new mom

Question
My boxer had pups on Tuesday 15th. I noticed that they were extremely dehydrated about 2 days after they were born. so I took my pups in to work(Im a vet assist.)and the doctor that I work for said that it was "lack of food". My boxer just isn't producing enough milk. He said I had only one option- to bottle feed during the day and force feed and night, and they have to be fed every hour 1.5ml. Now I have done this the past three nights in a row I am extremely tired and I can't keep this up, with no help. Also the doc suggested that I bring them to work with me so I can feed but I don't feel good about that with all of the animals coming through our office. Do you have any advice on what could make this situation easier and is there anything I can do to make my boxer produce?  I have just started her on calcium pills.

Thanks
Nichole

Answer
The easiest way is to tubefeed the puppies, and if you or your vet do not know how to do this, you need to find someone to show you how. You need a very accurate scale and the puppies must be weighed before every feeding. Feed every two hours during the day, and stretch this out to every four hours during the night so that you can get some sleep. (Be sure you write everything down as you will forget!) You must feed 1cc over the puppy's weight. (ie. 8 oz. [empty] puppy would be fed 9cc of formula)

Depress the plunger slowly and feel the puppy's tummy as you do. You will quickly learn to know when to stop as the tummy will feel very full and tight; DO NOT OVERFEED.

I would keep them on the bitch so that they can still nurse, but then you will have to keep checking bellies as you tubefeed since you won't know if they are getting anything from the bitch. Be sure she has endless amounts of water and food!

I would be uncomfortable in taking them to work, too, but if you can't get a few days off, I would load everyone up into the car (including the bitch) and take them into work each day. There must be someplace there a bit more isolated you can keep them.

http://www.naturalholistic.com/tubefeeding.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1651&articleid=928