QuestionHello, this site was a great help to me yesterday when my Female Pomeranian went into labor. She is 3 years old, the Dad also ours is 2 years old. Candy (the female) is a Parti Pom, and Peanut is an Orange Sable Pom. This was her first litter as well as my first delivery and I was pretty scared about what to expect.
Candy started acting like she was in labor about 6am. I had gotten a blow up pool for her to have her babies and had this in the living room with wee wee pads. She kept jumping out and running around the house frantic. I decided to move the pool to my guest room and put half of it under the bed like a drawer and cover the open part with a blanket. This was what she apparently wanted because she stayed in it until 3:45 when she delivered her first pup. I helped open the sac, tied off the cord and cut it. She began liking it and around 45 mins later I see the second one coming out. This one unlike the first came very quick. By the time I had gotten my heated up towel out of the microwave she had eaten the cord off and was working on the sac. I assisted her on the sac. Once the sace was opened she licked it for about a minute and when it showed no life went back to the first. I promptly removed it tried "swinging" it to removed fluids, used my mouth to try and suck out the fluids and even tried doggie cpr. To no avail. She was only expecting 2 pups. The one that lived looks like it will turn yellowish like the dad, the other one was black :(
I have a few questions......
How long before she lets the male close to her baby? (He's pretty harmless but I do know they can do unexpected things)
Right now I'm feeding her wet Eucanuba puppy food. My husband has a bad habit of feeding her people food and I told him since she is nursing he must stop. Is there anything else beside the puppy food and water she should be given?
Puppy was 4oz today at the vet (about 16 hrs old)appears to be suckling and putting on weight. I have puppy formula just in case the mom's milk gives out. Should I supplement at all to give the mom a break?
When do I start feeding the pup food, any particular guide to when and how much?
Thanks in advance! We named the little guy "Cashew". We're keeping him. We we're keeping all of them but as it turns out there is just one. I'm gratefut for the one and that my bitch is ok.
Debbie Shudy
AnswerI am glad everything went ok. 4 ozs is a nice sized pup. No you do not need to supplament as long as the dam has milk and the baby is able to nurse. You can give her 1 crushed calcium vitamin in her food and what you are feeding her is just right. The puppy should open its eyes at about 2 weeks old and you can introduce wet puppy food between 4-5 weeks old. When the pup shows an interest you can just leave the wet food in the puppies home. Keep the sire away and if after the pup is about 6 wks and you have given it its first vax and the dam will allow it then sure he can be with the baby-but wait till he is vaccinated first. And don't allow him outside till he has his first vax either. Let him eat as much as he wants.
;)
Good luck with your new pumpkin.
-Trish
Gemini Poms
www.geminipoms.com
