Looking for a bit of info, My bitch had pups last week and a week before she had them she was sputing milk all over the place (Urgh)  now it looks like she s drying up.  She has 3 small pups and they have all doubled in size for a week but must admit over the last couple of days they are putting less and less on in weight, they all look healthy and don't cry much (one is always crying even when feeding).  I lost 1 pup at a day old and don't know if I should substitute with extra bottles, my bitch doesn't look hangy underneath only 2 teats at the back but less than size of plums.

I am waiting fro vet to call (they must be sick of me by now)

Linda

is your bitch getting enough to drink? as if she doesnt get fluids then she cant produce any

She is eating weetabix and whelpi twice daily and water whenever she needs it.

Linda

i would try and get her to drink more water rather than just when she needs it

i fed my bitch 5 or 6 times a day when she first had her pups she was on RC starter so i put lots and lots of water in it i gave her as much as she would eat and her bowl of water aswell

How about some glucose in the water or something to tempt her to drink more? If the puppies aren't crying they are probably getting enough, though the one that is always crying would be worrying me. Are they gaining weight steadily? I weighed mine every day so I knew they were gaining each day.

they have doubled the size in a week putting on between 30-50g every other day.  the litter ireared back in feb were twice the size of this one, i could just be worrying but have booked my bitch in at vets tomorrow to have her checked.

Linda

Why weetabix? She should be on good quality protein - weetabix will just make her feel full without giving her any nutrients.

ive also found that weetabix gives my dogs a tummy upset, not sure about other peoples dogs though?

Linda,
If you feed the pups they will suck less and she will not make enough milk. I feed my bitch 5 times a day when feeding pups. Milk with glucose, mine love cornflakes for breakfast so all of them have those. then tuna with complete, then meat and complete, scrambled egg. that is one days menu! I do vary it. lots of protien, lots to drink, tined rice pudding.pilchards, sardines.
The more you look after the bitch the more she can look after her pups. I even hold mines meals  so she doesn't have to get out of the welphing box if she doesn't want to.As long as she eats and drinks plenty. could not do with her! loosing her milk.

Denese

she needs 5/6 meals a day of high protein foods, mine had cooked beef and pork mince with some high quality dry food (puppy food) weetabix isnt enough!

my bitch has weetabix twice a day with the whelpi milk, chicken, beef, pork , ham or fish with her puppy complete 3 times daily and that is hard work.  the pups have cried all night, they aren't cold as they are on a heat mat, mum wants to play all night, puppies definately not feeding in the night, i am sleeping downstairs, took her to vets this morning and we have to go back this evening at 7.20 when it isn't as busy for a full check up on pups and mum.  Thanks for the advice

I would drop the weetbix and feed 5 complete meals a day.

vet thinks she is doing ok for a first time mum but suggested we feed her anything that he will eat.  i have been grinding down her complete and adding in meats etc, but vet said keep up with the weetabix and milk for time being.

linda

I soaked the puppy complete I was feeding my bitch with Lactol made up to bitch strength, also gave raw tripe, beef, cooked fish/eggs, and grated cheese - not all at the same time ;)   4 or 5 smaller meals a day.  She also had Lactol to drink as well as water being available at all times - she rarely touched the water, but would drink the milk no problem.

Always took the meals to the bitch in her den as she wouldn't leave the pups ;)

If the bitch really isn't producing enough milk and the pups aren't gaining over a few days, fennel seed tea may help to increase milk production, it helped with a bitch of mine and I've used it myself too ;)

Why would the vet think she needs weetabix? she needs more calories and protein in a smaller package so that she can make milk, weetabix is the opposite - few calories but bulky

Vets do have some odd ideas.

I have found that tinned sardines in tomato sauce will tempt even my fussiest of eaters. I would just soak her puppy complete in plenty of water and mix in a little bit of the sardines mashed up. A little goes a long way as it is quite smelly. Tinned tuna is good too, although be careful not to give her much if it is in brine although a little brinem ay have the effect of making her thristier, which wouldn't hurt.

I agree with feeding her in the whelping box too. And just give her as many small meals as she'll eat. I fed my bitch round the clock in the early weeks.

I do agree vets do have funny ideas and some unless they breed thereselves have very limited knowledge.
Just like a doctor and a gynaecologist.

Denese

It sounds like the bitch isn't staying with her pups enough and needs encouragement to feed them more often.

I would stay with hr and encourage her to feed the pups at least every two hours, or plug them on every time I went past the box.  Sit with her and stroke her and tell her how clever she is when with the pups.  Her main focus should be them not playing or being with you.  she may be confused, stressed or too attached to you and her usual routine to mother well, so needs encouraging to do the right thing..

Just to let you all know all is well at the moment, instead of the weetabix this morning i ground her complete bisc and put them in milk.,  she has has chicken and ground bisc at 11.30 so up to now she is doing ok, pups were better last night.  I have usually fed her in the whelping box but once a day she likes to eat with the others.  Her whelping box is at the side of my chair so i'm always there.

Linda

That's good news. I remember with Ellie I spent most of the first few weeks sitting by the whelping box reading because she always likes to lie next to me, and if I was on the sofa she would be running between me and the puppies all the time.