taking care of the bitch after whelping puppies

Question
my two year old female boxer had a litter of 7 last night(this is her first).is there anything special i should be doing for her,to make sure she stays healthy. ive got a multivitamin and canned dog food for her.she doesn't seem real hungry today. any suggestions would be very helpful.

Answer
For her, a high protein PUPPY FOOD. Yes, puppy food. As long as she is nursing, feed her puppy food.

Also, mix 1 raw egg, 1/2 teaspoon white Kayro syrup (for flavoring) 1 cup whole plain yogurt (no flavor) and 1 can (12oz.) evaporated milk in a blender. After blending, add 6 ounces water.

This will make a "formula" that you can feed the puppies (it is an orphan formula) and feed to mom.

You can mix some on her puppy food, or let her drink some from a bowl.

This is high protein.

I raised my last litter on it because mom didn't have sufficient milk. I used an Evenflo baby bottle with a nipple much like mom's. It's a great supplement food to mom to help them gain weight and grow, as they have to gain weight the first week. It's critical.

These pups CAN NOT REGULATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE!

You MUST keep them 98 degrees.

This is too hot for mom, so you will have to keep mom and puppies in a "whelping" box that is lined with a water proof bottom (like an old shower curtain that you might have or buy one at a thrift shop used) and then washable blanket on top.

Drape the top and sides of the "whelping" box to keep it warm inside and drafts OUT.

The puppies will migrate toward mom for warmth.

They should not be in air conditioning drafts, window drafts or fan drafts.

Use a temperature gauge to get an accurate reading inside the "whelping" box.

I made a "whelping" box out of a huge central air conditioning/heating unit box, cut the front with a 8" lip so puppies could crawl out but mom could step over to get in and out. Then draped the box for warmth.

She won't eat or drink much, but keep her food (puppy chow) and fresh water, and the "formula mix" near here for easy access. (NOT inside the whelping box.)

Give her a dog vitamin every morning. This will be passed on to the puppies in nursing.

You can mix the canned food in her puppy food.

Buy an all natural puppy food with no corn or corn glutens. Never feed a Boxer dog food with corn and corn gluten. They are usually allergic to it and it is bad on the digestive tract.

Google "caring for newborn puppies" and "caring for newborn Boxer puppies" and "how to care for newborn puppies" and "how to care for mother dog after whelping." You'll get a lot of good info.

Also, join for free, Boxerworld.com.

There is a wealth of information in the forum from other Boxer owners. You can post and ask questions and get quick answers. These folks know their Boxers and the breed.