My bitch has a week old litter of 4 pups, it is her first litter she is a good mum amd cleaning them and going to them if they cry but, the problem i have is that she wont let them suckle for long a couple of minutes then she gets out of the bed and leaves them still hungry, im having to sit in with her to make sure she stays to give them a suffucient feed, has anyone experienced this and what can i do

Have you made sure their nails are well-trimmed? They can become long very quickly, and are very sharp, causing pain which will make her reluctant to feed them. Also their teeth will be starting to come through, but there's nothing you can do about that!

ok thanks will cut their nails today

Have you started weaning them yet? You should have them eating other foods by now so that they are not as reliant on the bitch.
Archer

They are only a week old, Archer, that is too early for solid foods.

Ah...thought I read they were 4 weeks...but its 4 pups!! DUH
Archer

Agree with Jeangeanie, keep the nails nice and short, I trim my pups every couple days. I also ensure her undercarriage is nice and clean giving her lots of cool washes to ease comfort, when I got up today Ruby, my bitch, had a 'lovebite' on her nipple from all the harsh sucking the pups have done. At two weeks their getting quite forceful but am going to start them on solids later this week which will ease the load on Ruby. Also try and ensure your dog isnt disturbed during these times, if Ruby could hear a car pull up outside or someone at the door she would jump up to have a nosey disturbing the pups feeding. She hates missing anything. Are you keeping a record of the pups weights?

Paula :)

Hi, I am guessing from your name that the litter are pugs?  If so this is not  too out of the way for pug mums.  they are not all naturally maternal, and often object to feeding.  With my last litter, now 7 weeks, I have to supervise EVERY feed, until 4 weeks and I started weaning.  AS soon as I took my hand away, Alison  jumped up., adn this has happened to me several times in the past.  HAving a pug mum who willingly cleans the litter is a bonus!

bye
Gwen

Thanks Gwen, Maggie loves her babies but prefers to admire from afar ha ha, i do have another bitch pug Matilda, who had a litter last year and she was an excellent mother but hey as you said at least Maggie cleans them a bonus

Sounds all too familiar!  Alisons favourite maternal activity wass to sit at the furthest corner of the whelping box from the pups and gaze lovinglys at them, as sooon as a pup approached she hopped out!  However, I have had others much worse, one who would only allow me to put pups on to feed when she was lying on the sofa, simply would not go inot the box.  Happily we have others who are test book adoring mums too!  Good  luck with the litter.

bye
Gwen

Hi Gwen just to let you know Maggie was much better in the night and this morning and actually has been going in her whelping box and feeding the pups without me encouraging her. Looking forward to the night i can sleep in my bed again, getting used to napping on the sofa, oh for my nice cosy bed !!

Welln  done MAggie :)
bye
Gwen