She is looking very poor! All the puppies are doing well! I am worried about the momma!
2006-12-27 08:27:09 · 28 answers · asked by dk4christ@sbcglobal.net 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
13 puppies is a huge litter and a lot of calories are being used up.
Feed her puppy food, dry only at this point, 3 times a day and you will be giving her triple the amount of food she would normally eat.
Don't give her canned food anymore because it will only upset her tummy. It's ok the first few days after whelping, but after that go back to dry.
Give her 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese every day while she is nursing. One scrambled or cooked egg is good as well.
Make sure she is getting plenty of water and supplement with a daily dog vitamin.
When the puppies hit 3 weeks old you will need to have a water dish accesible to them at all times and start giving them high quality mushy puppy food. You will need to wean them as soon as you safely can because of the large litter.
At three weeks, you will be giving the puppies some mushy food by putting a little on your finger and have them eat it off. They do need to be taught to eat and drink but pick up really fast on it because it tastes so good! After a couple days provide the mushy puppy food on a plate or dish. Metal is good because they will chew up plastic. Offer food 5 times a day and have them nursing on the same schedule. You will need to gradually increase puppy food and decrease nursings. When their teeth start to come in around 5 weeks you can start to switch over to dry food. Have them weaned by 7 weeks. Do not place them until they are at least 8 weeks old, and get their first shots.Good luck!
2006-12-27 08:42:30 · answer #1 · answered by dog's best friend 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My girl who whelped in the summer and had 7 pups needed 9 meals a day - your sorry girl is not being given enough when her resources are being continually drained. She will end up with eclampsyia if you don't help her immediately. You could easily lose her if you don't get some goodness into her. Are you feeding the best quality puppy food? Ordinary adult dog food just isn't sufficient nourishment. I always leave a full bowl (permanently) in the whelping pen, of Royal Canin dried puppy food, in addition to all the other meals. I poach 3 pieces of white fish in milk as soon as I get up, and then give 7 meals of canned puppy food throughout the day. 3 scrambled eggs for supper, but the Royal Canin is available adlib. Your bitches health is at risk - she desperately needs more help with her calcium levels, and when the pups are the biggest drain, at about 3 weeks, she is going to be skin and bone. Have you ever bred before??? I assume that you wormed every single day from day 40 of her gestation until 2 days post whelping? Pregnancy hormones will have developed her encysted worms. Remembering that there is only one veterinary wormer that is licensed for pregnant bitches. You should start the programme, as recommended, from day 14 for pups too, or they will not thrive.
2006-12-27 09:23:43 · answer #2 · answered by denimlady1999 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
while she is nursing puppies she needs a lot of extra food. If she is looking poor you probably are not giving her enough food so try free feeding because 2x a day is not enough. Just leave dry food(puppy food) down for her to eat. Spay your dog after the pups have been weaned b/c you have no idea what you are doing.
2006-12-27 09:06:19 · answer #3 · answered by Shepherdgirl § 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should be allowing the dog to free feed at this time. She will need more than twice a day of regular rations in order to produce enough milk for thirteen pups. You also need to be giving her vitamins. All the food and fresh water she wants. As far as her looking poor, all dams look horrible after whelping and during nursing. She is using all of her energy just to produce milk. She needs a vet visit also, I always take my dogs(mom and pups) to the vet a week after whelping.
2006-12-27 08:49:04 · answer #4 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should supplement feed the pups with puppy formula. With such a large litter, your dog can be drained of nutrients very quickly.
Also, she should be eating 4-5 times a day, not twice. If you are not home to feed her, make sure you leave ample dry food around for her to much on!
2006-12-27 08:35:23 · answer #5 · answered by Shannon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my ***** had 7 pups 12 days ago you shouldn't restrict her food she should eat as and when she wants to give her dried and tin food also give her tin milk evaperated is best and made up its good for them and wont give them the runs don't stop your dog eating it should be there for her to eat at all times don't give the ***** vitamins its all in the food she is eating they are not good for the pups she should not be looking poorly give the vet a call and get the ***** calcium level checked out or she may end up with eclampcia and that not good why don't you get some whelpi puppy food and a syringe and feed a few of the pups yourself and give the mom a rest i do my pups and mom are all doing fine they have got there eyes open now and are so sweet food must be avaliable for the ***** at all time they eat about five times amount to normal not haveing a go at you but you are not giveing the ***** enough food could be that the pups are draning the b**** of all her calcium so get her checked out a s a p or she may end up with eclampcia due to lack of calcium and the vet will give you liquid calcium for to give the ***** good luck dont worry to much and ignore some of the s**** remarks you get they cant help it but you must call your vet or you are going to end up with a poorly mom take care REG BREEDER OF BICHON FRISE
2006-12-28 04:20:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make vitamins for pregnant and lactating dogs. You can pick some up at your vet's office or the local pet store. Also, feed your mommy dog puppy chow as opposed to regular adult formulas. This will give the puppies more nutrients. Also, as for the brand, the vet I worked for recommended feeding Purina or better (meaning look for something the same price as Purina or higher).
Make sure she always has plenty of cool, fresh water as well.
Good luck! In several weeks, you'll surely have your hands full!
2006-12-27 08:31:09 · answer #7 · answered by FutureMrsMarsalia 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are obviously not feeding her enough! She needs to be fed 5 or 6 times a day if not ad-lib and you must give extra meat along with, she needs plenty of protein. Why on earth didn't you read up on the feeding of a suckling b1tch before you bred her? 13 pups are bound to be draining her terribly, start feeding her much, much more before you end up with a very sick b1tch and you have to hand feed all 13 puppies!
2006-12-27 19:01:57 · answer #8 · answered by Pawstimes16 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More food! At this stage, let her eat several extra meals a day, she needs it! And like someone said, make sure it's puppy food. I would say at least 1 1/2 to 2 times her normal feedings, she needs LOTS of extra nutrition! You can also give her any cooked meat, healthy treats, boiled eggs, etc. You really can't overfeed a nursing mom, so just let her eat! Make sure you have a vet look at her and the pups if you haven't already.
2006-12-27 08:32:43 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
most animal mums look like hell when they have a shedload of babies, yours has rather a lot to deal with, she only has six nipples and 13 pups, you need to give her lots of food and I mean lots, plus water by the gallon, vitamin suppliments and cod liver oil, feed her four times a day, and try to get those pups lapping milk as soon as you can, not cows milk, but puppy milk its like baby milk, you can get it from the vet or pet shop, make sure she has high quality food, I know when my three cats all had kittens together, I was getting through six cans of cat food a day just for them!
another idea if you get stuck ring a dog breeder, they will give you some tips, usually they are happy to help, but if you get a duff one, try another!
2006-12-28 11:19:37 · answer #10 · answered by magpyre 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋