The American Beagler Forum

female just had 9 pups 2 nights ago, i have 5 left, 2 pups are doing ok but the other 3 dont seem like theyre goin to make it, the 2 that are doing ok are doing ok(so so) but dont seem like they are wanting to nurse to well and it hasnt seemed like any pups at all have wanted to nurse. the females teets are knotted up and was just looking for some advice, the pups where right on time. i just never have lost but a few pups out of previous litters ive raised, and this has overwhelmed me. thanks very much

Pabst, I would get the puppy formula (EBSILAC)from petstore and small bottle, and give them supplemental feedings every 2 to 4 hours,even if they are feeding,it seems the mother might be having trouble. Is she producing milk? If not ,would bring her to vet asap,could be infection or other issues causing her not to produce milk. Keep them FED AND WARM, and nature will take it's course, GOOD LUCK!!!! I have also used NUTRICAL supplement that is a gel, put on your finger and put little bit in their mouth, it is packed with vitamins they will need to survive..

Where do you live and what is the temperature inside the whelping box? Did they get chilled?

Female may have an infection happened to me a couple different times pups acted same way. I would take her temp. and if even a little elivated get her on some antibioitics. Even if she is acting fine and eating well pups are just way more sensetive to bacterial or viral infections comming thru the mothers milk. I always start mine on amoxil or pen. as soon as they have pups for 5 days and monitor temp. Scott

they havent got chilled, temps been good around here, ive got 4 pups right now and have been bottom feeding them and the same 2 are the only ones to seem like they may make it. ive had food in there for the mother and she hasnt been eating it. im gonna try and get her to the vet early today. thanks for all the advice, anymore would be great

Pabst, if the mother is not eating, do not waste any time and get her to vet, I once had a rottweiler that had one stuck in hr birth canal and after 2 days she went toxic, she and all 13 pups died. I hope that is not your case, but either way , have an xray done, it could just be infection, which is common. GOOD LUCK!!!

Females generaly won't eat for a couple days after they have pups. They eat all the afterbirth as the pups are born, they don't need anything else for a while. By far the biggest killer of newborn pups is getting chilled in the first day or two after they are born. We use a heat lamp on every litter of pups for the first few days. You can regulate the heat by moving it farther away if the outside temp is warmer. Unless it is in the 90's where you are I would guess that is your problem. Some females do a good job keeping the pups warm and don't need much help, others are not so good.

Barring an infection or something like that, it could just be that your female isn't a good mother. Has she ever had pups before? Did she raise them all the last time? I've had some that lost most of their pups no matter what you do. Sometimes first time mothers take time to figure things out and then do better (after they lost a bunch of pups), others never do get the hang of it. And then there are females that can have a big litter of pups out under the hay shed in the mud and save every pup without any help. Those are the ones you want

You're not going to want to hear this part, but I'm trying to save you some money and stress. If your female is in good health and not running a temp, don't take her to the vet and don't try to bottle feed the pups. I've been down that road too many times to count and it just isn't worth it.

thanks guys, i believe she has what is called MASTITIS an infection in her breast glands that makes her milk toxic to the pups.
she had pups before and done fine, that was my concern, i have her and her pups in a seneca whelping kennel with a light bulb in there for warmth. ive had plenty of litters and had never encountered something like this, all the advice was greatly appreciated.

the mother milk maybe bad.i lost every pup but out of 8. we bottle feed and saved her . she 9 weeks now and doing well. are tits hard and hot?