so..
- Thread starter kaykay21
- Start date
Be sure you have tons of calcium on hand for the bitch. If she gets restless or starts getting aggressive you need to get calcium in her quickly. Also plenty of fluids to help milk production and if needed fenugreek.
She needs yogurt or cottage cheese with every meal and also I would dissolve calsorb pills in water or just shove them down her throat for added calcium.
I would give my bitch a bowl of chicken broth cut with water to drink in between bowls of straight water. She would not leave her pups to drink so I took it to her. The salt in the chicken broth also encouraged her to drink.
That many puppies will deplete her calcium quickly.
She needs yogurt or cottage cheese with every meal and also I would dissolve calsorb pills in water or just shove them down her throat for added calcium.
I would give my bitch a bowl of chicken broth cut with water to drink in between bowls of straight water. She would not leave her pups to drink so I took it to her. The salt in the chicken broth also encouraged her to drink.
That many puppies will deplete her calcium quickly.
On average puppies should gain 8-10% body weight a day. They should feel full and solid when you pick them up. I would weigh them 3 times a day and record the weight.
If the bitch is overly fussy with the pups, or seems at all restless or frantic get calcium in her. Even before she goes to the vet. You want the bitch as quiet and content as possible.
In a couple weeks the eyes and ears will start opening. Keep the room dim and quiet for a few days. The new eyes are super sensitive. No flash pictures. I cringe when I see people taking flash photos of opening puppy eyes.
Fenugreek is available in the herb aisle of grocery store. I got mine at Kroger. You can give (she is a big bitch) so I would do 4 pills at least 2 times a day till she smells like maple syrup. Then back off the pills. But that is only if the pups do not seem content. Her milk should come in a couple days. Just because you cannot express milk doesnt mean she doesnt have enough. Dogs are not like cows. The milk will let down within a few seconds of the puppies working the bitch. You can watch it. They will be restless and bumping her. Then when the milk comes down the lines you see them settle down and fill their bellies.
Have some cabbage leaves on hand if she starts getting mastitis, also some calf liver if the puppies start fading.
If the bitch is overly fussy with the pups, or seems at all restless or frantic get calcium in her. Even before she goes to the vet. You want the bitch as quiet and content as possible.
In a couple weeks the eyes and ears will start opening. Keep the room dim and quiet for a few days. The new eyes are super sensitive. No flash pictures. I cringe when I see people taking flash photos of opening puppy eyes.
Fenugreek is available in the herb aisle of grocery store. I got mine at Kroger. You can give (she is a big bitch) so I would do 4 pills at least 2 times a day till she smells like maple syrup. Then back off the pills. But that is only if the pups do not seem content. Her milk should come in a couple days. Just because you cannot express milk doesnt mean she doesnt have enough. Dogs are not like cows. The milk will let down within a few seconds of the puppies working the bitch. You can watch it. They will be restless and bumping her. Then when the milk comes down the lines you see them settle down and fill their bellies.
Have some cabbage leaves on hand if she starts getting mastitis, also some calf liver if the puppies start fading.
I can attest to start looking for homes NOW. I had three bottle babies started networking them as soon as I brought them home. Still took 8 weeks to place all of them, and that was with the shelter providing free vet care /spay and taking one to an adoption event for me.
People don't like dark colored dogs. It's harder than you'd think to place them in to good homes. And trust me - it was hard enough feeding, crating, and training THREE puppies once they hit 6 weeks....I can't imagine 10...you are going to be MORE than ready for them to all be gone asap unless you have unlimted finaces and time on your hands. Just weaning *three* was an extra 9 cups of food a day. 30 cups of food a day for 10. Oy vey. That makes my wallet hurt just thinking about it. (Again, no milk from mom in my instance to supplement, but still....yikes!)
Granted, my experience may have beem scewed due to them being orphans so they needed that much more time from me, but holy cow was I ever ready for them to be gone. Lol Just the sheer amount of POOP.
(Orphaned kittens are sooooo much easier.)
People don't like dark colored dogs. It's harder than you'd think to place them in to good homes. And trust me - it was hard enough feeding, crating, and training THREE puppies once they hit 6 weeks....I can't imagine 10...you are going to be MORE than ready for them to all be gone asap unless you have unlimted finaces and time on your hands. Just weaning *three* was an extra 9 cups of food a day. 30 cups of food a day for 10. Oy vey. That makes my wallet hurt just thinking about it. (Again, no milk from mom in my instance to supplement, but still....yikes!)
Granted, my experience may have beem scewed due to them being orphans so they needed that much more time from me, but holy cow was I ever ready for them to be gone. Lol Just the sheer amount of POOP.
(Orphaned kittens are sooooo much easier.)
