Hi, I wondered if anyone could help? I have just had my first litter of puppies, and the bitch was excellent with them up until they were five days old, but now does not like to go in the whelping box with them, we have to make her go in and then she cleans them up etc... lets them feed, but is very sad and when the pups come anywhere near her head she growls at them! She is very sore where the pups have fed and I have got some human "Nipple cream" as recommended by the Vet, but she is still reluctant to go in a feed on her own initiative. Has anyone come across this before? Also, I have heard a few horror stories about Panacur and people losing their puppies with it - I gave it to my bitch from day 40 as recommended up until 2 days post whelp, and will be due to worm the pups in a couple of weeks (they are currently 10 days old).
Any advice and info would be greatly received. Many thanks.

Have you cut the puppies nails? They need trimming every week to avoid the bitch getting sore. I use Drontal puppy wormer.

Make sure none of her nipples are hard or swollen.
Try expressing milk from them. If she is sore this may be your problem
Also check her discharge colour to make sure she has no infection.
One more thing Don"t take this the wrong way, are you allowing her to be left alone with her babies.as some bitches will leave there litter if there is to much interference

theres no possibilty of an infection is there, she didnt have a ceasar or a lot of hands on-[IN], my first litter the bitch started to do the same and she had an infection from a ceasar, once the antibiotics kicked in she loved them again, but like yours she was growling at them , this stopped as soon as she was sorted, i was that worried about her behaviour i wouldnt leave her with them and supervised feed times, however her expression and attitiude altered as soon as we sussed what was wrong--i think you start worming the pups at 14days, im using panicur paste, they had there first dollop of it today, and the dam had 2 drontal plus tablets.the pups are wormed for another 2 days,then again at 5 weeks for another 3 days

I have known of problems with puppies that have been wormed with panacur 10%{ but could be coincidence} so I avoid it until they are 6 weeks and use a more gentle wormer until they are a little older.
As for the bitch is she ok in herself , regarding the discharge if any I only ask this as one of bitches went off her puppies and she had pyometra {dont mean to scare you sorry} keep an eye on the discharge and thats she dosnt drink excessive amounts of water

I had terrible problems when used Panacur 10% as directed at 2 1/2, 5, and 7-8 weeks. I had previously done them on vets instruction at 3 1/2, and 7 weeks. On the next litters I went back to my previous protocol 3 1/2 and 7 weeks and have had no problems with last 3 litters! I have always wormed the Dams during and for two days after pregnancy. My view is that I want the pups well onto solids before worming, and have always wormed them on a full stomach!

I use Panacur on both my bitches and the puppies, using the 10% on the bitch but the puppy paste on the puppies and have had no problems at all with it.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

I too used the lower strength Panacur with all my pups and had no problems. I don't use 10% until they are 6 wks old as the 2% or 5% (sorry can't remember which it is now lol) is plenty strong enough for them prior to 6 wks.

Sounds very much like mastitis to me .has your vet been to see her. cant think of any other reason why she should growl at them unless its the nails as val said.have you checked the nipples to see if they are swollen hot and dark red or purplish. mastitis is an infection of the glands, and is caused by incomplete emptying of the glands. not letting the babies feed is one of the symptoms,however you really must get to the bottom of this before it effects the babies further. please let us know how you get on mari

I have had problems with Panacur too, one very poorly puppy who luckily got better very quickly after a trip to the vet. I am in a quandry as to what to worm my present litter with when the time comes, but after talking to the stud dog owner about worming, he suggsted Strongid paste, he says he has used it for some time on 2 week puppies (only one dose needed per worming) and has never had a problem. I used to use Shirleys worming syrup (not very hi-tec I know) at 3 weeks and then the Panacur granules at 6 weeks and onwards, and did this for years without any problem before the Pancur liquid was launched. I used the panacur liquid for about 4 years ( about 8 litters) without any problem at all. What I like (!) about the worming syrup is that the worms come out whole and do not disintegrate in the pups gut, which I think may be the problem with the Panacur 10%. The vet said that it was the toxicity of the dissolving worms in the gut that cause the problem in some puppies. It also has the added advantage { :-) } of being able to see how many worms the pup did have - maybe useful if you dose with panacur during pregnancy, to see it it really does work! AND the pupies like it, I feel very sorry for 3 week pups to have their mouths hauled open 3 days running and then depositing foul tasting stuff in their little mouths. aaaahhh! and then we expect our dogs to "show their mouths" to judges without complaint, when just about the first thing we "do" to them is something nasty like that. Call me an ol' softy but....

Hi WL, Long time no speak to, hope you are well. I do the same as you. Shirleys chocolate flavour worming syrup at two weeks, and the stronger stuff comes later. Im also like you in the fact that I like (!) to see the worms come out, not break up inside such young babies.