I am so sorry for your loss! I too sadly had to feed a litter of 5. My Mama dog had her stitches break open 4 days after a C-section. I was away finally running errands since nothing got done in the previous week of preparing for whelping and the subsequent Section. I returned 1 hour later and she had already passed from loss of blood. I was a wreck, and after 6 yrs can just barely talk about it.
Anyway.. I thought I would go insane from being so tired, but the babies thrived, and I didn't notice any bad effects from being raised by me. I also used the goats milk and Esbilac when I couldn't find it. I fed until 8 weeks, but at 4-5 weeks I added formula to ground kibble to make a mush.. mostly for them to play in.. lol
I'm hoping this thread can help someone in the future. I'm so sorry that your Vet didn't take your gut feeling seriously. I bet he does from now on! At the very least, his staff needs to learn that we know an emergency when we call. I can't believe they had you take a seat!!
They should have had you bring her in the day before due to the discharge she had!
I always take the temp of Mom 12 and 24 and 36 hours after whelp to make sure she's doing well. I just had a litter last Saturday, she still had a little green discharge, but I figured we had a placenta retained, hoping she would expel it. I gave her a shot of Oxi and started on antibiotic, just in case. Sunday early morning she was at 101.. (although normal, a little high just after a whelp when their temp drops to 97 or 98, usually at 99 or 100 at 24 hours) I gave her fluids and Oxi but at noon was 102. I rushed her to the Vet, and was 103 by time I got there. After an internal exam, all we found was a pocket of green crap and nothing else. Although getting that out, more fluids, Oxi, a shot of antibiotics, and a little Calcium and her temp went down to 101 by time I left. It happens quickly and we can never take anything for granted, even with a successful whelp.
Let me know if I can help in any way. Too bad we're not closer, I've got a surrogate with only 2 pups a couple of weeks old and lots of milk. And unlike the other post.. you could have ALL your pups back.
Wishing you the best of Luck and big hugs!