Smaller the litter, Greater chance of caesarian??? - Page 5

Congratulations again! Just a word of caution, you are not over the worst yet. The next 10 days will tell if the puppies are OK - not just your puppies, every breeder has the same ten days waiting period. Esbilac or any other infant formula works better than powdered milk for the bitch. And for the next time around - very important - never never cut the umbilical cord with scissors! The cord has a narrow portion about an inch or more away from the body. Tie the string around the root, at first loosely so that you can still stroke the blood/fluid towards the body of the puppy. Umbilical cord should remain longer intact but this is difficult because you don't have so many hands. Next, tighten the string. Then clip the artery forceps - the smallest type of artery forceps should be purchased - near the body of the puppy and hold it in place to prevent the umbilical cord from being pulled. Next, carefully tear the umbilical cord at the narrow section apart with your clean fingers using both hands. Never cut the umbilical cord! There will be no fluid coming out of the umbilical cord while you tear it apart, providing you do it right. As you do it, you will see how this works and how easy it is. After you seperated the umbilicalv cord, you may need a second string to tie the fringed end closer towards the body of the puppy.

Heatlamps: You may want to change to infrared bulb, more expensive, available in feed stores. Purchase the metal heatlamp shade in the chicken/poultry section, also more expensive. Don't touch the infrared bulb ever with your hands! Make sure when you purchase it, they may come in a pack of two, that the package is closed and has not been opened. These bulbs just go on you when somebody touches them with their hands, otherwise they last for about two or more years.

Thanks, Uvar - the vet cut 2 of the cords with scissors!! LOL!Thanks for the lesson, though - I'll try that next time. I used a serrated knife on the 1st one and tied it off with string - she ate the string off twice. Others I used scissors...because the vet did! How funny... Regarding milk - she appears to be coming just fine - although I know it's early. ***BUT, my 16 month old FINALLY just finished nursing (at night only) 3 days ago, so if I HAD to, I could bust out the breastpump and make my husband get to work again for the pups (hee hee hee - he'd LOVE that!) - it's GOT to be better for them than formula! Yeah, my husband said a few months ago that he could just imagine me if we had a big litter and not enough milk - he said he had this mental picture in his mind of walking in the bedroom after work and there I'd be - sitting up in the bed with 2 pups hanging off my chest! (TERRIBLE!!!) I can't see myself ever doing that, but I gotta say - if it saved a puppy, I'd do it in a heartbeat - call me crazy! Luckily, like I said, she's got plenty of milk! :)

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Awesome job, Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, Kelly. They are all over 1 lb today and nursing/sleeping like little champs. Momma is an awesome mother and they are just GORGEOUS - superb litter!!! I am so bad - spoiling the mom rotten so her milk will be rich in protein and fat....I gave her a whole stick of lightly salted Land o' Lakes Butter yesterday and she loved it! :)