Tears fall as I write, what should have been the happiest time has turned into a nightmare. Everything prepared new whelping bed, kit and all aspects covered, my girl went into labour on day 59 panting and nesting, this went on for a good 18 hours, I was constantly watching her and waiting for contractions to start. She then had a green discharge, alarm bells rang and I took her straight to overnight emergency vets. They did emergency c section and after a long wait in the waiting room I was told all the pups had become distressed, all 7 of them, 5 were dead and 2 had very faint heart beats but as much as they were worked on they didn't make it either. I inspected them all 6 girls and 1 boy, they were all perfectly formed and there was no blockages, they were all lined up nicely waiting to arrive, but she just didn't receive the message to push.  My girl survived it but is in a bit of a state herself now. She's home and on lots of medication and receiving all the tlc she could possibly have.  Another vets appointment later today with her. We were so looking forward to having the pups and they had all got forever homes to go to, I was keeping one too. Sorry for the essay but if my story helps anyone it's not been in vain.

I am so sorry to hear this. It's a horrible awful situation and I hope both you and your girl pull through this. Will the vets do any post mortem tests?

I am so sorry, losing any pup is hard but I can't imagine losing the whole litter.  Focus on your special girl now, run free little ones. xxx

No post mortem as it was down to the pups being in distress for a while. I knew they were alive as I could feel them moving prior to the green discharge. Nature deals some hard blows at times. I handled and kissed them all goodbye before I left, one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do

Sending you lots of love and condolences for your loss

So so sorry to her i hope your girl will be ok
breedin can be joy but heartbreaking at times

Thank you for your kind messages. Rest assured my girl will get all the loving caring attention she needs. I also have a neutered male and he is being so loving to her, even giving up his bed for her when she wants it.

So sad for all concerned.

So very sorry to hear of your loss , I lost one of a litter of three recently so can identify with how you are feeling , so glad your bitch is ok , and I hope you both recover over the next days and weeks.

How tragic and I can't imagine how you, and your poor bitch must be feeling - but thinking laterally, I wonder whether the breeder looking for a foster mum might hook up with you?

Awful news. The recent litter have a surrogate mother but there maybe others out there.

How utterly heartbreaking.

Thank u for your kind comments. Although surrogacy seems a good idea, my bitch is just too ill and she is on lots of medication including hormone to help stop the milk flow. After lots more vet visits I am having to keep constant watch for eclampsia too. Hand feeding and giving her lots of TLC.

> including hormone to help stop the milk flow

Walking and exercise will naturally get rid of the milk.  Not having pups to suckle means milk is not being stimulated.  I prefer this to giving hormones.

Thank u and yes she's been on short walks but she's engorged at the mo and teats and boobies very hot and red and obv very tender. Shes having cold compresses too which I think seems to sooth them.

Have you tried feeding epson salts to stop milk i was told by vet to fed that to one of my mares to stop her milk she rejected her foal and had sort of nervers breakdown she would not even let us milk her

this may be long shot is their milk bank for dogs that you could milk the bitch and give to bank for hand rearing pups

> this may be long shot is their milk bank for dogs that you could milk the bitch and give to bank for hand rearing pups

This poor bitch has been through enough and the OP has already said she's to ill and has been give meds to stop the milk flow. Besides that, as the reason for still birth is unknown, im not sure surrogacy would be wise.

Thanks for your comments. I'm just going on the vets advice at the mo. I don't want to express her milk as this would encourage more supply. I'm trying the gradual exercise route also as this will help her body to realise there's no babies. Her calcium levels are ok at the moment but keeping a very watchful eye.

Bless her, I hope she feels better soon.

Thank you. My neutered male is showing her lots of attention too, she's got lots of love going her way. Had a little moment myself earlier when my phone calendar pinged to remind me that today was her due day. Feels like I've lost one of my own babies tbh.

> Feels like I've lost one of my own babies tbh.

I have total empathy.  Some years ago one of my girls went into labour 10 days early.  She had far too many whelps for the breed.  So I delivered one puppy after another, 6 in all and each weighed exactly the same, one and three quarter ounces.  Now, with such a tiny breed I would tell anyone not to even try saving the pups as the lungs would not be fully developed.

Easy to give advice isn't it?  I gave those little mites mouth to mouth and worked on swinging excess fluid out to clear the lungs.  I tried for nearly an hour before I buried them all together, breaking my heart over such a loss for my bitch.  And I had to do the "jolly hockey sticks" approach so that my grieving bitch would get over the loss more quickly.

Believe me, I know how you feel at the moment.  Sending positive vibes for your girl.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your little ones too it's so heartbreaking. My girl seems perkier this morning but now not eating much, she is giving in a bit when I present her with her favourite though. Her milk seems to be subsiding but still dripping a bit but not as bad as she was. Few short walks today and possible car ride to take her mind off things. Will get her there.
Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and good luck in your dog breeding futures xx

Such a sad time for you and your bitch, I hope your girl recovers quickly and fully and you too, I had a tragic experience a few years ago so I do feel for you, time is a great healer

What an awful time for you and your bitch.  I didn't comment at first as this brought back some awful memories for me too, we lost almost an entire litter last year.  We had a number of pups stillborn, and a number died over the following two days.  We did have our little miracle baby who is now 6 months, rarely does a day pass when I don't think of those pups and feel so thankfully for our much loved girl.

Thank you and sorry for your losses too. My girl is currently very depressed and quiet, off her food and very clingy, bless her. I'm more or less hand feeding her and she has no interest in her normal food. I'm building up her walks each day to try take her mind off it. Lots of TLC. Hoping recovery doesn't take too long. It was my first litter too but thankful I got to hold them all and give em all kisses to send them on their way. RIP to my 7 little angels, will never be forgotten

I have been where you are now twice and yes it is very distressing for the bitch and of course ourselves.  Keeping the girls busy was the most important part of their recovery. My first bitch went onto have another litter perfectly normally afterwards and the 2nd bitch I chose not to have another litter from.  Its heartbreaking but if there was a positive side, I felt that at least I still had my girl, losing the puppies was so upsetting but not sure I could have coped with losing her.  All experiences both good and bad teach us so much and tot up more experience to help in future so try to look on the positive side, though I know that will be so hard to do at present.

Thanks for your kind words.  At the moment don't feel that I could put my girl through all this another time. I agree and am so thankful that my girl has survived and pulled through it. She is just so special to us and one of our family. I can only look to learn from the experience and not allow it all to be in vain. It may however be a while before I make any decisions as to whether I will try again. Just need for us all to get back to normality again at the moment.

Hoping that your girl is feeling more positive soon, and you too.

That was exactly how I felt at the time.

So sorry Suebc what a horrendous experience, I went through similar last year when my dog went full term then had one stillborn with its stomach open and a very unformed  foetus. But a year on and following lots of advice she has been mated again, she should be about three weeks now and to say I am on tenterhooks is an understatement. We hear sad and happy tales on here - what is the % of successful births - my niece a vet says it's over 98% and we were just unlucky last time. Any experts on here who know the figures?

Thank you, my girl is improving daily although she's still needing encouragement to eat. She is enjoying her walks and has began to play again a few times. Her milk has now dried up and her body is starting to shrink back into shape. Still not sure whether I could go through it all again or put her through it again. She is a wonderful example of the breed with all health tests done, her colouring, shape size and temperament. She would make an excellent mother. However, maybe the heartache weve suffered makes it all still too raw for us at the moment to make any decisions.
Thank you for all the kind comments.
Good luck with your girl Thornton, fingers and toes crossed for you, and sorry to hear of your previous experience.