Hi. My family dogs recently had a litter of 7, she’s beeb a extremely good mummy to all. 2 days ago we noticed she was started to feel unwell so we took her to the vets, unfortnaly she’s got gastro infection and the start of mastitis which was a surprise as all teats were looking fine. Due to the medication she’s been given she now isn’t allowed to feed her pups and I’m hand tearing. She’s showing how distressed she is and wants to get to them which is heartbreaking. Has anyone been in this situation and how did they deal with it? The pups are all healthy and gaining weight and some are beginning to lap milk. So should begin to start weaning soon. They are 22 days old.

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Jules Magee Burton says: It’s still good for mum to be washing and teaching manners. Can you construct some kind of jumper, or dog coat to cover her teats and feed pups before mum comes in then they will be happy and so will she xx

There is usually no need to give a drug which means the mum can't be with the pups due to mastitis.  What drug has been prescribed?  I have a list of drugs in Cheryl Lopate's book (US repro vet) and will look it up...  Unfortunately the majority of vets know pretty much nothing about reproduction.

Yeah we did put her in a pair of stretchy tights as the pups seem to get where wAter can’t! She’s love lying and cleaning after I’ve fed them but the vet has told me to remove her completely which you can imagine is heartbreaking for her and us to watch. I’m just hoping soon they will get used to weaning and then not be so bothered about her teats (wishful thinking) xx

She has had
paracetamol,
0.30 metacam,
BOTT
Synulox

while at the vets,

and sent home with
Kesium chew tabs
Metrobactin
Omeprazole
Promax

Xx

Absolutely no reason for a bitch to be separated from pups for mastitis or for gastro (the gastro issue are most likely to do with the amount of food being processed) .

There are perfectly safe Antibiotics, certainly Synolux and the Kesium (sp) you mention are fine.

Separating will only distress the bitch and may make mastitis worse.

I have had two bitches with bad mastitis both continue to rear their pups (one even had the gland burst) and two others that were borderline but managed to keep it at bay.

So few vets know enough about rearing and reproduction.  Their expertise is diagnosis of disease, and ends at C sections with breeding.

Just to add pups will themselves avoid the infected gland, ntil the infection is gone.

Metacam - pups should not have NSAIDs or be nursed whilst the bitch is on an NSAID.  BUT - does she need it??  Quote from Cheryl Lopate;  "Caution should be taken with the use of NSAIDs and nursing puppies.  The puppies' renal tubular function is premature until 2-4 months of age and ingestion of even a small amount of NSAIDs may affect tubular development and predispose them to early onset renal failure.  Bitches that need repeated doses of NSAIDs should have puppies removed and fostered or hand reared." 

Does your bitch need the metacam?  Is she in pain? 

Then;  'Good antibiotic choices include amoxicillin-clavulanic acid [that's your Synulox] or cephalosporins'.  I have no idea why they've given her metrobactin (metronidazole) at the vets, another AB - which can only be given if pups are over 30 days old. 

I've no idea what BOTT is.

Omeprazol - I've no idea why she's been given this, it's usually for stomach ulcers or digestive issues. 

Promax - don't know what this is and it's not even coming up on Noah Compendium.

Basically, you can look up the meds your dog has been given on Noah Compendium - this is the exact same information your vet has:  http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk  Search for the brand name of the drug, click on the tabs on the left, and see what the manufacturers say about use during pregnancy.

But basically if your bitch isn't on metacam (for pain) then the pups can still be on her once what she's had is out of her milk - and it's not really common to give metacam for mastitis.  I'm really angry when vets make choices like this for breeders.  If there is a med they're going to put the dog on which means someone is going to have to hand strip the dog and hand rear the puppies, then they had better discuss that with the breeder and be sure the med is ESSENTIAL before using it.

Even if you take the pups off her, she should still be licking them and stimulating them to toilet, even if not feeding them....

Hi there.  Please take notice of the post from Brainless.  She probably knows more about bitches and mastitis than your vet knows.  Your poor girl must be in such distress when it really isn't necessary.  All your girl really needs is Synulox and she can keep feeding her pups and bonding with them.  I feel so sorry for her.

By the way, if your vet won't go with your decision - CHANGE YOUR VET!!!!!

In addition to what others have said, there's absolutely no reason to hand feed these pups. At 22 days old they are fully capable of eating solid food and drinking from a shallow bowl.

Thanks for all replies, she’s only had the metacam once while in the emergency vets, while she was quite poorly on Monday night. She’s not had any since and not had any sent home with her. The only meds she’s had sent home are as follows;

Kesium chew tabs
Omeprazole
Metrobactin
And promax which is to help with the upset tummy.

X

It’s so distressing to see. She’s been cleaning their bums while I’ve been feeding but as I’m feeding alone and there’s 7 pups it’s hard to make sure they aren’t latching on. X

IF she's on metrobactin, I would not want the pups feeding from her - that's metronidazole (AB).  I'm not sure why she is on that as an AB and not Synulox - which is safe during lactation. 

I agree with goldmali that it's time to bottle feed and start the pups on food in a bowl and let mum toilet and lick them as much as possible.

Synulox and kesium are the same thing, kesium is just a little cheaper and fine for pups

>

Update

Mum is a lot more settled and is now letting the pups feed alone. She’s in there when they have eaten and cleaning them up and is more bothered about wanting to get to their food. They are all lapping milk and have started on kibble this morning and doing great. They have all gained weight so I must be doing something right! Xx

> They are all lapping milk

I hope you aren't using cows milk - goats milk is far better as it's close to bitch milk in make-up.   We started our weaning using it, teaching them to lap and once they could, moved to making up a porridge of a good quality puppy food mixed with either just water, or goats milk.   And not before the end of week 3, provided they were all doing well.

Just to add, if you take mum off the litter, then her supply will begin to dry up.  She should ONLY have been given meds. that were okay for nursing bitches obviously.  For me, Synulox is pretty much all I'd give.  And even then, if this was needed, I'd give the puppies a tiny amount of natural yogurt (probiotic), on the tongues, to counter the antibiotics.

Mum has been given a lot of meds including metacam so she’s not nursing, only cleaning after meal times for them.

No I’m not using cows milk they are having a puppy substitute milk mixed with kibble now.

Mums doing a lot better and we’re off to the vets for a check up this week. :)

Thanks for the update Rouxbag