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Originally Posted by lizdtx  k and thanx again, and plus i didnt mention that the daddy is 2 1/2 lbs. he's small that should help also, Right? |
Don't take anything for granted as far as having a safe whelp goes. You need to be prepared for any possible complication and be able to recognize distress in both the Mom and pups.
Mom controls the size of the pups before birth, but the genetics of the sire do play a part. A great outcome would be the pups weighing between 3 1/2 to 5 ounces at birth, but some could be larger or smaller. Larger could make for a more difficult delivery and smaller could give you pups too weak to nurse.
It's really just a guess, but, with such a small sire, you could have a very small pup at birth. These pups require care much like a preemie. They can be too small to nurse, requiring hand feeding around the clock, and the smaller they are, the more difficult it is for them to maintain body heat. Definitely something to prepare for.
It's really good that you will have someone experienced with you. Every whelp is unique.....complications are not uncommon and even a textbook whelp is not something for the novice to do alone.
Not sure if you've seen this, but here's a good site with lots of whelping information.
Dog Breeding and Canine Reproduction by Debbie Jensen. Dog Breeding and Whelping guide for dog breeders.
Hope Mom is eating well for you. It's in the last couple of weeks that the pups do most of their growing, so good nutrition is essential.