Hi just need some support really.I have been up all night with my bitch who is on day 60 today.She started panting late last night she will not eat or drink or leave her whelping box.I am very excited and nervous as this is my first litter.How long does this stage usually go on for.

Hi

I would think things should start happening fairly soon.I am expecting my first litter next month but have delivered puppies and kittens before and yes it is a very exciting time hope all goes well

nicki

Hi
Any sign of the babes yet ? :D
tRACEY

No signs as yet.She is very unsettled has just been out for toilet and got straight back into her box.She looks so sad.Hopefully it will all happen soon.

Any News yet?

Hoping gap is you being busy?

Fingers crossed here
Pam

My girl went through the panting stage for 12 hours, then delivered 7 pups over 5 hours, so it won't be long now, if she keeps getting out as if needing to go to the toilet keep an eye on her, it could be the pressure of a pup about to be born.

Good luck

hi at last 1 little boy born everything seems fine mum managed great

She panted for 12 hours??? During this time did she ever looklike she was pushing just a little---
I am so confusde right now---could be lack of sleep HEHE
Kim

Just panting, no contractions!

My Vizsla panted and looked uncomfortable for about 6 hours before she produced a puppy but I think all bitches are different and it can vary from breed to breed.
good luck

Well nothing seems to be happening now.She is sleeping but still breathing very heavy.

oh spoke to soon she is up and about again panting and throwing all her bedding all over.Has had plenty to drink now.How long is this going to go on for?

Ohhh. How exciting!!! Sorry. Newby here. Not very long to go at all, I would have thought. My Jack terrier panted for nearly 12 hrs before she started to push. You could see her contractions from about six hours prior to pushing. We all know you want to be with her, but, keep us posted!

My girls are usually sick just before delivering their first pup, so keep a watch on that, also watch for the first signs of the water bag appearing rear end, one of mine the sack was really tough so my vet told me to pop it, the first pup was born within 10 minutes.

Good luck, keep us posted

hi we now have 6 pups all appear healthy not sure if she has finished how long can they go between pups thanks louise

Any more yet??? You've left us waiting in suspense!
Rudy and Mum

Hi 8 now I think that may be all of them but she is still carrying 2 placentas.oh they are so cute but I am so tired.All pups are feeding well and mum is a natural.Any ideas on how to get mum to go out for toilet as will not leave the pups and wet in the box.

Hi,
Congratulations on the litter!!

To get her into the garden for a wee you'll have to put her on the lead and literally drag her, encouraging all the way. As soon as she's been to the toilet, let her off the lead to run back to her babies as fast as she can. It will take a few days before she'll leave them willingly.

If you have any worries about placentas, etc, get the vet to come round and check her.
Good luck.
:)

Congrat Louise , hope all is well with mum and pups.

Pamela

Hi everyone thanks for all the support mum went to the vet this morning for an injection to help the placentas come away.She is doing very well and so are the pups all weigh between 14oz and 17oz all seem content.I know now she has had the pups she will eat alot more but what does anyone advise feeding her as she will not eat her usual dried food.thanks again
Louise

I give mine a light, bland, easily digestible diet for a few days......especially if she's eaten a lot of placentas - she'll be passing really runny, black poo - yuck. So milky foods (Farex etc), with glucose added, every 4 hours, and plenty of water to drink.

In a couple of days rusky biscuits with gravy will be loved, then gradually back onto her normal diet, but with meat predominating.

Good luck.
:)

Is Farex still available? I looked for it when my bitch had puppies and couldn't find it any where. I ended up using Ready Brek. but I would really have liked to get hold of some Farex

Hi Louise,

Well done to you, your bitch and the puppies.

I have only had one litter but my little bitch happily took cooked chicken , whelpi mixed up and plenty of water.

Pam

I have found that their mouths can feel sore from all the cleaning, and really add a lot of water to the complete food, and leave to soak. I feed to apetite right from the off, and mine are very quickly on four times normal rations (though Elkhounds normally eat a lot less than advised for their size) if the litter is 6 or more, but with small litters they have usually eaten 3 times maintenace amounts, but of a growth diet. I also give half a pint of litterlac at the half strength of that used for newborn pups (bitch and older pup rate).

I also add glucose to the drinking water. Fluid intake is very important for milk production.

Brainless.......................sorry to change the topic slightly, but what do you do if your girl doesn't hardly drink when she has a new litter?.................I have this problem at the moment :-(

I soak the kibble with a lot of water, the maximum that it will hold, with me still being able to spoon it in her mouth by spoon or hand.

This was a particular case, as I suspect due to the enteritis she just had an aversion to food. Strange thing was once the pups had gone she slowly got back to eating normally, and as far as I know had always eaten well before. She came to stay with me 3 weeks beefore the pups were due, and was still loose, and as soon as she ate a bit more, it would happen again, but feeding frequent meals, and bio yogurt soon had her motions OK!

Have you tried Honey disolved in her drinking water, or glucose?

Yep, glucose, honey today I was trying to tempt her with Ice-cream as I knew before pups she loved it but not a chance. I think I might take her to the vet and get an anti-biotic jab just in case there is any thing going on inside, she had a check up when the pups were born everything was ok, but I think I'll play it safe, she normally eats like a horse so this is completely out of character, I would have thought she would eat even more now feeding!

Are you offering her the water and food in the whelping box. Bitches can refuse to leave their pups even to eat or drink. I usually just wet their lips with myfingers and tempt them to take a sip using a small dish. I then bring them their food four or more times a day.

Hi, bitches are often delicate and exhausted after whelping and need tempting. Boil up a couple of chicken joints in a large pan of water, let the broth cool, skim off the fat when cooled and offer her this to drink in her bed. If she turns her head away, smear some on her lips and once she gets a taste will almost certainly drink it. Take the chicken off the bone and chop up small with a little plain boiled rice and a cup full of broth to make it sloppy and do the same as above. Not many bitches can resist! Make sure you get a calcium supplement (from the vet) down her somehow, daily from now on.

I've tried all of the above, she is having Collo Cal D supplement too, definitely time for a trip to the vet I think!

Edit: she actually ate chicken wings and a small amount of boiled chicken for breakfast, maybe things are looking up at last!

Our girl likes having water sprayed in her mouth... we have a Plant Spray bottle that is used for Pure Water only... When she was in labour we used a Glucose solution and sprayed it into her mouth. She obviously found it refreshing and easy to swallow

Might be worth a try

Al

Hi my bitch is feeding well now and so are the pups.They are only 5 days old and already seem to have grown.She will now leave the box to have her food and go for a little walk.I am so glad everything turned out ok and I am very thankful to everyone on this site who helped me through my panicking stages. Louise

The hard work starts in a couple of weeks time!!
Enjoy it is a great thrill!
Al

My hard work is about to start, pups eyes open today :-)

Hi, just wondered how many pups you have and at what age do they open their eyes? Thanks and congratulations to all of you. Louise.

When do they start panting----my dog just had clear mucus last night and her teats are warm, red blotchy and full but not milk that i can express---her tummy is bubbling sooo much i can see if from the other room HEHEH
HELP i am getting nervous
Kim:)

Usually - but not always the first outward sign is refusing food. Also the temp starts to drop when labour is imminent. Normal is 101.5, once it drops to 99 labour will be not far away if it hasn't already started.