Hello,

I have been up alll night giving birth (well not me personally) and wonder if someone is about to give some advice please. I can't find my book of the bitch anywhere and am truely lost without it !!
The first puppy was born at 7.26pm yesterday and the last at 12.36 but, She still seems to be having mild contractions passing just black watery liquid.

Do I panic or not?? She seems absolutely fine in every other way.

Help
Debbie

Contact your vet NOW!

I would contact your vet immediately, there could we a dead pup stuck or it could just be the normal after delivery, but I wouldn't take any chances!

Is she settled with her pups, or does she seem anxious?

Good luck, let us know how you get on!

Hi Debbie

Bitches continue to contract for a day or two after giving birth and pass various coloured liquids (red, black, brown, green) but if it is prolific then there may be an afterbirth or something retained.  Ask your vet to come out and do a post whelping check sooner rather than later (or, being Sunday you may have to go there which is often a good idea if he needs any of the equipment at the surgery)

Hi All,

Thank-you for your replies.
I have just got back from my vets. She had an x-ray when she arrived there to see what was going on only to find that there were 3 more puppies. The vet did give her 2 doses of Oxytocin but unfortunately she just couldn't seem to move the pups and ended up having to have a C-section !! Just to make matters worse there was a huge tear in her uterus and they very nearly lost her on the operating table due to loss of blood etc.  Luckily she is a very strong,fit girl and is holding her own at the moment but she wil have to stay on a drip for a few days and antibiotics of course!!
Looks like I am hand rearing for now, 10 naughty babies.
Any advice from people who have hand reared a litter recently would be greatly appreciated. I am using Whelpi and baby bottles as they didn't seem to appreciate the tiny puppy teats.

Wish me luck

Debbie

Wishing all the very best. Does your vet know of a bitch having a phantom who might be able to help out, because those pups are going to need colostrum.

Hi Debbie

Very good luck and sorry to hear about your bitches problem.

I used a mix of Liquid Life Aid (available though vet) Condenced milk and something else but it is not a lot of help as I cannot remember the quantities.  I would get your vet to order you some Lifeaid and if someone on here has the contact number for Betty ??? who rears neo-nate pups she will give you the quantities and helpful information.  I also ended up using baby bottles when I hand reared.

Whelpi can cause problems as the powder separates from the liquid and blocks the pup up - this is why I am recommending the above but not being helpful about it.

Top and tailing is VERY important.  Slightly damp (or greasy) cotton wool wiped around their nether regions (both) to stimulate elimination is very necessary and dry the pups after as they can get sore when damp.  Thick towel work as an apron is very useful.

Sorry can't be more help

Betty Bloomfield is the name of the hand-rearing expert, but I don't have a contact number I'm afraid.

Edit: I've just done a search on here - try 01462 733030

Well done for taking her to the vet, did the last 3 pups survive their traumatic birth?

Good luck with the hand rearing and good luck to mum too!

Hi,

I have managed to feed all but one without too much trouble. The damp cotton wool has worked a treat and they have just settled down for a nap. Trouble is one of my books says to feed every 2 hours and the other says every 4 hours so I'll just have to make it all up as I go. I am hoping that my girl can come home in the morning, although she has had such a terrible time I'm pretty sure she will accept her puppies back.
One puppy unfortunately had died but the other 2 that were stuck behind him made it.

Debbie

Hi Debbie

Try and do 2 hourly for as long as you can but a break of four hours so you can have a slightly longer nap should not harm them. If you have them beside you they will start to squeak when they get really hungry and wake you up.  Puppies must to be warm to eat and digest - if they are all in a heap you can risk increasing their heat - if they are spread out you can reduce it a bit.  You have probably read this anyway. 

Hi All,

Well I'm very pleased to report that we all made it through the night, although I look like death !!! I fed every 2 hours but unfortunately as there are 10 puppies it takes an hour and 15 minutes for each feed.  I haven't got any news on my girl yet either. They are running bloodtests on her this morning so I will have to check back a bit later.
I have fingers and toes crossed. Luckily 8 of the pups had spent several hours with their mum before she was taken away and they all suckled very well, so at least they got that important colostrum.

Bye for now

Debbie

So sorry to hear about your whelping problems.

If I have to handrear puppies, I give a feed comprising 4 parts canned evaporated milk to one part of boiled water which equates to a feed very close to your bitch's milk.  If you give this you only need to feed every 4 hours because it is such a rich mixture.  Hope your bitch is OK to feed them in the morning because it is really important that they take some of her milk as soon as possible.

Good luck!

Hi, I have just finished hand rearing puppies, only 3 thankfully. I used Lactol and a 9ounce baby bottle, 3 and a half measures to the full bottle. It mixes very easily. I tipped powder into bottle, half filled bottle with boiled cooled water and shook vigourously and topped bottle up. I fed 2hourly for 1st 24 hours and then 3 hourly. I dont know if they got any colostrum from mum as her milk never came and she went into a calcium defficiency shock. They are now a very healthy 9 weeks. A heating pad under their bedding may help as they will migrate to the heat. I wish you the very best and hope that mum will be able to feed them when she comes home.Sorry I didnt notice what breed, but mine are labs and they took on average 3ounces per feed for 1st few days and gradually increased. I topped and tailed before feeding and this made them more comfortable for feeding, as well as after.
All the best,
Kay