My new mom is way too SKINNY!?

Question

We have just had Golden Retriever (mom) German Rot (dad) pups. They are 4 weeks old. When the mom dropped the pups, she got really skinny, which I kinda figured must be okay cuz she had just gotten rid of a lot of weight. It was her first litter and she had 8.
BUT, she is WAY too skinny! Before she ever even went into heat, we had a vet ask us if she eats okay. After checking her for mites, etc. on just a regular visit, and giving her regular shots, he decided she's probably just a smaller than average golden.
I dont think she should be this skinny though. Her ribs are showing and her waist is deeply sunken in. She eats regularly, doesnt throw anything up, seems to have regular bowel movements, etc. Would this kind of weight loss be natural for a new mom? We keep thinking that she's got a lot of pups eating her nutrition, maybe she cant keep enough for herself?
Please note that she is not lethargic or anything else to make us worry, she doesnt LOOK right.
Thanks!

Answer 1

If her ribs are showing that's not a good sign. Have you tried putting her on a higher protein diet? You say she doesn't throw up or anything so you can rule out sensitive stomach but she may have a parasite(s). Take her to another vet for a second opinion. We own whippets (these dogs are super skinny normally) and you really don't see the ribs too much.

Answer 2

She could very well have worms. She needs to be wormed as well as all the pups (but you might already know this). An all wormer that includes tapeworm is important as all pups are born with worms they get from their mothers.

She should also be on a premium branded puppy food. We use brands like Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet, but I prefer Royal Canin. This is very important whilst she is lactating and giving so much back to the pups. If mommy is super skinny, you should also be trying to wean the pups... you should be able to start at around 4 weeks.

You basically get the puppy kibble and soak it in warm water until it's soggy so it's easier for the pups to eat - you can also soak it in divetelact to make it more appetising and closer to what they get from mom.

Have you tried giving her some calcium sandoz syrup?

Also, mommy dogs love puppy milk as much as puppies!! Try some divetelact (powder form) mixed with milk or you can even buy the pre prepared puppy milk (divetelact is vet recommended and it's what is used when mom rejects pupies from very young ages, whereas preprepared milk is generally just a feel good type thing) - puppy milk whatever the form is high in calories so that will help.

Answer 3

Are you feeding her enough? She should be eating about twice as much as she did before she had the pups. She should also be eating puppy food. If the pups are pulling her down too much, you may have to wean the pups from her and bottle feed them for a couple more weeks. Has she been tested for worms? Worms can cause them to lose a lot of weight. You should worm her and the pups. Get the wormer from a vet.

Answer 4

My dog somewhat had this problem, but he's a male and no puppies involved. With him I make rice and mixed with canned chicken for a while. He'd eat that up really quick and slowly began to gain weight more than not. My baby also has allergy problems, so when I went back to dog food I always get food that has plenty of oils and such for the coat (so something wet) and I also get a dry lamb and rice formula which I mix with the wet stuff. This has worked like a charm and gotten my baby good and healthy! I had to baby him for a while too to make certain it was he and not his little brother eating his bowl of food. It works best to feed them seperately.

Answer 5

Just get some food from the store that have LOTS of nutrition and when the pups are old enough to eat real food then she'll get better

Answer 6

Lets look at the milk production here for a litter of 8 you want to try and nurse that many at once?? Even human Moms when they nurse their babies loose weight--that is the beauty of it all---Just get some extra protein food for her and make sure she always has water she will be fine --And Please get her fixed--as much as we all those cute little puppies they all seem to grow up and make more--

Answer 7

Some dogs just do that, make sure she is eating all she wants. You can add a bit of goats milk, yoghurt, egg, hamburger, or cottage cheese to encourage her. Whelping and feeding puppies takes ALOT out of them.

My Whippets always look like hell right after whelping, no matter what I do to encourage them to eat.

Answer 8

i think you're not right personally. why in the hell would you let your rottie breed your golden? do you like seeing puppies put to sleep in shelters? because we all know there aren't enough mixed breed puppies in this world, let's make some more! i mean if you are such a worried and wonderful pet owner both of your dogs would be altered. i mean if you're irresponsible enough to breed her i'm going to guess you're irresponsible enough not to take proper care of her. and you're using your vets info from BEFORE she was bred and had pups. why haven't you taken her back to the vet now that she's too skinny. she needs to be checked by a vet and dewormed and spayed before she can go into heat again, and your male neutered. i mean the only good point to this is that you keep shelter's in business, killing unwanted puppies. you should be proud. way to go there skippy.

Answer 9

No she does not sound too skinny to me, she basically sounds very very petite. i'm 5'6" and that i in basic terms way approximately 10 lbs greater and that i'm basically consumer-friendly, so i'm useful your mom is basically fantastic :).

Answer 10

your probaby right, for a new mom that is alot of puppies and alot of her nutrition is going to them. So maybe you should tyr getting a higher protien/ nutritional food. yeah it may be alittle moe expensive but it will be worth a try, it may or may not work. what do you have to loose right?