Okay, Now I'm Worried! - Page 1

Remember my friend's bitch, the one that had pyometra last year?

Remember how she conceived following the pyo? And the vet who did the ultrasound said a) it was a miracle that she was preggers, and b) she was likely going to have only 2 or 3 puppies?

Remember how we actually got NINE??? 

Well, she had an ultrasound on Wednesday, and this time they say she probably IS going to have NINE!!


Yup, I'm worried. Her owner is in shock.

I wasn't there for the u/s, but supposedly the vet saw 4 or maybe 5 on one side, and possibly 8 on the other.

And yes, I can add. That's 12 or 13, NOT NINE!!

Anyone have any good plans for a whelping box??  A very LARGE whelping box??  

Sounds like you are going to have more issues than worrying about a whelping box there...LOL  not only do you have a whelping box to make but also have your friend get ready to suppliment the pups as with that many the poor bitch won't be able to feed all of the lil guys. Good luck and hope everything goes well for your friend and the bitch also

Don't worry, we had goat's milk on hand last time, and tried to feed this one little guy that was too weak to suck, using Leerburg's formula.

Not-so-fond memories of rushing out to the all-night grocery store at 2 am to buy more milk because the stuff in the fridge had gone sour.

Even less fond memories of my friend having to tube-feed the little guy. She watched the video on the Leerburg site over and over before actually doing it.  He lived about 24 hours.

Talk about a steep learning curve!

THIS time, come hell or high water,  we will have reliable veterinary help on call.  Last time the emergency clinic said, "Is the bitch in distress?"
"No, we just want to make sure there's no more puppies in there."
 "Well, you'll have to wait 2 or 3 hours, then, because we're VERY busy!"  
When we asked her (the vet tech) if we could talk to the vet, she said "No, he's too busy."

We might not have lost those last two, if we'd had better support.

Seriously, folks, if someone has a good design for a whelping box that can be assembled then dismantled when it's no longer needed, I'd like to see it.  The wading pool we used last time ain't going to cut it!

Thanks!

I had a bitch some years ago that had 12 puppies. They all lived and by the time the pups were ready to place, they all were about the same size. It was alot of work on my part (I wasnt working at the time) as I made sure everyone got their share at the milk bar. I did have to start them early on food which I didnt care for. They had to start eating at 3 weeks because mom just couldnt keep up.

I kept one of the pups from the litter and he turned out to be a fantastic dog. So I guess the early eating didnt seem to bother him much. I used a pool for the first 4 weeks then my now ex built them a welping box so they could get around and be confined. I loved every minute of it. AND I LOVED WHEN THEY FOUND NEW HOMES.

 

You don't like to use Kiddie Pools for whelping? I always thought they were ok.

Let me tell you what I used when my bitch had 13 recently: a pedestal bed. I just blocked off the area with a puppy playpen and had an enclosure 3'x 6'. It only lasted about 2 weeks that way; then I just extended the playpen out into the room and doubled their area. It STILL only lasted until they were 3.5 weeks old and I tossed them out into the kennel. And that is with only 10 survivors. 

The plus is that I could sleep "upstairs" during labor, and I also have a spare bed even though the dogs got the extra room.

Of course that bed wasn't easy to come by; took me months to figure out a system that would work for me. I think I'd just get a kiddie pool....but a big one!!! 

Hope it all goes well for you. Keep us up to date!

The main problem with the pool is the one we used last time won't be big enough for a large litter, and, it doesn't have any pig rails.