I’m sitting writing hoping someone is out there that can help me please
4 day old giant breed pups all went well until mother attacked a pup yesterday, since then we have switched to hand rearing using welphi puppy formula but it’s given my pups the worst constipation. Bloated and uncomfortable all have had enemas to clear which worked on all bar one pup. He is now refusing to feed (switched formula brands) lethargic and not himself . Having spoken to vet on the phone feel have given lactulose and told to keep trying to toilet him and rubbing his belly. Feel very dismissed as she said little they can do for a young pup (basically leave him to die)
I refuse to believe there is nothing more I can do and will not give up. I’m currently curled up in whelp box with the wee man in my clothes on skin rubbing him for all I have.
Please if anyone has any thing I can try let me know
Thanks

First of all, the sudden aggression from your bitch can be a sign of eclampsia. I would supplement her with calcium straight away.
I would also hold her down (muzzled if necessary) to feed them (unless of course she is really intent on attacking them as I realise this may be difficult with a giant breed)

You need to give calcium urgently.  At the first sign of any grumbling, growling, digging or weird behaviour from the bitch, supplement with calcium.  Give 1500-2000mg of elemental calcium every 30mins until it improves.  It can be calcium citrate, carbonate or phosphate.  You also need to check her over to be sure there isn't mastitis developing as pain could cause her aggressive behaviour.

I agree, the bitch needs to feed the pups even if you need to ask her to Down and have someone feed her treats constantly.  Sometimes rubbing some butter or similar on the pups belly and genitalia will get a bitch to lick there and kick start her mothering. 

You need help from an experienced mentor - where is your mentor?

Bitch was on calcium from day one after emergency c section and was happily feeding and doing all she should for the first 4 days. We were actually at the vet the morning prior to the attack for post op check up vet was happy with her healing well and checked for eclampsia and mastitis - all ok.
She has no interest in the pups at all now and I will not risk putting their safety at risk and forcing them to feed from her - pinning down a muzzled giant breed (think 75-80kgs) of Dog is not an option.
Vet agrees that hand rearing is safest for all from now on however this wee man is still a bother he made it through the night and was perkier this morning but is still not as he was and unable to toilet.
Is another enema wise? He is taking feed but not as actively as he was nor as much and I have been checking constantly for dehydration (all ok right now)
Help!

I don't want to be crude but are you sure he has an opening down there for **** to come out of.

We had a bitch who totally refused to have anything to do with poohing her puppies (pee fine but NOT poohing).   As a result,  most of their early days were spent moaning and groaning, basically until gravity took over..... I sat them in warm water to see if that would help having spent hours in the whelping box, literally, trying to stimulate evacuation.   They all survived however!   Might you try warmed goats milk rather than Whelpi/Esbilac?   It doesn't contain all that commercially made bitch replacer milk does, but it is very close in make up to bitch milk.

Did she 'attack' the one who isn't doing too well because she may have detected something not right with him?    Also it should be possible to gently hold her down so the puppies can take a feed (have they had the first milk because they need this for natural immunity to support them through the first weeks) and then take them off her.   If they are not feeding from her at all, she does run the risk of going to mastitis if she's still lactating and the milk isn't being drawn off.  I don't think the vet's advice to take them off her is necessarily good, even if you hand rear the one she attacked but let the others take a feed from her when they cry.    They should also be kept warm as newborn puppies cannot regulate their own temperature - for this there must be extra external heating if they can't be with her.

Agree with MamaBas, think you've given up the pups nursing on mum far too quickly - especially given the untold benefits to both, the risk of mastitis etc.

Being 'on calcium' doesn't mean anything if it's not enough calcium - how much calcium were you giving, how frequently, in what form?

A vet can't easily 'check' for early signs of eclampsia...

Facebook Replies:

Claire Lambeth says:  The only thing I can suggest is switching to goats milk for now as its easy to digest... hope your little man pulls through

Annaliese Britton says:  Lots of heat and use gripe water you can mix it into the milk, and you need to get the pup hydrated before giving more milk so dioralyte to get its blood sugars up then it should have the energy to feed. And if mum will let you you could always express off milk I’ve done this with medium size breeds

Jules Magee Burton says:  Unless mum is a nasty bitch normally, there is often a reason for her attacking pups. Maybe there is something else wrong and she knows it xx

Facebook Replies:

Steph Hickey says:  You could also try puppystim, it's normally used in the mouth via a srynge, it's worked every time for me, also try 2nd opinion for vets, also could try rspca for advice. Hope he's ok x

Judith Rand says: The bitch may need Calcium....speak to your Vet

Michelle Bella Richman says: I would also say theres more to this thats meets the eye bitches dont normally turn on their pups, some mums can be grumps but still feed them, some great advice above especially goats milk and dioralyte/ gripe water, all the best hope he pulls through