Hi i have a bit of a problem that someone maybe could help me with.
Mitzy keeps going into my kitchen and tries to dig up my kitchen floor its not carpeted its floor tiles i have no idea why she is doing this as she has never done it before.
Should i be worried about this also she is not spending much time with the pups she would rather be away from them i have to make her go and feed them why is she being like this she is eating drinking and going to the toilet ok her temp is fine and puppies are thriving and gaining loads of weight.
But the digging and not wanting to be with them is abit worrying.

mike

Is she getting plenty of calcium? My bitch started digging like this when she developed eclampsia.

Mike my Tam wouldn't stay very long with her pups either basically from day one.  Tam also dug at my bathroom floor which is tiled and according to the vet she was just uncomfortable as she was producing a lot of milk.  I was worried too and had to take her down to be checked out for my own sanity (what was left of it) :)

Tam also used to dig under our garden shed after having the pups and according to my husbands agricultural notes about bitches and litters it is thought that she was looking for another hide away to move her pups. 

If she's still the same tomorrow take her to the vet and get her checked out.  They can do a simple blood test to check her calcium levels and if they are getting low, can give you a supplement for her to take.  My friends bitch had eclampsia, 8am she was fine just panting a bit, 9am she was fitting by 9.15 she was in a coma, eclampsia is dreadful, if you are worried get her checked asap!

Good luck

Hiya guys Mitzy is fine she seems to want to be with the puppies now strange.
She has not had any shivers or convulsions and the rate she is eating its amazing she is not the size of a bull lol.
Pups are doing great gaining loads of weight the heaviest being 2lb 13oz the amount of weight they gaining is unreal i didnt think they would put so much on in 10days

mike

Hi Mike,
Lou acted strange a week or so after whelping and this lasted just under a week. She wanted to hide in the cupboard under the stairs. I think she really needed a rest from the responsibility - it was her 1st litter. That or she was trying to find a hiding place for them. I was worried about eclampsia because she was acting so odd so I kept a close eye on her to make sure. Is it Mitzy's 1st litter. Was she a really active "outdoor pursuit's" dog because Lou was and I think she was very confused at what had happened and was a bit fed up not having her normal routine. She too would spend a while away from them (up to 3 hours) so I made sure the lamp whould go on whilst she was away (I never made her stay with them). I started weaning just after 2 1/2 weeks (a bit early I know) but this seemed to take the pressure off. We are now at 5 1/2 weeks and she goes in twice a day and seems alot happier. I know how you feel when your bitch acts funny - hang in there. Give her a big kiss.
Aimi.

Hi yeah mitzy loved going for long walks and running around like something possesed now she dont get that as i dont want to wear her out.
Yes this is her first litter, She is doing great at the moment she has been out and she ran straight back home and in with the pups she acted like she had been away from them for hours.
I been giving her whelpi and this also seemed to pick her up abit as she dont seem to like drinking water at the moment she is also eating like a horse lol

mike

I notice bitches go through a stage of desperately trying to dig and bury themselves when the pups are several days old, and I think it is because in the wild this corresponds with the time that the bitches would need to start leaving the nest to hunt for food (the nourishment from the placentas would have gone by then).  This instinct to dig a deep hole to hide the pups from predators while they are away seems to be an urge they can't control.  Last year little Jasmine tore up the corner of my lounge carpet, scratched into the floorboards behind the settee, and every time she went into the garden it was a race to get to her before she really got into her digging.  Even so, she still needed a good wash down about 10 times a day.  It is a real pain at night - at 2am in the pouring rain I was running round the garden with a torch calling her, and then had to carry a wet muddy bitch inside. 

Then, as abruptly as it starts, the urge seems to stop after a couple of days - often as the pups eyes open.  I do find it helps to put their usual dog bed with lots of bedding near the whelping box, as this gives the bitch something to dig into.

Would you like lots of screaming puppies walking all over you and weeing a pooing around you?  You might find that as its all new to her she is not keen on them, now she is used to them she is abit hapeir with them, just wait till they get teeth, she get away again!! ;)

Rox

Hi guys mitzy has not eaten or had anything to drink today i am taking her to the vets tomorrow as i just dont know what to do i have tried her on everything from tuna to chicken and she will not even touch that her temp is normal and she is still playful but its just the not eating and drinking thats worrying me she is still feeding the pups but i know she is going to become weak if she dont eat or drink anything.
I am sat here really worried and nearly in tears.
She got the all clear for eclampsia the other day off the vet just hoping its nothing serious with her.

mike

Hi Mike,
    I am sorry to hear that Mitzy's down and not eating and drinking. Maybe she is just a bit scared of the pup's and is protesting.. Noo went off her food but her temp went up so the vet gave a course of antibiotics and that seemed to do the trick. How are the puppies? Is Mitzy still trying to dig lot's? I am thinking of you and Mitzy and hope all go's well at the vets. Email me if you want a chat.
Take Care
Kelly

Hi mitzy has been to the vets and there is nothing wrong with her vet said the same as i friend told me she has baby blues abit like what woman get but she will come out of it.
She has eaten and had something to drink today she is still looking after her babies but once they are asleep she comes to me for some attention and a game of tug o war with her rope so i guess she is wanting alone time with me i dont mind as she my baby and i will do what makes her happy.

I am definatly not letting her have another litter i have asked the vet about how long to wait before spaying an she advice to give it a total of 12 weeks from when mitzy gave birth so come june mitzy will be getting spayed.

the puppies are thriving nearly 3lb in weight now and are tring to eat mitzys food.
So going to try them on whelpi and weetabix like a friend suggested as they seem keen to eat.

Mike