Getting a bitch to accept pups after c section - Page 1

My 2 year old bitch was imported pregnant. She went into labor and had complications and needed a c section. She has 9 pups but since she has never had pups before and woke up to babies she has no idea what to do. If I'm with her she will lay with them but if I leave the room she jumps up and runs away. She will let them nurse if I'm in there and she will clean them if I hold them up to her. It has only been about 18 hours since the c section. Does anyone have any advice on what to do or if it will get better? Thank you.

No definitive answer each dog different. I have been here and can tell you the anesthesia played a major role in my bitches recovery back to mom. Until her head completely cleared many days later she seemed lost and distant. 2 years can be also young, the maturity of the individual will play a role as well it could be a triple negative and lots of hours ahead. you will have to stay seriously in the game until the cloud in her head clears and you see where it goes.

Keep doing what you are doing with her cleaning and nursing them will go a long way to her brain clicking on to Motherhood.

To be safe for a while, when you are not with her crate her next to the puppies, I mean the pups inches from the opening so that she can hear and see them at all times.  Some new Mothers will kill pups in the first few days until they grow up

Good luck

Bottle feed to be sure they are all getting enough to eat. Good luck welcome to doggie motherhood. Nan

I would not bottle feed at this stage You want them hungry to be sure they suck and start the hormones if you have the time to sit with them it is best. 

You also don't want different foods in their system even more problems at this age

If you can keep track of their weights and her temperature

 

Thanks all. Yes I am sitting with her every second. She has started cleaning them on her own now. Still no excited to lay down but she will and she is now stretching out on her own to give them all access. I'm not bottle feeding or tube feeding. Vet says let them sick to release the oxytocin to hopefully trigger a mama response. It's working.... she has majorly relaxed. Although she LOVES crates and wanted to "escape" to one any chance she could so I went this morning and got a huge wire one after pups fed and I put her in a crate right next to them. She has been thrilled to have a Den .... she wanted no part of the whelping box. Whatever works I guess. She has lots of room and I'm sitting with her. I won't leave her alone with them for at least a few days or until she willingly lays with them. Thanks all.

Sounds good

I have one who will move them into a crate if I leave the big one open