By Zoo Keeper
Date 04.12.03 14:16 UTC
Well it looks like we're bringing up the GSD today to help out with feeding. Last night when we weighed in, half the pups were still not gaining (3 days now), and the other half had lost 1-2 oz. Seems Daisy can indeed make enough milk, but 7 out of her 11 nipples can't express enough milk. They don't have the normal openings. So today her bags are full again, and becoming hard again like last week because the milk is backing up in her glands since it can't be expressed properly.
My question is this-
We were thinking of dividing the litter in half... so Anje (gsd) can nurse half, and Daisy can nurse the others. We're going to put Anje in a seperate room in the house, because I am sure Daisy will not take kindly to another dog around her pups. Should we rotate the pups to Anje who has mega milk flow, or just keep the litter split until weaning? My husband wants to only bring the pups to Anje for feeding time, and then return them to Daisy, but I worry about how she will react to taking back pups with another dogs smell on them.
By dianna
Date 04.12.03 15:17 UTC
splitting the litter is a good idea and something that we have to do often... when we split the litter we keep the mums seperate and leave them with the pups as if they were their own.. you shouldn't shift them backwards and forwards as it can all become distressing and confusing for both mothers and pups. If your surrogate mum has taken to the pups ok then leave them with her until the weaning stage...it has never failed with us!!
By Zoo Keeper
Date 04.12.03 15:42 UTC
Ok, that's what I was figuring...but I worry Daisy will miss the other pups!
A reproductive specialist has told us to smear both dogs bellies with Vanilla Extract. He says it will cover all other smells and should keep everyone from getting miffed....