Lactating German shepherd nursing kittens - Page 1

I had a family member call me today desperate to save
3 kittens she found abandoned in her back yard. None of the rescues were able to help. I just happen to have a female still lactating from her last litter and we thought we would give it a try. What could it hurt?  It would at least give the little things a fighting chance. Well mama dog is accepting, nursing and cleaning them as if they were her own. I thought all GSD lovers would appreciate this. Now I will see if I can upload a picture. I did it! but my text is weird. 

OMG:  I have seen bitches accept other mother's litters and puppies, but kittens?  How wonderful is this breed...Nan

Fantastic! What a dog! What a good mom of any! I hope there are follow- ups on this heartwarming story!

Those kittens look very young, I'm surprised they can grasp the bigger nipple.  I hope they all flourish.  to your dog.  She is amazing.
Last year, my daughter raised one that the mother abandoned from two weeks on an eye dropper.  Now I  have her.  She thinks she is a human.



 

I had a female GSD (the one pictured in my avatar) that raised 2 abandoned kittens a few years back that a neighbor found, she was nursing a small litter of her own at the time, and we just put the kittens in her whelping box and she raised them just fine. 

That's cool.

I thought the nipple size on the GSD would be an issue too, RS.

Although I've heard of this before, it was with a smaller breed of dog and so easier for the kittens to nurse. Smaller breed dogs have nursed all kinds of other
species, from skunks to squirrels and other stuff too, I'm sure.

They did have a hard time at first with the large nipples but when they got really hungry I think they accepted the large nipples as their lot in life.
They are very young; still have dried umbilical cords. I am just thankfull we saved them and all 3 already have homes. I will update with pictures in a few days.
Stephanie