You're right NutriCal has draw backs if used to excess, it can cause a dog to become diabetic and diarreah. NutriDrops is faster absorbing.

A whelping area should be provided but, off the ground.....this is winter....and cold air drops.

Prepare yourself for a C-Section....and a possibility of a premature whelp.

Yours is a situation that would just scare me to death....and I consider myself experienced. Your girl is much too small and too young to be having babies.

The one good thing is that your vet is a 24 hour vet. Since you are obviously inexperienced and you would have to consider this a high risk pregnancy, I would just punt and let the vet manage the birthing, whether it be natural or c-section.

I really think it would be best that you take her in at the first sign of labor. It is highly likely she will need a c-section but, even if she can deliver the babies, it would be best for her to be in the hands of your vet.

You have to consider that these babies will be incredibly small and you will have your hands full with just making sure they survive. I imagine they will be in the 2 ounce range and that is scary small.

If Mom needs a c-section, she may not be wanting to nurse, in which case you will need to take over. She could also not have enough milk or the babies could be so small that they are unable to latch on and nurse. Any of these things will force you to step in and feed those babies, which is an around-the-clock job. Also, at her age, she may be too immature to be a good Mom. In other words, you need to prepare yourself to take over and raise those babies and that is where I think you should focus on preparation.

I honestly think preparing for delivery and the care of the newborns is too
much for an inexperienced breeder to handle, given the circumstances. Let the vet handle the birthing and you focus on caring for those tiny babies and Mom. That will be more than enough for you.

This is a picture of my initial set up, just to let my girl sleep there when she wanted to rest and be alone. as the whelping day got closer and weather got colder I added a heavy area rug under the box to keep the cold from the floor away from the bottom of the box. is a very inexpensive box you can get a smaller one at your local home store the plastic is easy to keep clean and germ free.
and my girls love the fact that the container seems to be like a little cave for them.
but in an emergeny you can remove the cover and have great access to your girl.
I also cover the box with a heavy blanket to keep the warm in.
You might want to discuss all the posibilities with your vet in the even a c-section is needed or a britch pup is stuck.. you got a consider everything and leave nothing to chance.

hugs,
Carmen in nj

Exactly...you only give a pea-sized amount...one tube of Nutrical should last a looooong time. (I've actually never used an entire tube, even with a prego mom and litter of pups. I've always had to throw them away long before the tube ran out.) No, there is NO need to 'stock up.' Giving too much can cause serious problems--diarreah, not eating actual food, digestive upset and tooth decay over a prolonged period of time.

Also, just because it is Calcium fortified, it shoud NOT be given as a Calcium supplement. :thumbdown It's something you only want to use when needed, when a dog is not eating.

As already stated by several, there is no need to have "loads". It's not something that you need to be giving mom everyday as a regular supplement. It's used as a supplement when she's NOT eating.

i hope everything turns out well with your girl and her babies. But since you had a male and female were you planning on breeding them?

Nice setup.

thank you...:D

What brand is your tote? I love your setup.

thank you.. I did not see any brand on it, I got it at my local Kmart, is the kind to storage christmas items I just saw them at my local walmart yesterday too.. and those were very nice colors.. the size is about 24 X 36 is a great size for my silkie terriers. my hubby cut the door panel with an exacto knife and them we dremeled the edges round. for the flooring we use a piece of rug covered with washable pads I ordered from Ryan here in the forum. when I don't need it anymore I throw the rug in the garbage and clean the box with a bleach solution and put it away in my attic until is needed again.
hugs,
Carmen in nj

thanks to everyone for advice and comments.

Been out shopping this weekend to prepare everything for Pookies up and coming baby giving.

We hope and pray that she will do well during the coming weeks.

I don't usually post. I like to read and learn something new from all the posts i have read. If I feel strongly about something I take a day or 2 and usually talk myself out of posting something that might hurt.

But......

The 2 videos in this thread have been bothering me, First of all on both videos the person there is interfering way too much by picking up the legs and keeping the mom from doing what comes naturally by licking herself. Not sure how others fell about this but I would not consider this an aid in teaching about whelping but maybe a way of saying let her be and let instinct take over.

Second when my girls are due and ready to deliver I set up my 6 panel x-pen. There is plenty of room for my girl and me to be in there with all the tools I need hanging on a hook and on an end table. If she needs me I am right there but also if she is doing fine on her own I am there to observe. I keep a cooler with a heating pad wrapped with a towel in it as an incubator to keep babies safe and warm. I give the a a small dropper of Dannon plain yogurt at room temperature. (this was taught to me from my mentor many years ago as it gives any weak baby a tremendous will to live) When she is biting the cord I hold it close to the baby and allow her to tear it and I usually do not have to cut it.

I have had to assist with 2 breech babies being born with gentle manipulation during a contraction and all turned out well. I have not had a baby die during the process of delivery or ever.

Sorry if this is a little long winded but the videos bothered me as the people taping them seemed only interested in getting a good shot than the welfare of mom or baby.