Hi there. I had a litter of pups, they are 5 days old now. They all seem to be doing very well but I had a few questions and have been driving myself crazy.

1. When the puppies first begin nursing I am seing them doing a awful lot of yanking. I make sure that they have a good latch onto the nipple, but even when I do they yank for awhile, suck, yank, suck. Is this normal?

2. The mother Is a very good mom it seems. Cleans them, protects them, ect. But sometimes I have to wake her in the middle of the night to feed the, or she will keep sleeping. Is this ok or should I just leave it to her to know when to feed them?

3. When she has finished cleaning and feeding them she leaves the box to go to sleep, she doesnt go far, but she sleeps outside the box. It's big enough for her and the pups, but I figured she might want some time to herself. Is this ok? I dont make her do this, she does it on her on. Is this normal?

4. I wanted to take them to the vet this week just for a check-up because I am a nervous new mommy, but it's so cold outside I am afraid of them getting sick. Is there anyway you guys know of to safely and warmly transport them without them getting chilled? The heating pad wont plug into the car.

Any other adivice you guys could give me would be great! Thanks so much in advance.

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Hi,
My pups have always 'yanked' too - most young animals do (lambs butt the mum so hard she's often lifted off her feet!) - it gets the milk flowing properly into the teat. Make sure their nails are trimmed (just take off the sharp points) as these can cause terrible wounds to a bitch and put her off feeding them.

Can't the vet come to you? It saves a stressful journey for mum and the pups, and saves the risk of infection at the vets. If this is out of the question for some reason (and I can't think of one - all vets do housecalls) then you have to put a hot water bottle in a box, covered safely with towels, pups on top, and another towel over that. Loosely shut the box lid over the top of that. Mum will go ballistic because she can't see her pups, though.

Good luck.

If you don't have to travel far - a good sized cardboard box lined with fleecy bedding or towles with a coulpe of well wrapped hot water bottles. Take mum beside the box. See if you can get a vets appointment first thing in the session before other animals are in the surgery reduce the possibility of infections... the place is full of sick animals!!! The vets may have a microwave to allow you to boost the heat in your bottles for the return journey if required, if not they must have a means of generating some hot water!

Al

Your bitch seems to be making a good job of being a mother, as long as your puppies are thriving don`t worry. I wouldn`t risk a visit to the vets unless it was absolutely necessary because of the risk of infection.I know its natural for you to be anxious that you are doing the right thing but please be calm around your bitch or she will be worried too and this may affect the way she treats her babies.