Mother dog rejects puppies after cesarean?

Question

My chihuahua had to have a cesarean today after a long labor, when we got home she laid down with the puppies but looked at them as if they were aliens. After the drugs wore off she rejected them, she refuses to lay with them, when I force her, she growls at them and even attempts to bite them. I called my vet and he told me it was common and couldn't give me any advice on how to make her want to care for them, he just said to make sure they feed off of her for the first 24 hours, then they would need to be bottle fed every 3-4 hours. I am willing to do this, but I wish she would be a mother to these little guys. Thanks in advance for your advise.

Thank you all for all of your great advice. We are all doing much better now. After several forced feedings I took the advice of a writer, I wet the puppies with warm water and she started to lick them! From then on it has been ok. Along with the cesarean I did have her spayed. Thanks for all of your advice.

Answer 1

If you have to you can bottle feed the little ones. You can buy little baby bottles for puppies and special puppy formula at the pet store.

The mother dog may come around in a few days. However, those little ones need to be fed every couple of hours until then.

Answer 2

Is this her first litter? Since she had a cesarean, she does not realize they are hers -- she went to sleep and then was thrown into a box with a bunch a little things trying to suck on her sore tummy. Give her time to feel better, but go get puppy milk and bottles for now. Don't forget to wipe their bottoms with a warm washcloth to make them go potty after wards. Keep trying to have mom nurse them - every few hours till she can take over.

Answer 3

All animals, ourselves included, obviously go thru a birthing process. That's just a part of the eternal bonding. When we carry our babies, we know what's going to happen specifically we'll have a child and look forward to the event. (hopefully!) Animals however, and more directly dogs, really have no concept of 'I'm gonna have about 5 pups! oh boy!" They do know that there are changes going on inside them (some will swear their dog loves to be and knows they're expecting) but until the labor, the birth and afterbirth, they simply know somethings up. Now, unless they go thru the birth, and well, all the licking of the pups as they are born, the removal of (eww) each afterbirth and the separation of the umbilical cords, continuously cleaning, smelling and identifying these new 'things' as coming from her, and now HER'S, and the pups themselves from her own scent being slathered on them for hours, unless this happens, it's going to be a case of one minute funny feelings in tummy and the next "what the heck are those and why are they IN MY BED???!". She has not had the opportunity to bond, to scent, to ID her litter. Hence, not knowing they are HERS. You can assist her to recognize them as her babies IF; They are still very new, have had NO ACCESS TO OTHER ANIMAL SCENTS OR YOUR PERFUMES COLOGNES, ETC, you have access to the surgical cloths and she is lactating. The pups should get this first batch of milk from her, as the very milk has her scent within it. The birth soiled cloths are used to rub on the pups, all over and each one, more on the heads and noses, VERY gently, daubbing their faces. The object is to get her birth scents on the puppies. She will know her own scent, very most likely start to lick the pups, and id their scents, they respond by mommy! mommy! squeals and her mama instincts start to kick in. It's pretty cool to be able to bring them together. If she shows high agression or bites this lesson is OVER. If she seems a bit nervous, or not sure what's up but she's licking, PERFECT! We want the licking! Keep the room/area/kennel quiet, voices off or extreme minamal, with gentle coaxing and sweet whispers to mama. If non of the above are available or seem to be working, you must not force her to nurse or sleep with them, but if you give her tons of affection along with the pups, she may decide they are rather cute after all. Do try to get the first course of milk from her, even if it's gently pressing on her teats into a wash cloth and then dab on pups lips. DO NOT FORCE FEED WITH THIS METHOD. Stay in touch with vet and love your new family!

Answer 4

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esbilac helps buy it locally or online, i know several people who swear by it

Answer 5

I'm surprised your vet couldn't give you better advice. Firstly, you might try contacting a different vet, explain the situation, and see if they can give you some tips over the phone.

Secondly, I have never tried it myself, but I have heard of people getting dogs to accept foster puppies, cats and even squirrels by disguising their scent. Dogs identify each other by scent. If I remember correctly, they wiped both the mother and foster animals with a strong scent (like perfume). In this manner they "fooled" the mother into thinking the foster animal was hers, because it smelled like her. Try this on a single puppy, being careful to supervise closely to prevent the mother from harming the puppy.

Answer 6

Well, you do the math.. She had 15 puppies. 15. That's A LOT for a mom to handle. You should have researched breeding before you did it... Why were you breeding her in the first place? edit: To the below answer: APBT stands for American Pit Bull Terrier.

Answer 7

Well that is very sad that she would reject them like that. Now this might sound alittle bad but what you could do is put some tape around her mouth so she can't bite them and then let the puppies drink from her.

Answer 8

Congrats on the new family! C-sections are quite common with chis and some dogs, not just chis will reject the pups ar first. You are doing well tho. Sounds like everything is doing okay. Enjoy the new babies. How many did she have?

Answer 9

Yup, now you will have your hands full. I have seen dams turn around over night. Let her hear the pups cry a few times. She is in shock still and hopefully she will adjust. Sometimes they do but, mostly they don't. The reason they need to feed off of her now is for the colostrum. The antibodies needed to fight of illness and such. Good Luck, you will need it.

Answer 10

this is normal thing. when a dog has an operation to deliver.
be patient. and i wouldnt let her get pregnant again. [its too costly]!!
it is doubtful that she will ever nurse those pips.
she might be what you call a [hore dog] and not even want pups. just wants the satisfaction.
so what you have to do is bottle feed everyone of those pups by hand.
good luck!!