Whelping Question

[RobinC]

Hi Gang, I have a question, I have been told both ways, do you take the pup right after its born and suction the fluid from its nose and mouth? help mom sever the cord? I need some people that have dealt with yorkies to help me maybe its with certain breeds you do this or maybe its bad advice. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! . RobinC

[txshopper73]

Hi Robin. I don't know about others, but as soon as the sac was out, I ripped the sack open, severed the chords and had plenty of wash cloths handy. Started rubbing the pups holding their heads close to mom so she could lick them. Didn't loose any.

[YorkieRose]

I try very hard to let mom do it. Sometimes I just want it over and cut the cord myself..then let mom have it back. You have to know when to help and when to let them be...recently I allowed both Charlotte and Claire to do everything themselves, I was there incase of a problem..there was none. It is hard for me to sit back and not help.
If a foot is out or the head and no progress, sure I would have jumped in.

This is a tough question to answer...breeders have problems because they do too little and too much...there is a middle ground I have learned to take.
Best wishes

[txshopper73]

I know that I did way to much for Gracie but it was her first litter and I was very nervous. Yes, I'll be there for this litter, and I'll try my best to just watch and not get too involved....just SO hard!

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by txshopper73

Hi Robin. I don't know about others, but as soon as the sac was out, I ripped the sack open, severed the chords and had plenty of wash cloths handy. Started rubbing the pups holding their heads close to mom so she could lick them. Didn't loose any.

But isnt there a greater chance of them getting fluid in their lungs by ripping off the sac?

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I try very hard to let mom do it. Sometimes I just want it over and cut the cord myself..then let mom have it back. You have to know when to help and when to let them be...recently I allowed both Charlotte and Claire to do everything themselves, I was there incase of a problem..there was none. It is hard for me to sit back and not help.
If a foot is out or the head and no progress, sure I would have jumped in.

This is a tough question to answer...breeders have problems because they do too little and too much...there is a middle ground I have learned to take.
Best wishes

Pat, on the whole do you use a baby syringe and suction their nose and mouth or does mom do that? Thanks!

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by txshopper73

Hi Robin. I don't know about others, but as soon as the sac was out, I ripped the sack open, severed the chords and had plenty of wash cloths handy. Started rubbing the pups holding their heads close to mom so she could lick them. Didn't loose any.

Do you use a syringe (baby) and suction thier mouth?

[txshopper73]

Robin, personally...and I'm just speaking for myself here...I did not suction. I wiped their mouths out and everything and then let mom lick their faces till they came around.

[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by RobinC

But isnt there a greater chance of them getting fluid in their lungs by ripping off the sac?

I have not heard of this or been told there was a greater chance. Sometimes, if a bitch has one puppy already good and nursing, they'll tend more to that pup than helping another out of the sac.

We use to raise bassetts and we lost a pup once because Tabitha was too busy with the one she had and never tore the sac off the other.

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by txshopper73

I have not heard of this or been told there was a greater chance. Sometimes, if a bitch has one puppy already good and nursing, they'll tend more to that pup than helping another out of the sac.

We use to raise bassetts and we lost a pup once because Tabitha was too busy with the one she had and never tore the sac off the other.

Thanks Kim, (aka txshopper73) for replying and that helps me a lot, I guess I have a fear of them dying because of fluid in thier lungs had a few Bostons pups to do that. Muffy is getting close to D Day, If I can figure out how to post pics when it happens I will work on that! lol. Have a good one! Robinc

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

I try very hard to let mom do it. Sometimes I just want it over and cut the cord myself..then let mom have it back. You have to know when to help and when to let them be...recently I allowed both Charlotte and Claire to do everything themselves, I was there incase of a problem..there was none. It is hard for me to sit back and not help.
If a foot is out or the head and no progress, sure I would have jumped in.

This is a tough question to answer...breeders have problems because they do too little and too much...there is a middle ground I have learned to take.
Best wishes

Pat, Thank you for your help, guess like I told txshopperI worry about the fluid getting in thier throat. I had a few Bostons to die from fluid in their lungs and I am scared to death of what to do or not to do. I really appreciate you help! Have a good One! RobinC

[YorkieRose]

I have never suctioned a puppy. I do shake it down a few times and clear the lungs, mom licks and gets them crying and that is good for the lungs.
Alot depends on the pup...the first pup to arrive can take longer to be birthed, especially with a first litter. It may need more help..it can be breach and need more help to breathe. Swinging the pup downward and drawing the fliud out works better then a syringe to me.

[Rainy]

Lots of good info here. I sometimes use oxygen on a puppy if it is gasping for air. This of course is only after I'm sure there is no fluid in the nose and I have rubbed it down and dried it off. I too have never heard that ripping the sack off will give it a better chance of getting fluid in the pups lungs. Yes, mom does lick and clean and gets fluid from their noses. Sometimes I think I need to help out though. I have a baby syringe but I find an eye dropper works better. Their noses are sooo tiny! Guess I'm a worry wart - I put the puppy up to my ear and listen for any rattling in the lungs. If I hear rattling then this is when I step in and do the swinging down method and/or use the eye dropper to suction. These are things that I do and are not necessarily the correct way, but it has worked for me. It is very important to keep these puppies warm. I use a pet heating pad in the whelping box and it remains there until the puppies go to new homes. Good luck!

[RobinC]

Originally Posted by Rainy

Lots of good info here. I sometimes use oxygen on a puppy if it is gasping for air. This of course is only after I'm sure there is no fluid in the nose and I have rubbed it down and dried it off. I too have never heard that ripping the sack off will give it a better chance of getting fluid in the pups lungs. Yes, mom does lick and clean and gets fluid from their noses. Sometimes I think I need to help out though. I have a baby syringe but I find an eye dropper works better. Their noses are sooo tiny! Guess I'm a worry wart - I put the puppy up to my ear and listen for any rattling in the lungs. If I hear rattling then this is when I step in and do the swinging down method and/or use the eye dropper to suction. These are things that I do and are not necessarily the correct way, but it has worked for me. It is very important to keep these puppies warm. I use a pet heating pad in the whelping box and it remains there until the puppies go to new homes. Good luck!

Thanks Rainy for the help, so do you not use a heat (infared lamp on them? with the heating pad. Thanks again, RobinC

[ttreatsyorkies]

Usually the heating pad is a sufficient heat source. Just make sure they are not in a drafty area. I cover Belle's whelping area with a blanket, this helps to keep the temp. regulated around them. Good luck.