Another question about pregnant dog.

[angelbow20]

anglebow- this is early to be producing milk. Maybe the vet was wrong in how far along she was. Any signs of restlessness, is not normal, and can even be signs of whelp. Also the twitching makes no sense. Unless she is actually in early labor and blinking because she thinks ' yes something is hurting me.." You really need to run her by the vet for a wellness visit.

Also- remember- she needs a oxytocin shot with in 12-24 hours after having the pups. Not only does this let the milk down, but also cleans things out to prevent pyrametia or mastitus.. You can actually loose the mother if this is not done... It also helps the runts gain weight as the milk becomes more calories .. Make sure you do it.
What food is she eating? she needs alot of calories now. Also during the labor, to keep her blood sugar up, you can make a " mommy cocktail". I take raw egg, molassas or honey, soaked in dog food ( I use bil jac during this time) and she should have this little cocktail about every 2 -3 hours. Mother nature is telling her not to bite down, so that little bit of kibble ( meaning a handful if that) needs to be really soaked in the raw egg. The moloassas is ony like a teaspoon.. ( if that..)

Umm well she is eating puppy chow mixed with purina or something and my mom gave her some leftover ham and cabbage and cheese. we also give her canned food mixed with her regular food. She is really filled with milk and they said she can start getting milk up to 2 weeks before and she is due around 2 weeks or less. She isnt really restless I put her in the house lastnight and we slept downstairs with her so I could watch her and she kept jumping on the one couch with my 3 old son and sleeping with him then moved to the one corner of the room to sleep. I have a few pics I took today so you can see how big she is and see if she looks ok.

[borzoimom]

Question- what do you mean you " put her in the house last night"? You do know being pregnant is a serious stress, and she should be in the house all the time... HOney- cabbage for a dog? YOu are lucky she does not have a major upset stomach..

[angelbow20]

well she is usaully in a special room that we made for the dogs and since she chews and doesnt like it inside our house much we didnt want to put her in right away because she usually wants right back out, yeah well I told her not to give the cabbage to her but she thought it would be fine. she still has been eating and playing so he isnt ready right yet I dont think. When we take her to the vet at 4 my dad will have him check everything and see how many she really has, I dont think she is carrying that many because she doesnt look that big and when we last looks we saw 2 or 3 but there could be more he said, we are keeping her in for good now until the pups are alot older or until we give them to there new homes.

[borzoimom]

Can she get out of the yard?

[Vela]

She got out of the yard and got pregnant, so yes she can.

[borzoimom]

Look- I am not going to sit here and tell you how I care for a female dog in whelp. None of that matters other than eduction. However- I will say this- being pregnant is a stress- especially in cold weather- the pups could die, or she could try to go find a warm place to give birth, outside in the elements- cold or not, another dog could hurt her etc. You need to bring her in the house. Make a warm place " in this dog room" for her to have her puppies- even if its a plastic childs swiming pool. Puppy food of what you are feeding is better, but its still lower in protein than adult food with this one. Whatever you do NOW OR NOT give her now, will take its toll on her body.
Two to 3 puppies my foot- I would easily say 6.. And by keeping her outside is probably why you guys are having pups anyway. After this over, please spay her.
Remember what I said about care after they are born. I would suggest a better food for this last two weeks and 4 weeks while the pups are nursing. I like Bil jac Select. Add a raw egg to it. She needs to eat 3 times a day as she can not hold that much in her stomach now with so little room. Just guessing- her normal body weight looks about 70 to me, so this pg she should get two cups 3 times a day - ie every 6 hours during the day. If she is less than that normal weight- then adjust. Whatever her normal weight was- you are adding one feeding. Example- if a food says 4 cups a day for a 60 pound dog- half of that is 2 cups- so she would get two cups on the mid day feeding. If her stomach gets upset from over eating, take the mid day feeding down a half cup.
I am desperately withholding judgement. What matters now is for her and unborn pups, and other things will come after we get through this. Unless you want the pups dead at birth, KEEP HER IN THE HOUSE. Whether she likes it or not. Even if she has to stay with you..

[applesmom]

According to the photos the puppies are still too far forward for birth to be imminent.

It usually takes at least a few days or more to move them all down towards the birth canal. If she does only have 3 (or 4) puppies in there I would be sure to have your vet on standby in case she needs an emergency c-section.
Even the process of moving 3 or four huge puppies toward the birth canal could exhaust her before the actual birth.

Just in case she is further along than you think, she should be set up in a seperate room inside with her whelping box whenever you can't keep an eye on her. If she should have the puppies outside and they are allowed to become chilled you could lose them all.

Also if she has a small litter you'll need to watch her very carefully for signs of mastitis. A combination of copious amounts of milk and a smaller than usual litter make a nursing mom a prime candidate for mastitis.

The hair on her stomach and around her rear and top of her tail should be trimmed before she gives birth too.

There are dozens of links available on the internet that are dedicated to the care of pregnant bitches, whelping, and care and raising of puppies. I'll be happy to post some of those links for you if you'd like.

Good luck. I hope all goes smooth as silk and all the pups grow up to be happy, healthy, beloved speutered pets with forever homes.

[borzoimom]

I was hoping so applesmom as she is pretty tucked but its hard to say.. I had a female drop in 48 hours..

[angelbow20]

Look- I am not going to sit here and tell you how I care for a female dog in whelp. None of that matters other than eduction. However- I will say this- being pregnant is a stress- especially in cold weather- the pups could die, or she could try to go find a warm place to give birth, outside in the elements- cold or not, another dog could hurt her etc. You need to bring her in the house. Make a warm place " in this dog room" for her to have her puppies- even if its a plastic childs swiming pool. Puppy food of what you are feeding is better, but its still lower in protein than adult food with this one. Whatever you do NOW OR NOT give her now, will take its toll on her body.
Two to 3 puppies my foot- I would easily say 6.. And by keeping her outside is probably why you guys are having pups anyway. After this over, please spay her.
Remember what I said about care after they are born. I would suggest a better food for this last two weeks and 4 weeks while the pups are nursing. I like Bil jac Select. Add a raw egg to it. She needs to eat 3 times a day as she can not hold that much in her stomach now with so little room. Just guessing- her normal body weight looks about 70 to me, so this pg she should get two cups 3 times a day - ie every 6 hours during the day. If she is less than that normal weight- then adjust. Whatever her normal weight was- you are adding one feeding. Example- if a food says 4 cups a day for a 60 pound dog- half of that is 2 cups- so she would get two cups on the mid day feeding. If her stomach gets upset from over eating, take the mid day feeding down a half cup.
I am desperately withholding judgement. What matters now is for her and unborn pups, and other things will come after we get through this. Unless you want the pups dead at birth, KEEP HER IN THE HOUSE. Whether she likes it or not. Even if she has to stay with you..

She is in the house now, we brought her in yesterday. She is exactly outside when she was out there its another room we made just for our dogs and for us when he lots of company, it has a doggy dog to go outside and its a heated room wita fireplace, but now she is inside.

[borzoimom]

Please CLOSE that doggie door. You do not want her to try and leave to have her pups. She needs to stay inside to feel at home to whelp... Make her a bed- even its a baby plastic pool with blankets.. Make her a bed..

[angelbow20]

Well we just got back from the vets and he said she has about 8 pups and that she is very healthy and that she can go from today til xmas, I do have people who breed dogs who I know that gave me there number incase I needed help as well as I know all about bottle feeding animals I have done it a dozen times to kittens that we saved or ones where the mothers died. I have all the numbers and everything on hand and im not a bad pet owner like some of you may think I take care of my animals very well, she got pregnant it was by mistake, it doesnt mean im a horrible owner or dont care for my pets, and dont worry they wont be going to the spca I have already lines up good homes and have sites saved on my computer for when she is giving birth and bought all the supplies.

[critter crazy]

WOW!!! She is Gorgeous!! I just love her coloring!! I know nothing about pregnant dogs, as I have never had one, But she looks ready to explode any minute!! Her teats are huge!!!