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3 day old puppies; questions about the dam. So my dog Pocky gave birth to two healthy puppies! :) I have some questions regarding the dam's behavior and health. 1) Sometimes the dam would lie next to her puppies and whine/wiff at me while looking. What is she trying to tell me? 2) Is it okay that the mother would want to leave her nest to sleep somewhere else? She does run back to her nest once the puppies start crying but it worries me. 3) If the mother is in a squatting position above the puppies, does it mean she's trying to nurse the puppies? Sometimes the dam would look at me and whine after doing this. 4) Her breasts seem to be bigger than before. I assume this is because milk is developing. After a puppy nurses from that teat, should it become smaller? I do squeeze the teat a bit to check the teat has been nursed and it does squirt a bit of milk like a pimple [there's no pus, just milk]. Is this a good sign? 5) Very often, the dam would want to move away from the puppies and lay on my lap for awhile. How long should a dam be away from her puppies? |
It is perfectly fine for her to get away from her puppies for short periods of time. As long as her breasts are not red or overly warm and hard she soounds fine. As the puppies grow she will spend more and more time out of the box. Make sure you don't have the heating pad too hot if you are using one. She will know when to return to the puppies. All sounds normal |
1) Sometimes the dam would lie next to her puppies and whine/wiff at me while looking. What is she trying to tell me? She is probably just wanting reassurance and love. 2) Is it okay that the mother would want to leave her nest to sleep somewhere else? She does run back to her nest once the puppies start crying but it worries me. This is common. Usually after the first few days the mom will leave the pups for brief periods. As the pups get older the mom will start spending more time away. 3) If the mother is in a squatting position above the puppies, does it mean she's trying to nurse the puppies? Sometimes the dam would look at me and whine after doing this. Some females will squat over the pup to let them nurse but also to keep them warm. If the pups are huddled together in a big pile that usually indicates they are a little cold, you might need to increase the room temperature just a little. Her whining might be an indication that she is just torn between you and her pups. New mommas that are spoiled and use to being with their human mommies all the time sometimes have a hard time dealing with being away from their human mommies. I like to pick up the new mommas and give them lots of hugs when they are caring for their babies. 4) Her breasts seem to be bigger than before. I assume this is because milk is developing. After a puppy nurses from that teat, should it become smaller? I do squeeze the teat a bit to check the teat has been nursed and it does squirt a bit of milk like a pimple [there's no pus, just milk]. Is this a good sign? Please watch the breasts closely. If they start getting hard or lumpy then that is a sign of mastitis and she would need antibiotics if she develops that. A dog that has mastitis will not necessarily have pus in the milk. I have heard of breasts rupturing and pus pouring out the sides of the breasts. 5) Very often, the dam would want to move away from the puppies and lay on my lap for awhile. How long should a dam be away from her puppies? The pups are probably nursing about every two hours. As long as the pups are warm and not crying the mom will know when it is time to nurse them again. |
If the bed that the puppies are in is too warm, Mom will not want to be in there. I put the heating pad under just half of the bed, so mom and puppie can get away from the heat if they get too warm. As long as she goes when the puppies cry, she is a good mom and doing her job. Sitting ujp to nurse might also be an indication that the bed is too warm for her. If the puppies are gaining and mom is eating, everything is good. |
wow....thanks so much for the information! so far her breasts don't look infected. the breasts on her upper torso are like padded waterpads...the lower ones [which the puppies can only reach to and nurse on] tend to be a little bit droopy. my dog still acts normal and eats her puppy chow, so i guess all is fine. thanks for the info ! |
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