Has anyone any experience of the use of blue cohosh as a whelping aid. I have today had this recommended to me by a breeder of a different breed to mine. Others have mentioned Easy Whelp, and I've also read about rasberry leaf on this forum. As first timer, keen to do my very best, what should I know about these products?
Dawn R.

never even heard of it , have you got someone in whelp ?????? . :D

Blue Cohosh is also known as Caulophyllum.
Not much help for you but I took Caulophyllum when I went overdue with my pregnancy.
If you do a search for Neals yard on google you can buy the blue cohosh liquid from there.

Karen

Dorwest Foods in the UK sell Caulophyllum for pets. I've used it in the past on my girls when they are in labour. It should only be administered when you are certain labour has started, it helps to speed up contractions if things seem to be slowing down.

I sure have Linda, or should I say, I hope so!!!! She's only three weeks though so I can't tell yet but there have been some good signs. It was Mason,(Weimaraners) who told me about blue cohosh. I know I'm just flapping about what is best to do. I'm fast coming to the conclusion that I should probably leave well alone.
Dawn R.

Thanks for the info Spaniels, it sounds as though this stuff isn't really something to be used routinely.
Dawn R.

Hi Dawn
just wondering how Lily's doing? Bonnie's only got five days left, shes really big but has gone very quite. Can't wait now and will keep you informed.
Doreen (bonnies mum)

Hi Doreen, Lily is huge too, we have six days to go now. I find she's quiet and a little unsettled but not quite restless. I started to take her temperature yesterday morning, and I found it was alot lower than I expected, 37.4. Same again last night, and 37.3 this morning. I suppose I'll see a pattern over the next few days. Good Luck with yours and I'll let you know about mine too. We might have to resort to e-mail though or we'll be told off for advertising.
Best Wishes, Dawn R.

Hi Dawn

I used this for the first time last year on a bitch who had a previous long drawn out labour who ended up having a section for the last two puppies. This time she flew through it. You just give them one pill about every 30 mins. during labour and it really seems to help, the contractions become stronger. I did not use this lightly and it was reccomended by a top Boxer breeder who in turn had discussed it with a Boxer Breeding Vet. I have kept it in my whelping cupboard and will definitely use it routinely as all the ingredients are natural it cannot hurt as long as you are sure labour has started. A few of my Boxer friends have used it since I tried and they all seemed impressed. I am supplied by Dorwest herb.

is it herbal? someone has recomended that I use it as my last girl to whelp had to be rushed off to the vets when her contractions slowed down....if it is herbal I guess it won't do harm will it ??? any info please

You cannot assume because something is herbal it can do no harm, it is just as likely to have side effects as pharmaceutical drugs, think digitalis for instance :)

The Caulophyllum I use isn't herbal, it's homeopathic - as far as I remember the 30c potency used every half hour or so. We used it quite a lot when we were lambing; also with the bitches if they seemed a bit slow, but it must only be used once labour has started, as it's reputed to induce abortion if used too soon.
It always seemed to work - but you've never got a control to see if the bitch would have got on by herself anyhow!!!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

My girlfriend is a Standard Poodle breeder of 16 years standing. She swears by Raspberry Leaves Capsules. You can buy them at most Health Food Stores or even some Drug Stores or Department stores. I am not familiar with those other items you mentioned but if you start adding 1 capsule to the bitch's food early in the pregancy daily they do work. They will not cause any problem with toxicity but will assist at whelping.

Try to stay away from supplementing with Vitamin A or any of the other fat-soluable vitamins. If the bitch gets to much she can not excrete the excess so it it stored in the body fat. Only give the Raspberry Leaves once a daily even when the time comes that the bitch will require 2 meals each day. This time will depend mostly on the number of puppies she is carrying.

Margaret, Lethbridge, AB CANADA