fostering pregnant female - need advice fast

[Bridget]

Husband and I have never fostered before. The shelter we volunteer for recently received numerous small dogs from a hoarding situation. One is due to have puppies, probably any day. We decided to foster her and the puppies for a few weeks. It has been many, many years since we have had experience with birth or very young puppies. We are picking the girl up this afternoon and I am certain the shelter will give us much advice, but any suggestions anyone has would be most appreciated. Help! Husband is at home building a whelping box as I type this. What else does the mother need both before and after the birth? I am starting to panic, hope this works out ok!

[sagelfn]

These links may be helpful...

Whelping
Whelping Puppies, Woodhaven Style

Breeding Dogs

whelping box plans ?

Newborn Puppies....Care of the Newborn puppy

Raising puppies

Developmental Stages

Raising a Litter of Puppies: Stimulation, Sensitization, and Socialization | Suite101.com

Properly Socialized by Pat Schaap. Socializing by the rule of 7's

[selzer]

Thanks for helping.

I have not read all the links above but probably a lot of good info.

If possible, get her into a vet and do and ultrasound, x-ray is cheaper but only safe in the last week- ten days. That could help you know how many pups you are dealing with, and possibly how far along by how developed they are.

I use a regular digital thermometer from drug mart and take the temperature rectally twice a day. Her temperature will start at approximately 102 degrees, but go down over a couple of days, and bottom out below 99 degrees -- she should welp within 24 hours from this point. The temp WILL go back up thought, and often they will be higher at one time of the day and lower at another time, so take it about the same time, and in the absence of exertion/stress out of the ordinary.

Once she starts to whelp -- lots of fluid. Use newspapers--lots of them. They will soak up the water/blood and provide a pretty sterile area to whelp. She will tear these up, let her. Keep other dogs, and kids away. Reduce the stress, but try to have as much of your own presence so she gets used to you and will let you handle the puppies.

If possible, get a cheap kitchen scale from walmart or some such place -- about ten dollars. You will want to weigh the pups twice a day. They will lose weight the first day, but should not lose weight for more than two days in a row. Having goats milk or puppy milk replacer on hand can help. Cows milk will likely cause serious problems. I use different color rick rack to identify puppies and write down the weights with date, morning and evening.

Stay with the bitch when she has the puppies at least until the umbilical cords fall off. There are so many little things to say, I do not want to overwhelm. It would be good for you to have a whelping book on hand that can tell you when your girl is in trouble, when to call for a vet (hope she does not need this).

I usually have white ice cream for whelping day for the girl -- it can help. You have to ensure that each pup has a placenta come out. Ick! She will likely eat this. Let her eat at least some of them, it causes the natural hormones to kick in, bring the milk down, and cause the womb to contract and facilitates in the whelping of the rest of them. She may not eat well the first day -- eating placenta. Have available for her fresh meat, high quality kibble, and plain yogurt, or cottage cheese.

Feed her leftovers if she will eat them. It is important that she gets FOOD in her. She has a huge job in front of her, and for the first three weeks, she will most likely do it all -- no stress, no children running around her, not other dogs.

I highly suggest you hang on to the litter for eight weeks. Get first vaccinations at seven weeks. A shelter is no place for a young puppy. They can get sick and die there really fast. If possible foster until families are found for the puppies.

Big job. I congratulate you for taking this on. Ask questions here, and we will try to help. Good luck.

[DharmasMom]

I have absolutely no advice. I just wanted to say THANK YOU- a really HUGE THANK YOU- for taking on this girl and her babies!!! She needs you now and that is so awesome that you and your hubby are willing to step up for her and the puppies. You guys are incredible!!

[Bridget]

Thanks. I am happy to get lots of advice. It seems she may have the puppies today. I forgot to mention that the mother is completely deaf. I hope the puppies are not deaf, but I figure they might be, since I think deafness is often a hereditary problem.

[sagelfn]

Do you or the shelter know any breeders close by that may be able to help you or you could call for advice...even at 4am? Will be thinking good thoughts for a problem free whelp.

[Bridget]

I asked the shelter director what we should do if she has any problems, and she said "call me' and gave me her cell phone number. Presumably either she knows what she's doing or will call their vet. This little dog is as sweet as can be. She wants to be on our laps all the time. This morning she began to trust us enough to venture out into the yard; last night I think she was afraid we would be gone if she took her eyes off of us. I am calling her Ashley. I planned to give her a bath tonight and trim her nails, which are way overgrown. But it seems she has other ideas about her plans for tonight!

[Bridget]

I don't know how to describe this politely, but yesterday my husband said something was hanging from her, kind of a "sac." By the time I got home from work, it wasn't there anymore (??) He read somewhere on the Internet that she should have the puppies soon after that appears. But she hasn't. Last night, she seemed normal and fairly lively. This morning, she was asleep when I checked on her.

On the subject of her deafness, it is so weird to enter a room and have the dog not wake up. I talk to her and she seems to like it, even though she can't hear me. I struggle to keep from calling out to her.

[Bridget]

P.S. Husband did not think what was hanging was a puppy.

[dawnandjr]

Bridget, I have had my bitch discharge that as well. I believe it is a mucus plug. That means her cervex is opening. Have you been taking her temp??? That is the first clue that delivery is within hours not days. Dont stress about giving her a bath. You can use baby wipes on her belly to clean her up, but dont stress her out with a bath. If she is deaf, you will need to be dilligent in making sure she doesnt lay on a pup. She will not know when they are screaming. What are you feeding her? A high quality puppy diet is better. I am thinking the shelter may have milk replacement, if needed. If you can get a bulb syrange from the store (the ones for human babies) to have on hand if needed. This is used to clear the fluid from the mouth. The internet can be your friend, lots of reputable breeders have great information about whelping and raising pups, just google it.