Willow's pups will be 5 weeks old this weekend - time is really flying by.  Although we are feeding the pups 4 times a day, willow still insists on popping into see them and giving them their "pudding".   She's been a great mother and I wouldn't want to stop her being with them but she's still so very thin.   Her milk production has reduced but what on earth can we do to help her put her weight back on.   We feed her when she's hungry and has been wormed at the weekend.     Am I concerned unecessarily?

sarah

I think what i would do is if your concerned give her plenty that youll know shell eat chicken,pork etc full of fat and shell eat them.Never had any pups so cat answer any futher than that :-)

Hi it is normal for the bitch to lose the weight very quickly, keep feeding her with hi fat things but be carefull she doesnt get the runs, i stick to the same food but more of it, having pups takes it out of them.

It will take a while. :) I find with mine that it will be 5 months from the birh before she is back in normal conditon.

I would not add extra fatty things to her diet as she can get digestive problems.

I assume that she is on puppy food?  If not put her on that until she is back in good condition.  I would also feed her four times a day like the pups.

On the other hand waht is her toileting like?  If she has the runs then perhaps the food is too rich for her now,a nd she is actualy not absorbing it.  In this case I would mix the puppy food with her usual maintenance ration until her poos are firm.

We're feeding on AG prestige and approx 3 times her normal daily ration although she is pooing a lot more so wonder how much she is actually absorbing.   We have tried her on the AG puppy food for a short while but this seemed to make her rather loose so took her off it.   As I have said, the pups are eating well but do try and top up from the mother when they get the chance - it's hard trying to keep willow away from them.   We've started taking her for walks again this week and have also thought about taking her swimming in the new year to build her muscles back up. 

I always feed my girls on pro plan puppy mixed in with some prize choice tripe mince freeflow. and they also get cheese and scrambled egg and the occational farlys rusk and also welpi to drink. it doesn't take them long to get back to normal on that diet.
zoe
pommania

I would expect her to poo more if she is eating well, as long as it isn't loose then I am sure she is absorbing it.  I have found nothing beer than the prestige, and would advise you stick with it.

My Jozi was showable 3 1/2 months after her first litter on the Prestige.  This time I had her on a different food (had won one of the stakes classes so had a voucher) and she was barely showable by end of November 4 1/2 months after her second litter.

Certainly if you wnat your girl back in godo coat and muscle tone I would stay with the prestige.

You might try giving her a bit more as a fourth meal, but otherwise keep ehr on what she is getting, and once pups leave she will put weight on gradually. I would not try to keep her away from the pups if she wants to be with them, just make sure they ahve been fed by you first, so they are to full to take more than a slurp.

that's reassuring, Brainless - thanks.

sarah