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Originally Posted by easternskywatch  thanks very much for your advice and support...........one little puppy didnt make it. she seemed to have cleft palate which i didn't notice at first.........will definitely act on your advice..........now momma doesn't want to stay with pups all the time.......is this a problem or not?? thanks again |
It's not usual for new Moms to leave the pups so young. She may want to take a small potty break, but should be with them most all the time for now. After their eyes open and they start motivating around, Mom usually feels comfortable to leave them for a bit longer.
Is it that she wants to be with you? She needs to be in a place away from the traffic of the house so she can feel secure with her babies and not stressed or distracted. I've never had your problem, but then I pretty much stay with Mom and babies around the clock for the first few days to make sure everything is going well.
She really should be staying with them at this age as they pretty much eat and sleep all the time. She also provides warmth for them and diapers them so she's pretty busy. Does she have enough milk? Are you supplementing any of the babies? If you notice them rooting around and crying, they aren't getting enough and need supplementing. How's Mom eating? Do you have a scale to weigh the babies to make sure they are gaining?
I'm very sorry to hear about the little girl. Breeding can be heartbreaking when these things happen, but you just have to have your moment of grief and get right back to caring for the others and Mom. It's a job that doesn't stop the whole time you have them. For now you have to worry about their survival....then it's weaning them, beginning potty training, grooming, vaccinations, socializing and finding great homes for them.
Best of luck and, again, so sorry about the little one. I hope things go well for you from here on out.