Expert: Charlotte B - 5/12/2006

Question
My nighbor's Toy Poodle just whelped. She had three puppies and the first one didn't make it. She called me and I deliver the last two, who are doing fine. I don't think she got the best diet while she was pregnant and didn't have milk when she whelped. This was less than 24 hours ago. I now see evidence of colostrum in at least one nipple, and the babies are latching on fine. I now have the dogs at my house because the owner is a wreck. The Mother is calm here, and attentive to her babies.

She will eat food from my hand, but refuses to drink water. In desperation, I warmed some whole milk for her and she drank it all. But I know that isn't good for her.

I just boiled a pot of water for 10 minutes, so there wasn't any chemicals in it, and am waiting for it to cool, but I was wondering if there was something else I can give her to drink. I know she can't make fluids, if she isn't getting any. She has urinated and defecated. She had a bit of a hard time defecating, though. She is a little constipated. I am worried.  

Answer
Hi tory;
Try beef or chicken broth.
You can get boulion cubes and disolve them in hot water. Bet she won't turn that down, or get some canned broth, or make some with a fresh chicken or beef.
If she doesn't seem to have enough milk for the opuppies to satisfy them, make some furmula like I gave my children before that junky canned formula came out.
1 part Canned milk ( evaporated milk, not the low fat though)
2 parts water.
for 1 cup of formula put in 1 tsp light corn syrup.
Give her about 1/4th to 1/2 cup of that, and in about a half hour to an hour, she will have milk for the puppies.
Charlotte