Hi all i need your help just wondered if anyone has experianced the following..
one of our  bitches Lilly had 3 puppies yesterday by caesarian
her first due date was Sun(13th then upto her last mating Thurs 18th)
so i wouldnt say that she had them early more like in the middle.
when i went too pick them up the vet warned me of bruising too there faces and they had no hair on there face or legs(just the foot part of the legs)
They arent particularly small quite a good size really but the lack of hair  does indicate that they were early.
mum wont have anything too do with them (not like her last litter where she loved them too bits) i couldnt get them too suckle from a bottle but i had a bitch that had whelped only 1 puppy 2 weeks ago so we introduced them last night and BINGO she has taken too them cleans and feeds them...
what i am wanting too know is does anyone know if the hair will grow and what is the chance of me keeping these puppies alive.
i have them in a whelping box with a heat lamp they are lovely and warm, no crying they are peeing and pooing... never had this before in all the years of breeding....
HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mod: Breed removed

vicki

Hi activior,

My bitch had her pups on Sunday and she wasnt due until Wednesday/Thursday this week. The coats were a little thinner on one or two of them, my breed is a heavy coated one, but it has come along nicely now. I would imagine that your babies' hair will grow over the next few days so try not to worry.

I know it isn't easy.

I wouldn't panic at this stage, just ensure that they keep feeding and are looked after.  One litter I had, all the pups were small and I had one that was only 5 oz (Golden Retrievers).  She was like a little mouse, had no fur on her legs or on her head, you could actually see all the veins etc.  She loved her food and would not be knocked off a teat even under pressure from the bigger ones.  Then she would burrow down to keep nice and warm.  She is now the biggest bitch of all the bitches in that litter. Beautiful bone and very strong with no problems and no weaknesses.  She is 5 years old this month!

thanks guys
sorry Mod that i put the breed
just a worrying time ... i have everything crossed that the little tykes will be ok ...
and i will give them all the help they need... we wont give up without a fight

thanks once again
vicki

Good luck activior all you can do is your very best for your little ones.has long has they are feeding well pee & pooing look pink are warm hopefully they should make it.Hope and pray they do.

Very sad that the mum will not take to them, will you keep trying her with them? If the section was only yesterday it is a shame to give up so quickly, some bitches take a long time to come around and it can take 2 days for her to start having anything for the pups in her teats. I would keep putting the pups to her to suckle, (and then put them to feed on the other mum) as this will release hormones into her brain and make her a good mum.

So pleased you have another bitch to clean and feed them, but don't give up on your other bitch, I would keep trying the pups with her.

As already advised the hair should grow and the pups will be fine under a heat lamp, I'm really hoping that in another day their mum will take to them.

Is she ok by the way, eating and drinking a little?

oh yes i have kept trying mum(who is doing great eating little and often and back too her normal self)
she wont have anything too do with them and struggles too get out of the box, her 1/2 sister Cherry has taken too them so well...
one of the puppies became very very lethargic last night and wouldnt suckle at all, but i syringe fed her throughout the night and she is back on cherry again this morning going hell for leather at the teats.
anyway thanks again, i seem abit more hopeful today
and there is hair growing lovely on the face and feet... bruising has all gone
vicki

One of my girls had a c-section, on my reckoning a couple of days early, once her 'proper date' arrived she took to them like a duck to water, so don't give up just yet.  On the date I thought she was due, her milk came in and she took over the feeding and cleaning of her babies.

Good luck, don't give up just yet!