My pups were born on tues and other than 3 being still born and a long first stage of labour everything isnt too bad. Both small birth weights D13oz B1lb, not gained weight yet, but i didnt weigh them until yesterday morning and the scales are not digital so not the most accurate. With the worry i was quite ill so just did the necessary tasks. B is feeding well, though is strong minded already and wont have me help her latch, insists on finding her own teat, she has had her first poo the dark stuff and pretty much since then its been quite runny and bubbly like yellow foam. D was normal and hes more biddable to me helping him find a nipple, but he has also started with the foamy poos today. Passing plenty urine also. They feed for very short periods sleep and feed again. Are they just dehydrated because of the poos? Pups are not floppy either and pretty mobile. D seems to be the weaker pup and doesnt feed for as long as B especially not from the bottle.

Did the pinch test and both are dehydrated so i have topped up with lactol, fed for a while toileted them and they have gone off to sleep. Mum seems ok, very good at her job (better than her own mother) wont leave the box without a lot of persuasion so is being fed and watered in there. She has plenty milk, slightly concerned only 2 puppies she could get too full but ive been alternating when i can.She will take fluids (goats milk and water) but its hard to get her to eat anything, had some smoked mackerel earlier and its a case of forcing it down her neck. Loss is dark but not green nor excessive shes keeping herself pretty clean normal wees and poos from her. We have the heating on to keep it mosty toasty for the pups, her temp is 38.1 is this to be concerned about? She isnt lethargic but will sleep most of the time in the box with her babies, no shaking and panting a little because its hot. All sacs were accounted for and placentas eaten.

Any reassurance for my worries?

Louise

Hi Louise,

Why are you having to supplement? Does the bitch not have much milk? Sorry to sound dumb LOL, but l would have thought that Mums milk was best. If they are dehydrated, maybe a glucose solution or a Rehydration Fluid may be better.

Supplementing because they are dehydrated mum has plenty milk but as they are tiny i thought id give them some help, still taking from mother im just giving extra fluids.

If they are dehydrated they will need the vets who will do saline injections under the scruff of the neck,some vets will show you how to do it
and supply you with the stuff to do it.

Hi again Louise,

It may be worth while to give your Vet a ring to see if they have any Lectade in stock - l couldn't think what the name of it was in my last post LOL - and give that, instead of a milk supplement. It is specially for dehydration.

is the room too warm?

agree with other posters re lectade and vet visit..but I would also give some nutridrops to give them some energy to suck..if they are dehydrated they will be lethargic and need a boost.

We went to vets last night both mum and pups synulox and lectade ever half hour for puppies. Mum still reluctant to eat, but managed 2 small meals today. Not sure if rooms too hot, I'm frightened of pups catching a chill so I liketo keep it warm.

Hi Louise,

You may be right - they could be too hot. I used to find that l made the same mistake myself when l first started to breed. Are they cuddled up with Mum, or are they spread out a bit? I always found this to be a very good indication of how warm they were. If mine were spread out, they were usually too hot, and if they felt a bit on the coolish side, they would be cuddled up with Mum and their siblings.

The mother doesn't always have an appetite for the first day or so and so Chicken Broth and Lactol will be lapped up with enthusiasm as they are liquid. Also th water he's got her appetite back and then a good quality puppy food. I agree that supplementing the mothers milk is the very last rsort as they need the proper stuff, especially at such a young age.should have Glucose in it. Scrambled eggs are good once sg

Hi Louise, my bitch had pups 9weeks ago, her first and only litter, she was quite a fussy eater but after having pups also not wanting to eat, i found that scrambled egg, cottage cheese, diced cooked chicken from iceland, (all rich in protein) would tempt her to eat especially if i used a blender and added some supplement pup milk to make it into a runny paste. She also had pup R C  pup food blended as well with either warm water added or the pup milk. After about a week she gradually went back to her normal eating, i think she just felt uncomfortable after the birth, also quite swollen with her own milk but once she started feeding pups she would eat. She also would love pasta and tuna, sometimes having 5 or 6 small feeds a day. She recently saw the vet for yearly jab and he said what good condition she was in. I hope this helps.

We've found that she will only eat blended chicken and milk whether lactol or goats milk. We had roast chicken last night and she happily ate scraps and the babies pasta n sauce. Just time she needs I think but because of the metritis I'm Extra concerned. Pups are putting on weight and seem really happy. Nice a lazy basking in the sun through the window when it shines into the box. Mum still has the mucky discharge but her temp is down, we will got back to the vets for a check up when abs are done. Had to get a second opinion as my vet said there was nothing to worry about and the skin on the neck wouldn't go down because they are a wrinkly breed!!! All he could offer me was whelpi so I said thanks and rang around for another vet. It was 7pm by this time and I was frantic xxx

My pups will be 2 weeks on tuesday and are gaining weight. B is a big girl she is now over a kilo and putting on over 100g most days. D is smaller and seems to be slower to gain weight sometimes as little as 40grams in 24 hours. Hes showing all the signs of being a healthy pup and mum cares for him well, he was the smallest out of all pups born and the smaller of the 2 that survived. As there are only 2 there isnt much competition for milk, checked palates and he is sucking well, she is now fully in charge of toileting but his P+W are fine. His eyes are opening and hes more on his feet than B but ive put this down to her being heavier. He has doubled his weight but only just.

Louise