How can I get my new mum to eat, I have tried absolutely everything, the pups were only gaining tiny amounts of weight and she didn't look as though she had much milk. I've tried chicken, minced beef, BARF which is her normal diet, dried food, tinned food.........even drinking, water, tea, welpi, litterlac, goats milk with honey or glucose but she's hardly touching anything, she has a reasonable size litter to feed and I want to give her the best, is there anything else I can tempt her with? Today the pups have gained a little more weight, the most in 24 hours since birth, but to look at mum you wouldn't say she even had an milk!!

HELP please!

Hi, how old are the pups? If they are only a day or two old and she got all the afterbirths, they will keep her going for a while, so try not to worry. Bitches are a little delicate soon after whelping but as long as she was in good nick when she whelped I am sure she will get her appetite back soon, its important to get her drinking though if possible - have you tried boiling up chicken joints in lots of water and giving her the cooled broth to drink? My breed can be quite fussy eaters after whelping but I give them chicken and rice made quite sloppy with broth and they usually eat that ok. Scrambled egg is often enjoyed too. I would be more concerned to get her drinking - do try the chicken broth if you haven't already. Hand feed/offer drinks in the whelping box, dont expect her to get out. Get your fingers in the food/drink and smear it on her lips - getting a little taste gets them going sometimes. Good luck.

The litter is 5 days old, I've tried scrambled egg and she won't even eat that............she will only drink tiny amounts of water per day too, she won't drink anything else and yes I have tried the chicken broth, no luck there either...........I just don't know what to try next :-(

She was checked out by the vet a week before whelping and she said she was in excellent condition, not fat but at least had some body fat to help her with feeding! I do try and hand feed her, but she shows no signs of interest what so ever, I usually end up forcing her teeth apart (not sure if I should) for the first taste, then she will take a small amount, but certainly not enough to keep her going during feeding!!

Have you tried Roast chicken? I found that worked for one of my new mums!
Bec

I whelped a bitch for a freind in my breed, who couldn't raise the litter themselves. The bitch had enteritis when about 6 weeks in whelp, and was reluctant to eat.

After the pups were born she was to thin, and still wouldn't eat of her own accord.

For the next 8 weeks I fed her very soaked dry food. I made the soaked food into littl balls and force fed her, and this was the only way she could be made to eat. Thankfully even my own fussy bitch eats like a horse when rearing pups. It was hard work.

Hi,
I found that rice pudding went down a treat with my bitch just after she had the pups. Saying that she ate anything and everything put in front of her. I hope she starts to eat soon,
Best Wishes,
Amy

Tuna fish in brine works for mine! you can also get a high calorie gel from your vet or a canine chemist which stimulates the appetite
good luck and hope she eats soon

Hi how is she in her self? is she happy or withdrawn if she is down then you will need to work on her to make her feel happy it could well be puppy blues she will need all the help you can give lots of gentle care make sure she drinks energy drinks/ live yogurt and put her on to fit and fertile this really will help her. jackie