Whelped Bitch

[moggs 18]

Looking for some help guys. My lurcher just whelped 8 pups all healthy and with no problems. Thing is she hasnt eaten but has drank. And she's constrantly trying shit. She isnt blocked up ad she is passing both water and solids. Any ideas

[Wxm 1,638]

could she be retaining a pup?? if so get her to the vets :yes:

[skycat 6,174]

Are you sure she isn't still having contractions? That's what they look like when they're standing up: raised tail as though they're trying to shit. Get a vet to have a look at her in case there is a puppy stuck inside: not worth risking her life for the sake of a trip to the vet, even at the weekend. You'd never forgive yourself if she died.

[Wxm 1,638]

get the vet to give it a jab of oxytocin to see if that will help, because it will save you a good few £££ if that shift the pup

[skycat 6,174]

If the pup is stuck with its head turned backwards, then oxytocin could rupture the uterus: there was a thread on here recently where luckily the bitch was saved, but the stuck pup couldn't be passed, even after having had the jab. A good vet will either scan or take a real close feel to see what the problem might be before jabbing with oxytocin. Either way, this bitch needs to see a vet asap.

[iworkwhippets 12,731]

Book of the bitch, by jm evans, and kay white, is what i got before breeding a litter, a new addition is out now, everything you need to know about breeding a litter, care of the bitch and so on

good luck with your bitch

Edited August 10, 2013 by iworkwhippets

[moggs 18]

She threw a huge pup (dead) about an hour or two after I posted on here. She looked better strait away. She had some penecilin and looks to be ok. Vet today if there is no satisfactory improvement. Thanks guys and gals. Any thing I can get down her to perk her up as she is off her food? Some sort of complan??

[paulus 26]

She threw a huge pup (dead) about an hour or two after I posted on here. She looked better strait away. She had some penecilin and looks to be ok. Vet today if there is no satisfactory improvement. Thanks guys and gals. Any thing I can get down her to perk her up as she is off her food? Some sort of complan??

not a good idea to be giving the bitch antibiotics whilst shes feeding pups. see if she will drink some glucose

[skycat 6,174]

Course she's off her food: she's very sore, knackered, hurts all over: what do you expect. Giving birth is not just like having a shit. It's very hard work indeed: I've seen my bitches which had litters with no complications at all do nothing but sleep, wake up, wipe the pups' arses and go back to sleep again for at least 24 hours after labour.

As long as she is drinking, is settled, don't worry. But do worry if she has a temperature, do worry if she seems to be in pain, and definitely worry if she won't drink anything. Don't give her ice cold water: try adding a bit of warm milk to water, just a bit, and hold the bowl under her nose for her so she doesn't have to get up to drink.

 

If she ate all the afterbirths then she may not be that hungry at the moment either. The afterbirths are pretty much pure protein and will keep her going for a day or so. When she does want to eat, make sure you're not filling her up with cheap shit dog food which is mostly cereals and filler. Get her some minced beef and chicken. The very best food for a nursing bitch is meat, and plenty of it. Also yoghurt is good, the natural variety, not flavoured. Add a spoon of honey to it if she'll eat it like that. Good luck.

 

Edited to add: watch for discharge. Expect a certain amount of blood, mostly dark, clotty stuff. If she starts leaking bright red fresh blood that won't stop, then get her to the vets asap. If the discharge starts to smell bad: get her to the vets even faster.

[moggs 18]

Thanks sky cat. My dogs dont have biscuit food. I stopped that a few years ago. Minced chicken, liver hearts kidneys and veg. Thats what she'l be having.when she starts eating that is. She is much more settled now eyes are more alert nose is cold and wet and she is drinking. Pups ar all helthy too. I havent bred many litters but the two bitches ive had before have been alot better than this bitch.

[skycat 6,174]

Some bitches, just like some women, have a much harder time of the birthing process than others. Older bitches also may have to struggle a lot more to deliver the pups: ligaments stiffen, there is less play in the pelvic area: the whole thing is a lot harder to achieve. Also depends on breed, type and fitness of dog. Deerhounds are noted for being very slow whelpers, which is not to say they have a harder time of it, just that the process lasts longer. I've had a finely built Saluki type pop out 9 pups in less than 4 hours from start to finish, like shelling peas, and did the same both times she had pups, the second time she was 9 years old and shoved them out just the same as her first litter at 5 years old.

Starlight, grand daughter of my Deer/Grey had a long and tiring whelping that lasted 10 hours at 6 years old. Was totally knackered afterwards, to the extent that I was quite worried about her for a couple of days. She, like your bitch, had a dead pup, though not a huge one, at least 6 hours after the rest of the litter had been born.

 

Try your bitch on something easily digestible like scrambled eggs on toast. Or something very tasty like fried chicken breast if she really doesn't want to eat once 24 hours has gone by. Sometimes they are so sore and tired that their digestive system isn't functioning normally to begin with, but as long as she is healthy and there are no problems she should start eating again soon. I don't mind spoiling a nursing bitch rotten to begin with, and also make sure she is plenty warm enough and not in a draught. Probably obvious things to say, but the more comfortable she is, the better for her and the pups.

[moggs 18]

Thanks sky cat. My dogs dont have biscuit food. I stopped that a few years ago. Minced chicken, liver hearts kidneys and veg. Thats what she'l be having.when she starts eating that is. She is much more settled now eyes are more alert nose is cold and wet and she is drinking. Pups ar all helthy too. I havent bred many litters but the two bitches ive had before have been alot better than this bitch.

[moggs 18]

Went to the vets today. Had the bitch examined and he was happy she had nothing left in her and the discharge was nothing to worry about. He jabbed her a couple of times once to sort her insides out and another to try bring on her apitite. He was happy with the pups said they were all healthy and in good nick. Told me to get as much puppy food in her as possible, luckily she has started eating and ive also been feeding the pups on welpi just to help her out. Thanks every one for the advice. Appreciate it. Fingers crossed now.