PostPartum:
Whelping Puppies
So your Dam has finished having her
puppies...
Are you sure ?
It can be difficult for an owner
to be certain, so it can be wise to take the Dam and pups to the Vets within
about 6 hours. The Vet will give checkups to ensure the Dam hasn’t
retained pups or placentas, and to see that the pups are all nursing & healthy.
The Vet can also check for Cleft Palates and inform you of options available
(see article on Cleft Palates—these pups are worth saving),. but, if you are
pretty sure, and experienced enough to know the pups are all out, it is best to
leave the dam at home. As every time you take her out, and to the vets, you risk
bringing home a virus. Many Vets will do a house call, and the extra $20 or so,
is well worth it.
Normally after whelping she will stop shivering and
panting, clean her pups and herself and settle down to feed her pups… If all
seems normal, I just call my Vet. And let him know what has happened.
Take the Dam out to relieve herself, and give her
some fluids. Chicken broth or Mamalac is good.
I give chicken broth, Chicken and rice for first
meal.
Freshen her up with a sponge bath, & put nice clean
bedding down for her and her new family. (If you are using a Heat Pad, it is
extremely important that it is enclosed securely in padding so a pup cannot get
caught down there under the bedding…. Some new moms try to bury their pups).
I actually will NOT put a heat
pad, IN my whelp box. My whelp box has a wooden bottom, and the heat pad, goes
UNDER the box, under the plywood floor, this makes a nice radiant heated
whelping box floor.
Vaginal discharge should be red to red/brown and even
maybe a bit green for the first day. If it is Black call your Vet.
Discharge lasts for about a week, slowly turning
clearer. If it continues, or develops a foul odor, call the Vet.
Some dams spot blood for a
week or two.
Make sure each puppy gets his/her share of
colostrums, which is loaded with antibodies for protection from
disease.
If the Dam is a new mother, and unsure, make her
nurse…
As the nursing will trigger the release of hormones
into her bloodstream, which will help encourage her mothering instincts.
( meaning the more the Dam nurses, the more
loving she becomes )
Full supervision is recommended until she has
accepted the fact that she is a loving mom. For some breeds, like the giant, and
clumsy breeds, Pups cannot go with the dams for a week or two, but must go in an
incubator, and be put with the dam every 2 to 4 hours. Check your breed. If they
are known to lie on pups, and suffocate pups, you may need to find a mentor in
the breed for some sage/educated advise.
I personally sleep next to my Dam and Puppies for a
few nights, to ensure she does not roll on a puppy, or a puppy gets out of the
bunch and gets chilled etc…They are VERY susceptible to cold
The whelp box should be at 85°F
for the first week, and 80°-82°F
the second. Make sure there are NO drafts.
Make sure puppies CANNOT get out or roll out.
I leave a baby monitor on, and is a puppy is crying
more than usual,
I go to see why,,, sometimes a puppy will latch on
so tightly to the Dam, that he gets dragged out of the box, sometimes he is lost
in the blankets.
(I make large pillow like cases from sheets to
contain the blankets, so that the puppies cannot get lost in the folds.)
Your Whelp box should have guard rails to help
protect the puppies that crawl behind Dam from suffocation, and squishing
In the first week puppies eat constantly,
10% of time eating, and 90% of time sleeping.
They need and get constant care from the Dam, they
cannot even relieve themselves without her stimulation… She will keep the whelp
box very clean for the first couple weeks…(up to 3 weeks)
Then it is your job……..
| It is wise to weigh the pups twice daily for the
first week, and once a day after that. They can loose 10% of body weight the
first day, but you should see a steady increase after that.. |
|
|
My goal, is for pups to start
gaining right away, and not have that drop.
Schedule Vet visit at 3 days for Dew Claws and any
other tail/ear work required for your breed.
Trim the puppies nails weekly.
Feed the Dam 3x daily, (3x normal amount of food or
more) . Check her milk glands twice daily for mastitis (swollen hard teats) If
you notice an excess of milk, she will become uncomfortable and restless,, This
can be relieved by squeezing the teat, draining some milk will reduce the
pressure. If you fail to relieve pressure, call your Vet.
Milk Fever is serious, and talked about on the
Whelping page, as it can come before puppies, but is normally more common when
milk is being produced, some Dams need extra Calcium.
Eyes should open on day 8 to 13 (never attempt to
open the eyes)
Ears should open on day 13 to 20
At 2.5 weeks, open the whelp box, and add an area 2x
the size and cover with newspaper…. Change the bedding in the box several times
per day, but do not change the paper often…(keep it smelling like a toilet,,,
and keep the bed smelling like a fresh bed… The puppies will be paper trained by
3 weeks……….. By 4 weeks, you will need to expand their home again to include a
play area.
At three weeks, their teeth are
developing, some large breeds, are ready to try soft food and toys. They can lap
water and mamalac. Slowly add soaked puppy kibble. For smaller breeds of dogs,
they do not need food till 4 or 5 weeks old. Check your breed.
Plus all litters are
different. A litter of 8 puppies, will need food sooner than a litter of 3
puppies, even if just to give the Dam a break.
If the Dam is feeding the pups, and there is no crying, and they are content,
then do not rush weaning.
Now the Fun Begins........
Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
