German Shepherd dog

What are some ways to coax a first time mommy to eat. The pups are just over 24hrs old and mom still hasn't eaten or had a drink of water. The food and water are right next to her. Should she just be allowed to eat and drink when she is ready? Im only concerned about the milk drying up for the puppies if she doesn't have any food or water in her system. What are yalls thoughts

I use raw liver all by itself.  Can cause loose stools but I did not have too much of a problem in that direction.  Ice cream might work - mine prefer it to yogurt or cottage cheese.  I use ice cream just to get her going.  Try warm chicken broth for liquid.  I continue to add raw liver to her normal food for several weeks.  Hope this helps.

Judy

 Judy  I am surprised   with the liver suggestion , due to the bitch eating the after birth   which aways causes a looser  extreme dark stool . I would be affraid raw liver  would cause  diareah .  keep in mind the female has not taken in anything since given birth. Chicken broth diluted with warm water I have used and causes no problems    however it is not as efficient as   honey water for energy . 

Most important thing is  that the bitch is not spiking a fever   if she is content nursing she will  most likle start eating the next day.

If she isnt drinking try some luke warm tea it usually works!!!

Not to worry.  Check her temp.  If normal she is probably fine.  She does not need to produce much milk for the first week or so as the pups are so small.  Her milk and appetite will increase greatly as the pups reach two weeks of age adn are really nursing hard.  Then she wil eat...a lot.  Expect to increase her food by three by then.   Give her access to fresh water, make sure it is away from the pups as they can get into water and drown.  Make sure her area is free of drafts but not so hot that she is uncomfortable.   Handle all pups every day checking weights, feeling if they are plump and hydrated, and have a clean odor about them.  Contented puppies are quiet, plumb and twitch when sleeping.

Good luck

Susan

Thanks everyone again. She did lap up the water and honey and her temperature is 102.4. So I think she is fine. The puppies are all quiet and plump because they just finished eating im sure they will be up soon being active and cooing for mama.

THanKs

My vet had me make my female an eggnog out of 3 eggs, milk and dextrose. If you don't have dextrose you can use some honey. My female lapped it up like it was getting away from her. He had me give her this every 3 hours until she was ready to eat her food.

The vet sold canned food from Science Diet (A/D).  Mixed it in with the food and the mommies gobble it up.  It is very high in protein and smells like s---, but they love it.  Usually after a week of eating this mixed in, things will go back to normal. 

To your original post,

24 hours..  move the food and water away a bit, dont lay it right next to her.   And give her some peace and quiet, leave her alone.   She's probably just as nervous as you would be.   24 hours is nothing.

I find my girls in the first couple days don't want to leave the nest to eat..   so I take the food to them.. into the box.. and they seem to eat fine.    

My girl wouldn't take anything but chicken broth and yougurt for the first day, and ...Surprise! She had another pup almost 24 hours after the labor had begun! But we could tell she wasn't quite right, she wouldn't completely settle down,and we kept in close contact with the vet; we would have had her in to the vet if it had kept up much longer. But then, after the last little girl arrived, (small but amazingly healthy) she settled down, and it took her a good 12 hours after the last one to really start eating well again, but she had all the placentas, she wouldn't even let them touch the paper, and the vet said that would keep her digestive system unsettled for a couple of days, not to worry as long as her temp was no higher than 102.4. jh