Rose does not want to nurse today - Page 3

102.5 is the high side of normal.

Oops, my bad! Last time I had a dog that needed its temperature taken on a daily basis, it had an unusually low temp. It was always around 99 degrees. For THAT dog, 102 F. WAS a fever!

I think it's really important to know your dog's baseline temp., because what's normal for one dog may not be normal for another.

Same goes for humans. 98.6 is only the average for the entire population.

Very true. My normal is about 97. 

Persistent silence from the OP is worrying me, hope everything's OK! jackie harris

Yes any higher than 102.5 COULD be trouble, that is why I said up to that degree no higher.  Call the vet.  New mama's can and usually have that temperature;  due to milk, puppies cuddling and so forth.  How is everyone today?  I would probably just go ahead and feed those puppies, just go down the line and let them drink from a baby bottle;  make sure they are getting enough.  Nine is a lot of puppies, mama dog just might be overwhelmed and fatigued;  make sure she is getting enough to drink;  here is a mama dogs cocktail.

Chicken broth, low sodium, add egg yolk only (no white) a tiny drop of karo syrup mix with warm water to bring up to room temperature for her and give her a cup or so 2 or 3 times per day;   helps with milk production AND my help to stimulate her appetite.  BOL  Nan

I am sorry.  It has been a long weekend and I am just now catching up.

1.  Rose had 2 infected breast.  She went down hill at the speed of lightning starting Friday.  She is recovering now with antibotics. 
The biggest challenge is to get her to eat.  She lost 10 lbs from Thursday to Saturday morning.  The vet has sent some lab tests off; hopefully we will have answers by tomorrow or Thursday.
     Rose started getting some of her energy and desire to eat yesterday evening.  Now we just wait and see.  We push anything we can get her to eat; including Ensure.

2.  Puppies are doing well.  All look like little rolly pollies.  Good weight gain.  I am supplimenting them with formula.  They get about 50% of their food from me for now.

Thank you everyone for your advise and support, especially Friday night went things started to go so wrong.  Rose is everthing to me next to God, my husband, and my son.   When I took her back to the vet yesterday, all I could say was "fix her, whatever it takes.  That is why credit cards were invented."

Mastitis, especially some types of mastitis from specific organisms, can make an animal very very sick.. Life threatening sick. 

I know.  I lost a couple of cows to this in my 20 years as a dairy farmer.  E Coli masitis can be one of the worst.. the bacteria itself does not make the animal sick, but when the bacteria dies it releases toxins and the toxins can kill the animal.

I am glad all are doing MUCH better.  Good Luck.

I'm so very glad you caught this in time! I send best wishes for a speedy & full recovery for Rose, & continued good health for her babies. And, some rest for you as well. jackie harris

Best wishes for Rose, hope she's feeling better very soon!

Fawndallas, very rapid weight loss such as your bitch had is mostly water weight, as us women know all too well! (Fat just doesn't want to leave THAT quickly.) With all those pups nursing and pulling fluids from her, she can get dehydrated very quickly. Make SURE she's got lots of water available at all times.

Do you know how to check for dehydration? You take a pinch of loose skin, and twist it. If it falls back immediately, the dog is generally okay. If it stays tented for a second or two, the dog is seriously dehydrated and needs to be rushed to the vet for intravenous or subcutaneous fluids.