Quote:
Originally Posted by Cares4Dogs  Good...I'm glad she's doing better. I'd continue to do warm compresses and try to drain any engorged nipples so long as its not too uncomfortable to momma. My girl nursed until the pups were about 8-9 weeks and she dried up on her own. She tappered off and didnt stop abruptly. Are you mixing goats milk with the rice cereal? |
Yes, goats milk (with a little distilled water) with rice cereal and finely crushed puppy kibble....and --- I'm thinking this needs to be a separate post --- some chicken meat (1 x day)...very finely diced, about the equivalent to a 3/4 tsp -- (they love it and when I add it to their kibble they gobble it all up, included the coarser chopped kibble. Their potty is normal, so I'm assuming the white chix breast meat isn't hurting them or upsetting their stomachs ( I hope its safe to do ). If anyone knows that's a definite no-no, please advise me asap, so I can stop.
Again, gave Gracie (mama) the pudding and she nursed them while eating it tonight.
They are learning not to harass her so much as tonight she got in and played with them, rolled around, play bite, etc., they played back and none of them tried to nurse, so she spent quite a bit of time actually playing with them. She didn't sleep with them last night -- we still have a heating pad under a corner of their sleeping quarters -- so they're warm enough, I think she needed the break to get back into her mothering duties of spending time with them without nursing. She really acted like she enjoyed her play time with her puppies, though I think she got a little rough a couple times, flipped one of them over with her nose (as he decided to take a nap) while urging him to join them in play. And she played more with one than the other two (it was the pup that wants to play more with her), but it "seemed" like she was really trying to teach this one something (play gentler?? maybe?? as that pup is always trying to crawl on Gracie's face and bite Gracie's nose as Gracie would get a hold her the puppy's nose and hold it for a few seconds before letting her go).
Anyway, I think everything will be okay, ultimately would have probably been better had she nursed longer, but like Mary said, because their teeth are all in (and little razors) and they are vigorous suckers, I think she just had to let it go.
Thanks so much for everyone's help, concern, and interest; I truly appreciate it more than words can say. Kendra