Are we close to labor???

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Tnyorkiemom

any progress??

She has a new thread here http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...t-one-out.html

[elenita]

Yes, finally done. She delievered 5 puppies. The smallest being 4.9 and the biggest being 6oz.. She is sleeping with her babies right now. What a long night. The first one was completely nerve wrecking. I had to do it all but she did the rest of them. She will not go in her whelping box. I had to change the sheets and clean my closet for her. EXHAUSTING..Imagine my poor gezell Thanks for the feedback. I know the puppies are still able to suffocate or have a problem with feeding. Any suggestions? I have a half bottle of goats milk n half water ready. When do i decide on hand feeding? there is one i have to keep my eye on. Cant seem to find a nipple. How do you tell the sex of them? thanks

[WV~Yorkies]

Originally Posted by elenita

How do you tell the sex of them? thanks

Ummm.. the girl has her parts between her legs..the boys has a penis higher under the cord.

[elenita]

lol, yes, i saw it was easy to tell. 3 girls and 2 boys

[elenita]

ok I have a question about the new Mommy. She is panting all day and night. I know the vet said it was normal but it worries me. She breathes so fast even when resting. Is this normal for Moms? She is drinking a lot of water but is being very picky with her food. I feel helpless again. I just want her to relax and rest..(which she hardly does)

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by elenita

ok I have a question about the new Mommy. She is panting all day and night. I know the vet said it was normal but it worries me. She breathes so fast even when resting. Is this normal for Moms? She is drinking a lot of water but is being very picky with her food. I feel helpless again. I just want her to relax and rest..(which she hardly does)

Totally normal! Lots of head from her teats and the puppies. I always give my new moms tums while nursing, it gives them just enough calcium. Tums are easy to break up and put on food, but my girls love the fruit flavored ones and eat them like treats. They get 1 per day. I only do it for the first 2 weeks, I don't know if others give calcium longer or not but my vet said 2 weeks is enough.

To get her to eat I would mix some canned puppy food with her kibble. And move the food so it is right where she can reach without getting up. I have found that they just do not want to leave their pups for any reason those first couple of weeks. and that includes moving a foot to get to their food.

Hopefully that will help.

Also, when I have a dog in labor I keep the whelping box near me and I put a leash on them and tie it to the whelping box so they cannot get out. Once they start having the pups I remove it because at that point they no longer want to get up

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by mommadog1

I always give my new moms tums while nursing, it gives them just enough calcium. Tums are easy to break up and put on food,

Tums are actually NOT adequate for supplementing Calcium. Tums are not fortified with a carrier vitamin...the calcium in them does no good and is processed by the digestive system just as any other substance would be. The dog would actually get very little to no benefit from it at all...except maybe heartburn relief! (Long term, it can actually have adverse effects.) A better option would be to check with the vet regarding a Calcium supplement, feeding her a whelping pudding, or supplementing with cottage cheese. (Which adds a little extra appeal when mixed in with their food.)
There is a recipe here...maybe in one of the breeding stickeys?...that has a good pudding recipe.
At this point, she should be eating A LOT. Make sure she is on a quality, high protein food/puppy food. Mix in a little boiled chicken if she is still being picky.

[elenita]

Hello and thanks. Gezell refuses to eat anything but boiled white meat and some dog treats. Ive tried cesears food, puppy food, eggs, cherrios, carrots mixed up in different ways. Ive also tried the whelping pudding but she wont eat it. Not even dark meat of a chicken I even hand feed her while in her whelping box and hold the water for her while she drinks. She is a queen lol.. Is the panting all the time Normal. Whats signs would there be if she doesnt have enough calcium? She ate so good during pregnancy. The cottage cheese and all. She gets up during the night to come to me and rest but she is still panting when laying next to me. I called the ER Vet but all she did was look it up on line ..thats what i did so Im asking people with experience. Its all new to us so Im worried. Id take the birth over this anytime!!! At least that was 4 hours, this is 2 days now...thanks and I will call my vet when they open also.

[BamaFan121s]

Here are a few links with some information regarding Eclampsia. (aka 'not enough calcium') Also, you may want to contact JeanieK here...she recently had a new mom that had issues with eclampsia.

Eclampsia (Puerperal Tetany, Milk Fever, Hypocalcemia) in Dogs
Eclampsia in Dogs | Treatment Options

Were you feeding her cottage cheese before she whelped? Supplementing calcium is generally not something you should do until after the pups have arrived.

[BamaFan121s]

Also, you may want to watch her for signs of Mastitis. (aka 'milk fever') It can also lead to infection and fever which *could* be accompanied by lack of appetite and panting. (Panting is often present when there is fever, but that doesn't necessarily mean that is the case.)

Here is some information about Mastitis:
Canine Mastitis - LoveToKnow Dogs

A couple times each day, hold a warm compress to her belly for about 5-10 minutes. It will help to keep her milk flowing and will help alleviate some of the discomfort she has a result of nursing the pups.

Also, did your vet give her an oral antibiotic to take before and after her whelp to help prevent uterine infection?

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Tums are actually NOT adequate for supplementing Calcium. Tums are not fortified with a carrier vitamin...the calcium in them does no good and is processed by the digestive system just as any other substance would be. The dog would actually get very little to no benefit from it at all

Gonna have to disagree..

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Also, did your vet give her an oral antibiotic to take before and after her whelp to help prevent uterine infection?

Anti-biotics after birth? are ya nuts.. As a prevention?? Only time they should be given anti-biotics is when they actually have an infection.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by mommadog1

Gonna have to disagree..

Disagree all you want. This is not something that is a matter of opinion, it's a proven fact. If you feel comfortable taking that kind of risk with your dog, go ahead. Urging someone else to do the same = different story. Don't let it surprise you if someone comes along to suggest efficient options instead.

Originally Posted by mommadog1

Anti-biotics after birth? are ya nuts.. As a prevention?? Only time they should be given anti-biotics is when they actually have an infection.

Did I advise that the dog should be on antibiotics? No, I did not. I asked if the vet prescribed them as some do routinely for preventative measures. Never did I say, "hey, she should be on these already." I merely asked a question to see if was. If she is, then chances that she is acting that was as the result of an infection are lower. Giving them as a preventative measure is something each breeder/owner has to decide.

[mommadog1]

The reason for calcium AFTER whelp is to keep eclampsia at bay. Tums has plenty enough to help. they do not need a bunch unless they actually get eclampsia, and they don't need a bunch of supplements for prevention.

Severe panting is a classic sign of it, but it normally happens around 4 weeks after whelping.. Mastitis is NOT milk fever, eclampsia is known as "milk fever"...

The best way to prevent eclampsia is to avoid calcium supplementation during pregnancy and to feed the pregnant bitch a well-balanced, good quality food. Supplementation of the bitch with calcium may be helpful once the puppies are delivered and are beginning to nurse. Supplemental feeding of the puppies may also be beneficial, especially for large litters.

Giving extra calcium during pregnancy is what causes eclampsia. I never give my girls cottage cheese or yogurt during pregnancy.

Read about it here... The first one talks about using TUMS:

Tums for the Mommy

Eclampsia in Dogs

Canine Eclampsia... Hypocalcemia... Puerperal tetany... Milk Fever in Dogs .... Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia

[mommadog1]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Disagree all you want. This is not something that is a matter of opinion, it's a proven fact. If you feel comfortable taking that kind of risk with your dog, go ahead. Urging someone else to do the same = different story. Don't let it surprise you if someone comes along to suggest efficient options instead.

I will disagree because I happen to know for a fact that TUMS is quickly and easily absorbed and it most certainly works. This I know for a fact.

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

Did I advise that the dog should be on antibiotics? No, I did not. I asked if the vet prescribed them as some do routinely for preventative measures. Never did I say, "hey, she should be on these already." I merely asked a question to see if was. If she is, then chances that she is acting that was as the result of an infection are lower. Giving them as a preventative measure is something each breeder/owner has to decide.

Actually you implied it by asking if the vet gave it to her. Being more clear next time would be nice...