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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Question about female's behavior after having pups (15 replies)
Question about female's behavior after having pups by Keengagurl on 16 February 2012 - 14:39 |
| This is my and my dog's first time breeding/having pups. She did excellent through her pregnancy and her whelping went very well. She only had 2 pups which is ok with me for her first litter since we only had 1 tie. She caught on to being a mother quickly which I didn't think would be a problem. But now the pups are 3 days old and she came into my bedroom at 3:30am whining and acting anxious (like she did when she was in labor) so I took her outside to potty and she barely did anything. I checked on the pups and they looked fine (sleeping) so I started to go back to bed and she followed me up the stairs still whining. I took her back downstairs and made her lay with the pups and stay. She then woke me up at 7am whining and acting anxious again so I took her outside and again she didn't really do much. I took her temp and it was 100.5 so in the normal range. The pups have gained .3lbs each in the past 2 days so they appear to be eating ok and they don't act cold. I've checked her nipples to make sure they're not infected or anything. Does anyone have experience with this so I can help relieve my female's anxiety. She's normally a calm dog except when she wants to play then she gets vocal if we aren't paying attention to her. Could it be she's wanting more attention from us? We're trying to give her space to deal with the pups her way and I think she's doing a pretty good job. Any ideas would be helpful at this point. I just want to make sure she and the pups are ok. I talked to the vet and they said I could bring her in but they don't want to stress her out if they don't have to so to take her temp and if it's normal just observe her and see if it continues. |
Keengagurl by fzarkowski on 16 February 2012 - 14:52 |
| Do you know for sure she had only 2 pups inside of her. I would get her to the vet ASAP. |
by Keengagurl on 16 February 2012 - 15:03 |
| We took her in to see the vet the day she had her puppies. They examined her, gave her a shot of oxitosyn (sp?) and an antibiotic shot just to be sure. But they didn't feel and pups and neither did I before I took her in. Also didn't hear any more heartbeats. We did an ultrasound and they only saw 2 pups. I know ultrasounds aren't 100% reliable but she never got really big so I'm fairly certain she only had 2 pups. With it being her first litter and only having 1 tie neither the vet nor myself were too worried. I also talked to the owner of the male and she said not to be to concerned because of it being her 1st litter and only having 1 tie that's probably all that took. |
by Nans gsd on 16 February 2012 - 15:34 |
| I would still take her in for an x-ray; my friends bitch retained a dead puppy and decomposing puppy for 5 days after her litter of 8 were born, soooo, I would not take any chances; it could cost you the bitch so be very observant. My friend gave her bitch tums to give you some x-tra calcium and lots of fluids and her pup finally came out on it's own. But she COULD have lost the bitch had she waited any longer or had she not been home. So, best of luck Nan |
by macrowe1 on 16 February 2012 - 15:38 |
| I would get her to a vet. 2 isn't a normal size litter for a larger dog, I would make sure there isn't another one in her. Oxytocin just speeds up the labor process, doesn't guarenteee anything. I work as a vet tech and we've pulled out pups before that had been in the uterus days after the birth. Can make a dog septic. I would take her in just in case. |
macrowe1 by NigerDeltaMann on 16 February 2012 - 15:39 |
| Try to know if she's hungry or not. Also check if she wants to stay closer to you: may be where she had/stay with her pups' too distant from where you both sleep: this is dependant on your level of closeness. Cheers n gdluck. |
by GSDguy08 on 16 February 2012 - 15:50 |
| I would take her to the vet for an x ray to be safe. |
GSDguy08 by JudyK on 16 February 2012 - 16:26 |
| Give her calcium. I've had similar experiences with post whelping anxiety and calcium solved the problem. Judy |
by joanro on 16 February 2012 - 17:26 |
| Judy is wright. Eclampsia. |
by spartshep on 16 February 2012 - 20:55 |
| I would give nothing until you first see a vet and find out the cause of the anxiety. An x-ray, cbc and a chem panel is in order here before giving e-lytes. A set of vital signs would not hurt, either. The alternative is to give Pedialyte in place of or in conjuncton with her water. Goat yogurt in her food is fine, too. Good nurition and enough of it is essental. I wish you well with your litter and the mother! Connie Constance Krebs, RN Spartanville Shepherds cbkrn@spartanville.com www.spartanville.com |
spartshep by Beardog on 17 February 2012 - 00:34 |
| I had milk fever take the best out of a bitch while I was at a Sieger Show and had my sons caring for the bitch and new pups. When I got home all that I had to do was walk into check her and I knew something was all wrong. Immediately to the vet, xrayed her, calcium and normal saline IV and back home with her to the pups after I waited for her for a few hours. Check her milk sack and teats to make sure that her temperature there isn't rising too. I wouldn't wait--get her blood work done and get her xrayed, it's worth that for peace of mind. These things really knock the shine off of a good female. She could also simply want you to keep her company and be close. I have a bitch that won't leave the whelping box unless I'm home and will only let me handle her pups. It's funny but she will let my old alpha female look at them and nuzzle them, and she watches with a smile on her face while the old alpha plays with her pups in the yard. I had kept her on Calcium and supplements during the pregnancy too. |
Beardog by Kalibeck on 17 February 2012 - 01:05 |
| My bitch was whining & anxious 24 hours after whelping a litter of 6, which was what our vet saw on x-ray of pups, & after some yogurt whelped another pup! This pup was barely breathing & couldn't nurse, but did survive after being massaged a little & gently suctioned out. But if I had been home when the whining started she would have gone to the vets, unfortunately I was at work, & my husband didn't want to take her & leave the pups at home, so he gave her the yogurt to provide her with a little calcium & nourishment, & when I got home, he was massaging another little pup that had just been born. So, i don't think you could go wrong with a vet check just to be sure. Better safe than sorry! Good luck! jackie harris |
Kalibeck by Kalibeck on 17 February 2012 - 19:03 |
| Any updates? jackie harris |
by Keengagurl on 18 February 2012 - 05:46 |
| Well we went to the vet, temp is normal, bloodwork is normal, they took a sample of the vaginal discharge and checked it for infection and came out normal. Vet said she thinks she's ok but if we feel something is wrong over the weekend to give them a call and someone would come check on her. We did start giving her some cottage cheese with her food and so far no more anxiety. If she doesn't want to go into the box with the pups when they act hungry then I just go sit in with her petting her as she feeds them and she does just fine. Then tonight she's been in with the pups most of the night so she's acting more normal. Not sure what the issue was but will definately stay vigilant. Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments! |
by mirasmom on 18 February 2012 - 13:02 |
| She will only have anxiety if you have anxiety, this is her first litter and she is looking to you for comfort, I would have got my pillow and laid down next to her, making sure pups were all nursing, and that she didn't lay on any. That's the beauty of raising pups. The issue was a first time mom that relies very much on her human mom! Please post a picture of your pups when you get a chance, Thanks, Paula |
mirasmom by Keengagurl on 18 February 2012 - 19:03 |
 Right after birth of the puppies  Evening of Birth Day  |
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