Getting ready for the big day!! I have a few questions
 

Ok Lady Bella is now 48 days she is scheduled for xrays next monday she will be 54 days I need some advice on what food I should be adding to her feeding she is only on dog food and not sure if I should be giving her any extra things :rolleyes: I got her whelping box ready from all the information I have read here I just want to make sure I am ready and that I am not missing anything PLEASE HELP! :eek:
I got the Whelping box and made the entrance like trini and cocos box
I put a pee pee pad on the bottom
a towel on top of the pee pee pad
a blanket on top of the towel
I have wash towels
I got receiving blankets
kids scissors
dental floss
thermometer
nasal aspirator
dropper
heating pad
scale
I need help in what milk supplement I should have for puppies
And also any advice is very very helpful :)
I AM SO NERVOUS :(

Sounds like you're pretty prepared to me. Most vets will recommend you put them on puppy food after breeding, so it might not hurt to start her now. There's a great website out there that helped me a lot. I'll try to get the url and send it to you. Good luck!

We had goat milk on hand. Molly-mom just loved it. Especially while she was nursing the pups. We gave her a doggy daily multiple vitamin and calcium according to her weight. Fortunately, we did not need any supplement for the pups, she nursed them until 8 weeks old and all were very healthy.

The Goat's Milk is much better if it is fresh. The canned is evaporated. The puppy supplement I use is Esiblac or something like that. Also, I put mine on puppy food as soon as I know they are pregnant. I give wet puppy food mixed with a tablespoon of cottage cheese in the morning, then leave dry puppy food down all day. As she gets bigger, I give her three smaller meals a day because there is no room in their tummy for larger meals. I only give the cottage cheese once a day tho and the vet said she didn't need anything else pre whelp. post whelp, she still gets the cottage cheese and a calcium packed pudding I make. She get cottage cheese in the morning and the pudding is mixed in with her other meals about a tablespoon at a time. Silk only had one live puppy so she didn't get a calcium pill but Kandy is smaller and had five puppies so he gave me a calcium supplement to give her each day in addition to what I already give her. I will start cutting back on her meals as they puppies start being weaned.

Thanks so much for the information I will start to give her cottage cheese in the mornings also what milk do I need to have for the puppies in case the cant get it from mommy???

looks like youre very prepared :thumbup:

I would add to your kit:

hemostats one curved and one small straight
just born milk replacer
bottles
nutridrops
benebac
tums


good luck I know you must be excited

Sorry not sure what they are used for can you please let me know
Hemostats? and how to apply nutridrops and benebac??
Also can you please tell me what kind of bottles and where can I get the just born milk replacer??
Thanks so much I am new at this sorry :confused: for all the questions and many THANKS for all the advice :D

hemostats one curved and one small straight
used for the embilical cord to crush it if you need and the other to hold the cord so you dont lose the placenta
just born milk replacer with colostrum
in case you need to suppliment the pups
bottles
in case you need to hand feed any of the pups
nutridrops
if you have a weak pup put a drop on your finger and wipe it on the tongue
(couple times a day until he/she gets stronger)
benebac/gel not the powder
if you have a weak pup put a bit on their tongue once a day for about 3 days
tums
for mom 1/2 tab morning and 1/2 tab at night after whelping

hope this helps

oh and dont forget
quickstop
qtips
ky gel

"quick stop" if the cord continues to bleed take a qtip and dab a minor amount on it

ky gel if a pup is breech and needs some help getting out

if you want to call me dont hesitate, happy to help!

Surgical gloves.
Extra small box to transfer puppies to. Just in case mom gets a little acrobatic while dilvering the next puppy. I also use it to put puppies in while I'm changing bedding.
A heating lamp with infared bulb to keep puppies warm when away from mom.

The quick stop powder???

Sceptic Stics do well too.

Thanks :) I'm on my 2nd litter but this will be my first normal delivery (hopefully) as the 1st was with a c section with a different female. So this will be a first time for me as well. Can I get these at a drug store?

We are on day 56 today :) She's not looking that big.

A lot of the stuff you can get at the Drug Store, other's may have to ask your vet for.

Here's a list taken from Terri Schumsky's book some or most have been mentioned.
1. Scale for weighing puppies
2. Nutri-Cal
3. Clean, dry towels (preferable hand towels and wash cloths)
4. Sterile three-inch gauze pads to dry inside pups' mouths.
5. Alcohol to sterilize instruments and hands
6. Betadine Skin Cleaner
7. Several hemostats (keey forceps-7") at least 3 straight (for clamping placenta, so you won't loose it) and one curved , to clamp unbilical cord.
8. Iodine to apply to umbilica cord to aid in drying and kill germs
9. Sterile coton balls, baby bottles and preemie nipples
10. Tube feeding kit-No. 5 toy feeding tube for toys.
11 Glucose solution.
12. Esbilac or other formula Just Born
11. Rectal thermometer and KY Jelly
12. Room thermometer to monitor temperature of whelping area, which should be approximately 80 degrees and reduce daily.
13. Syringes- 10cc and 20cc for giving medicine and measuring formula
14. Pure glycerin, which is good to use for a quick enema
15. Eydroppers
16. Blood stop powder
17. Cotton thread or dental floss
18. Silver nitrate sticks to stop bleeding at unbilical and when removing dew claws and tails.
19. Nasal syringe (infants to suction nose and mouth
20. Sterile surgical glove

OMG DELIVERY OMG, I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS THIS HARD TO DELIVER!! OMG MY MUTT USED TO DO IT ALL ON HER OWN, YOrkies need help then, wow i just thought it was get one after the other, and repeat. ... sounds like alot of work

Make sure your mom is cut down before delivery, puppies have been known to strangle in their mother's coats.

Once my mother's temp has dropped and has stayed down for 12 hours, I usually bath mom using a medicated bath

Yep! and it just starts with delivery portion. Get plenty of rest yourself, cause it just starts with the whelping. Watching, weighing pups, taking temps, making sure each nipple is nursed on and puppies are getting enough, puppies aren't getting chilled. Making sure mom isn't upset or stressed, keeping her and babies confined and away from other dogs. Taking mom out to potty, making sure her nipples are cleaned.

I strongly suggest that the mom be taken to the vet for an Posterior Oxytocin Pituitary (POP) shot 24-48 hours after delivery
Oh! Make sure that placenta's delivered too.

Cant Wait......keep Us Updated

I shaved my girls belly and will do it again. Her body is only about 1 1/2 inches right now. What about fleas? I'm having an issue right now and don't know what to do because I didn't want to treat her. any advice?

I'd contact your vet and get advice on what to do. Bathing her in Mild Dishwashing soap(DOVE) can help. Fleas can cause anemia and tapeworms if she ingests them. So do whatever you can to get rid of them. Make sure all her bedding is washed and kept as clean as possible. Vacume the area daily and empty the vacume cleaner bag after doing it.

Thank you! and of course all my dogs have them. I think I'm going to have to bomb the house (after getting everyone out) wash everything, vaccumm like you said and treat everyone but her and wash all the bedding and see if that helps. I have to wait till the weekend though to do it because of work.
Thanks!!!

Some of your dogs may have tapeworms already, might want to have them dewormed as a precaution.....not the whelping mom though. But, have a fecal done on her so that the vet can help you with what measures to take.
I use Bio-Groom Flea and Tic shampoo on dogs that have a problem. I strongly suggest that you put a topical on the rest of the dogs (not whelping mom though).

Bombing your house is a good step, but the yard must be treated too.......
and done again in a month.

Even though its winter here in Michigan? (treating the yard)

Where can I purchase that shampoo? and yes, I'll worm them all, thanks for that advice !!! I haven't seen any signs of worms though.

Thanks for all your help, your helping alot !!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:


OP: Sorry for being a thread stealer ! I don't mean to !!!!

you may want to ask your vet for revolution...it helps with a sundry of things

fleas
heartworm
some worms
mites
sarcoptic mange

its also safe for pregnant or nursing moms

buy the largest breed tubes then have your vet break down the dosage per lb...its far less expensive and most effective. You should treat every month for 3 months

Yes, treat the yard, can't be too cautious. Do your very best to get rid of them before the pups come......these little guys will get them too if you don't and being so small you don't want to subject them to anemia.

You can get Bio-groom through Petedge.com or Cherrybrook.com

You aren't being a thread stealer......if you need help, you shouldn't be afraid to ask, no matter what thread you need to do it on.

:eek: I am so affraid of the big day I THANK you so much for the advice and Breny I am glad I am not the only one please ask all you need because it also helps me to read the advice they give you ;)
Sometimes you just forget about something and with another person in the same situation it helps!
One more question where can I find the just born milk supplement?? :confused:

I bought some a couple weeks ago at walmart. I've seen it at Pet Supplies Plus too. I always have some on hand "just incase"!

Thanks for letting me ask questions too! There is always lots to learn !

The big day is scary, and it doesn't matter if it's your 1st litter or your
10th........each delivery is different.

Make sure that you've notified your vet and find out if he'll be available should anything go wrong, or for questions.

Oh! Here's a couple of recipes for mom after she's whelped, she'll need some energy.

1 Can of Goates Milk mixed with equal parts of water
1 Egg Yolk (beat)
1 tablespoon of Karo Syrup.
(I give this to my moms right after whelping)

Post Whelping Pudding

16 oz water
1 pkg unflavored Knox Gelatin
(micro to dissolve)
15 oz can evaporated milk
2 Tablespoons vanilla yogurt
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons white Karo Syrup
mix all ingredients in bowl let set in fridge until thickened. Spoon out as needed (I use for weaning and for tiny puppies for supplimental feeding)

Good Luck and remember if you need help, don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks so much for the recipes!!!
I have notified my vet and he is a friend so I asked him if he wanted to spend Christmas at my house just in case :rolleyes: lol!!!
I just hope its not on this day because it will be hard to get a hold of anyone :(