Feeding new mommies cause Bella is starving....

[Princessangela3]

Well it seems like she thinks she is. How much should Bella be eating while nursing? The vet said she could eat as much as she wants and to add 1/2 Calcium tab daily. She has eaten 1 can of wet food mixed with dry kibble(Chicken Soup for the Soul) she has also eaten at least one cup of whelping pudding since this am not including what she had while whelping. I have food and water right outside the whelping box but she will NOT come out of the whelping box for anything. We have to spoon feed her and then she devours what I offer her like she is starving. I have been feeding her every hour and giving water.

[bjh]

I would let her eat all she wants of the dog food. For my nursing mommas I always give them the dry food with the canned food 3 times a day. Each feeding I always fix more than what they will eat so if between feedings if they are still hunger they can go get more. I also leave out dry food. I have never given mine whelping pudding. I just am not convinced all that sugar is good for them. I did give my mommas 1/2 a Doc Roy's Healthy Bones (calcium supplement) twice a day and the first few days I give them a little Nutri-cal. I feel that it is important to make sure they eat right before bedtime. I usually hand feed my mommas the first few day if they are not wanting to get out of the box to eat.

[luckylady]

Oh yes, I agree! Feed her all that she wants to. She's got to eat enough to keep herself AND 5 little babies growing strong.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

Well it seems like she thinks she is. How much should Bella be eating while nursing? The vet said she could eat as much as she wants and to add 1/2 Calcium tab daily. She has eaten 1 can of wet food mixed with dry kibble(Chicken Soup for the Soul) she has also eaten at least one cup of whelping pudding since this am not including what she had while whelping. I have food and water right outside the whelping box but she will NOT come out of the whelping box for anything. We have to spoon feed her and then she devours what I offer her like she is starving. I have been feeding her every hour and giving water.

She's feeding 5 pups. Let her eat as much as she wants, have it available at all times. Whelping pudding, cottage cheese, kibbles, wet food.....Don't worry about her gaining weight, she'll loose it when the pups are start to transition to food. If the pups appear to be ravenous, you may want to supplement to assist mom.

The first 2 to 3 days she'll be reluctant to leave the pups, she's a good mom. She'll take care of the babes, so, you have to take care of her. Last night was nothing your real work starts now. I usually feed mom 4 or 5 times a day and leave some there if she should get hungry inbetween. I feed them their regular food and alternately add another dish of cottage cheese, whelping pudding, even the recipe I gave you last night.

[altigger74]

I usually leave the dry food out for her to free feed, the water, Gracie really didn't like it much unless I put ice cubes in it, and fed her moist food 3x a day with cottage cheese or yogurt.

[Princessangela3]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

She's feeding 5 pups. Let her eat as much as she wants, have it available at all times. Whelping pudding, cottage cheese, kibbles, wet food.....Don't worry about her gaining weight, she'll loose it when the pups are start to transition to food. If the pups appear to be ravenous, you may want to supplement to assist mom.

The first 2 to 3 days she'll be reluctant to leave the pups, she's a good mom. She'll take care of the babes, so, you have to take care of her. Last night was nothing your real work starts now. I usually feed mom 4 or 5 times a day and leave some there if she should get hungry inbetween. I feed them their regular food and alternately add another dish of cottage cheese, whelping pudding, even the recipe I gave you last night.

The recipe you gave me last night I did not realize I already had. I had your whelping pudding recipe also and that is the recipe I made. The vet said I may have to supplement the pups. I weighed them just a bit ago and the two smallest pups gained .1oz each and the other three gained .2 or .3 of an ounce. As long as they are gaining weight SHOULD I supplement them? They are little piggies one even makes piggy noises while nursing just like Bella. I LOVE IT!!!! I am feeding her every hour and we will continue to do this until she willingly leaves her box to do it herself. The food and water is right there 6 inches from her face if she would leave the box.
Also how do you tell the pups apart? I painted two puppies nails the first pup has no paint the second pup has paint on left front paw the third pup has no paint but he is huge compared to the rest, the fourth pup was the girl and fifth pup I painted his right paw. I am concerned nowthis may be bad for them. I do not want to put string around their necks. They are sooo little I dont want them to choke or mom to hook the string on her paw.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

The recipe you gave me last night I did not realize I already had. I had your whelping pudding recipe also and that is the recipe I made. The vet said I may have to supplement the pups. I weighed them just a bit ago and the two smallest pups gained .1oz each and the other three gained .2 or .3 of an ounce. As long as they are gaining weight SHOULD I supplement them? They are little piggies one even makes piggy noises while nursing just like Bella. I LOVE IT!!!! I am feeding her every hour and we will continue to do this until she willingly leaves her box to do it herself. The food and water is right there 6 inches from her face if she would leave the box.
Also how do you tell the pups apart? I painted two puppies nails the first pup has no paint the second pup has paint on left front paw the third pup has no paint but he is huge compared to the rest, the fourth pup was the girl and fifth pup I painted his right paw. I am concerned nowthis may be bad for them. I do not want to put string around their necks. They are sooo little I dont want them to choke or mom to hook the string on her paw.

Even if they're gaining, you supplement (goats milk with equal parts of distilled water is the closests thing to mothers milk). You are supplementing for her sake not theirs......

Mmm in a few days you'll be able to recognize your kids....look at them real careful, look for subtle differances. I've used liquid paper a small drop, hidden so mom doesn't go nuts when she sees it, in different colors to keep them straight. You're right nothing that they or mom can choke on.

Question did you cut Bella down? If her coat is too long the pups can get strangled up in it. It's happened. That's why show people wait to breed a female until she finishes her Championship.

[Princessangela3]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Even if they're gaining, you supplement (goats milk with equal parts of distilled water is the closests thing to mothers milk). You are supplementing for her sake not theirs......

Mmm in a few days you'll be able to recognize your kids....look at them real careful, look for subtle differances. I've used liquid paper a small drop, hidden so mom doesn't go nuts when she sees it, in different colors to keep them straight. You're right nothing that they or mom can choke on.

Question did you cut Bella down? If her coat is too long the pups can get strangled up in it. It's happened. That's why show people wait to breed a female until she finishes her Championship.

Yes we did cut Bella down Sunday evening. She had long tummy hair so it made sense. We did it ourseleves and not a job either of us is proud of

I think when I look at them I can tell them apart subtle differences like an itty bitty patch of white, one has more tan than all the others, the girl is obvious, the fat one is now claimed by my bf and nicknamed TANK of all things because of his size compared to brothers and sister.

I heard you can drown a puppy bottle feeding. How do I effectively supplement without harming the pups? I do have syringes and IV tubing, botles, you name it I will get it. I have goats milk already and we have well water here so I ONLY use bottled water for the family including the animals.

I think you have now answered all my question for tonights phone call!

Thanks again for all your help!

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

Yes we did cut Bella down Sunday evening. She had long tummy hair so it made sense. We did it ourseleves and not a job either of us is proud of

I think when I look at them I can tell them apart subtle differences like an itty bitty patch of white, one has more tan than all the others, the girl is obvious, the fat one is now claimed by my bf and nicknamed TANK of all things because of his size compared to brothers and sister.

I heard you can drown a puppy bottle feeding. How do I effectively supplement without harming the pups? I do have syringes and IV tubing, botles, you name it I will get it. I have goats milk already and we have well water here so I ONLY use bottled water for the family including the animals.

I think you have now answered all my question for tonights phone call!

Thanks again for all your help!

I don't use a bottle but, a 3 cc syringe one that you can attach a premie nipple to. I fill the syringe with milk (and I know this is going to be tuff with five, I did it with 3 when my mom went down and she couldn't nurse her pups) attach the nipple, the plunger should be completely out. Doing it this way helps you monitor what they are taking in and doesn't allow them to take too much milk in at once. The plunger allows you to just administer a bit of milk into the nipple at a time and lets them suck slowly. It also, inhibits the chance of colic. Oh don't forget to burp. If you'd like I'll call you and we can go over a few more things you'll be running into.

I always have a bigger one in the litter, but I usually name that one the Toad.

[Princessangela3]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I don't use a bottle but, a 3 cc syringe one that you can attach a premie nipple to. I fill the syringe with milk (and I know this is going to be tuff with five, I did it with 3 when my mom went down and she couldn't nurse her pups) attach the nipple, the plunger should be completely out. Doing it this way helps you monitor what they are taking in and doesn't allow them to take too much milk in at once. The plunger allows you to just administer a bit of milk into the nipple at a time and lets them suck slowly. It also, inhibits the chance of colic. Oh don't forget to burp. If you'd like I'll call you and we can go over a few more things you'll be running into.

I always have a bigger one in the litter, but I usually name that one the Toad.

I forgot to ask you on the phone about burping and amounts? How much do I want to supplement the pups? How am I to burp them?
When I tried to feed them last night from the bottles I held them in my hand with their backs against my palm head supported and almost vertical just with a little angle. Is this correct?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

I forgot to ask you on the phone about burping and amounts? How much do I want to supplement the pups? How am I to burp them?
When I tried to feed them last night from the bottles I held them in my hand with their backs against my palm head supported and almost vertical just with a little angle. Is this correct?

1 or 2 pups each feeding about 1 or 2 ccs and in about a week you'll want to take one or 2 off her each feeding that you can and completely supplement....she'll be producing more milk as they demand more....you don't want her milk to dry up or you'll be stuck feeding pups around the clock for the next 3 weeks.

The way you described holding is correct. Just pat and rub their backs lightly with your fingers...they'll burp.

[Princessangela3]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

1 or 2 pups each feeding about 1 or 2 ccs and in about a week you'll want to take one or 2 off her each feeding that you can and completely supplement....she'll be producing more milk as they demand more....you don't want her milk to dry up or you'll be stuck feeding pups around the clock for the next 3 weeks.

The way you described holding is correct. Just pat and rub their backs lightly with your fingers...they'll burp.

Ok I think I have it. Can I reuse the 3cc syringes or new ones every time? I also have a box of 5 cc's that have tips I think the nipples will fit that we can no longer use at my work I will use those later in next week.

I am leaving work early today and will be off tomorrow. I dont think I am ready to be away from Bella or the puppies all day just yet!! I never would have thought I personally would feel so protective of Bella and the pups. It is not that I think Josh my son or Shaun my bf cannot handle the situation becaue they are great but I am having anxiety not seeing for myself and wondering how it is going, how everyone is doing, why Bella was trying to get under the bed (Bellas favorite place is under our bed) etc etc etc....If I ever do this again with a different dog I think I will just take a couple weeks off for my peace of mind.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Princessangela3

Ok I think I have it. Can I reuse the 3cc syringes or new ones every time? I also have a box of 5 cc's that have tips I think the nipples will fit that we can no longer use at my work I will use those later in next week.

I am leaving work early today and will be off tomorrow. I dont think I am ready to be away from Bella or the puppies all day just yet!! I never would have thought I personally would feel so protective of Bella and the pups. It is not that I think Josh my son or Shaun my bf cannot handle the situation becaue they are great but I am having anxiety not seeing for myself and wondering how it is going, how everyone is doing, why Bella was trying to get under the bed (Bellas favorite place is under our bed) etc etc etc....If I ever do this again with a different dog I think I will just take a couple weeks off for my peace of mind.

You can use the same one, just wash in super hot water. You sure can use a 55cc syringe, if the nipples fit.

What you are feeling is perfectly normal. My husband tries to be so reassuring, however, I feel he doesn't know my dogs as well as I do. I do know with my last litter, when my girl went down, I knew something wasn't right with her for a couple of days. He kept saying she's fine, I kept saying she's not right. Just real subtle things. I was right.

Taking off for a couple weeks is a good thing. For you and her.