I had some really positive feedback from my last post so here I am again wanting some advice from you wise birds!  So Bitch had 2 pups only they are now three weeks old. She has been a really good mum but does feed them then go and take herself onto another bed until she is needed again. I have set up a pen with two beds, puppy wee pads, bit of a play area and food mat. she seemed to be happy on one bed and pups on another. I have started pups on puppy mush (ground up pup food and pup milk) and they have had this now for three days and are really keen today. I have also just done first worming of pups. Bitch seems less keen to feed but is doing so a little under duress. I will cut pups nails again later today as think they may be sharp. Yesterday my bitch moaned pathetically on and off all day. She was really unsettled during the evening, keeps dragging two tiny teddies into her bed and snapping should the puppies go near them. I can hear her moaning downstairs now. I have taken her for a big walk. Have gone and bought maintenance food which I thought I would give her for lunch so she has had a big breakfast and another big lunch (she has lost a lot of weight). but she is still not happy. She keeps barking fro attention and has never been a bark dog. Have checked her teats and no sign of infection and she doesn't seem ill just flipping many and restless - any ideas?

CALCIUM!!!

Any sign of restlessness or displeasure, any weird behaviours like snapping at puppies, all are an indication you need to be supplementing with calcium.  This can be an emergency resulting in eclampsia (google that!) so watch her closely and most importantly get some calcium in her. 

Go buy some human calcium tablets from a pharmacy (citrate, phosphate or carbonate). 

You're aiming for 90mg elemental calcium /lb of body weight, per day, and you can continue this as long as needed.

The other thing to watch out for, is mastitis - how are her mammary glands?  Are they hot, hard, swollen etc?  If pups have just been weaned they may be taking less milk and this can lead to excess milk and that can in turn either be uncomfortable or be a prelude to mastitis...

Thanks for this I have just got some out the cupboard as bought some prior to whelping. So she is 25pound (11.2kilos) and she needs 90x25 = 2300mg per day - is that right? Each tablet is 400mg so thats 6 tablets a day ??? Its also worth mentioning her calcium level were taking on day of whelping and were ok. I have given her 2 tablets now and will await reply. Thanks

Hi Jules - check the amount of elemental calcium in whatever supplement you’re using, as this differs from total calcium - it should say on the supplement how much elemental calcium per tablet - that’s what the dosage above is referring to...