc0124 [gb] Date 08.03.16 12:36 UTC Upvotes 1
Well shes not going to win mother of the year award anytime soon  but she is getting better still leaves them all time but goes back with some encouragement and she has started to clean them when she can be botherd
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Mam not really intrested in pups advice needed

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