My bitch whelped two weeks ago.  There were 7 pups, all healthy and putting on weight fast, in fact some have more than tripled their birth weight.  The mother is eating well and maintaining her weight well, but she pants constantly when feeding the pups.  She is being barf fed and has had no supplements.  She was vet checked on day one post whelping and had a temperature and suspected retained placenta.  She had antibiotics and is now well.

Is the panting normal?  Should I start weaning?  Advice please.

Kate

hi kate a friend of mine has a litter of pups just coming up to 3weeks old and mum still pants when shes feeding her babies, if you are worried get her bloods checked for low calcium but its quite normal for them to do it, also if you feed mum in the pen with the pups and her food is well soaked when she has it pups will show interest in it by going and licking at the bowl my friends pups have been eating with mum for 2 days now ,only 1 pup out the 5 isnt that botherd just yet! x

Thanks White Lilly,

I spoke to the vet about calcium deficiency and she said that the panting would be constant (this was on day 1) so I have tried not to worry too much about that.  I just don't seem to be able to find any information in books or on the internet about this panting issue but you have put my mind to rest that this is not unusual.  I will try to feed Lola in her whelping box and see if the pups show an interest.

Many thanks again.

what food will pups be weaned on? puppy kibble? just thinking if you give this the pups in the pen with mum and she eats it with them will it give her the runs? if so this could upset pups though mums milk, or are you feeding the raw? if so start with mince beef a good grade but make sure its been frozen 1st then defrosted before pups have it ,but im sure u will know this :) make sure pups take only small peaces of mince you dont want them chokeing x

Again brilliant advice White Lilly!!  Had not thought of the kibble/barf issue and had bought kibble for the pups.  I know that barf is not the most popular feeding method and was intending to feed kibble to make life easier for their forever families.  Have now just returned from Tesco with steak mince and put it in the freezer!  I will defrost and break into paste/tiny pieces.  Thanks again.

good idea about putting on kibble it does help new owners ,i always give raw mince for 1 meal each day pups love it so does their mum ;0) and i tell new owners to get it in ready too (cant send them away with frozen mince when they may have traveled 4h to get their pup lol) just explain about it must be frozen 1st and well defosted and you shouldnt have any problems, once pups are eating well and mums out the way when your feeding pups then start to give them the soaked kibble, you will have left overs if your girl dont eat it tho lol and alot of mess to clean up or maybe by that time your girl might like a little bit to clean up for you ;) and in small amonts she might be ok? x

I Know i might be thick but could you tell me why the mince has to be frozen first with the mince beef? also can you feed them chicken mince or does it have to me beef? There is some good advice in this section, and im learning alot. So a big thank you!

Raw beef can carry a parasite called neospora, which is killed by freezing, making the mince safer to feed. Chicken mince is fine too.

Thank you for explaining that to me. All this information i get im keeping a note of.

I spoke to the vet about calcium deficiency and she said that the panting would be constant (this was on day 1) so I have tried not to worry too much about that. 

however, most bitches pant post delievery constantly (unless asleep) for about 7 days
stupid vet!

>stupid vet!

Totally agree.  What a complete bozo!