questions about whats going on after birth

Question
QUESTION: Hi Penny, I've gone to you guys twice with my questions about my Siberian husky and her pregnancy, I hope you remember me:). I was the one asking about solid gold barking at the moon dog food and salty foods when my husband fed her the salty broth I had steamed for dinner. She gave birth to 5 healthy, lively, squirmy pups, 4 boys and 1 girl on the 23rd of Feb. I actually have them streaming live if you ever want to take a look at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/siberian-husky-puppy-cam! :)! Both mom and pups received vet care the next morning and was proclaimed in good health. So my questions now are: I know it's totally normal for her to have diarrhea right now, she ate all 5 placentas before I could get to them, is there anything I can do to help relieve that? It does not look like a comfortable thing to be going through. Second, I've let her use the bathroom whenever she wants, letting her out whenever she exits her pen or sits up cause she needs to go, but I ALSO noticed her digging a very deep hole under the bushes where she didn't think I'd be looking (i noticed her going there a few times, thought it was strange cause she usually goes on the grass, and investigated). Everytime I let her out, she sneaks there and works on it some more before asking to come back in. I have a strong suspicion she's going to try to move the puppies there. Too bad they're behind closed doors in my office and I would never allow her to carry one off. Third, everyone comments on how active they are for just a few days old, they run marathon laps around their pen. Now, I do try to sleep, but their getting squirminess makes me nervous and I hover. I basically adjust sleeping positions for them because they complain, LOUDLY if they don't like where they're sleeping and can't seem to get into the position and location they want, or cry about finding themselves on the wrong side of mom when they were trying to get to milk, and when they can't locate the nipple when they're at her belly so I help them attach (sometimes midfeeding they lose it and squeal until I help them find it again). Is this normal? Every other youtube/webcams I've observed they all sleep the first week away if they weren't eating! They're not too warm as they pass out when they're in the area they want to sleep in and have no problem sleeping clumped together if that's what they're in the mood for (temp's kept at 80 in the room, no heat pad underneath, I thought it'd be too much). But I worry all the same. And I read that after giving birth, mom is supposed to be fed 2X her normal amount before pregnancy. Before pregnancy she was being fed 3 cups a day, towards the end of her pregnancy, about 4 cups a day (she couldn't hold down more, even with spaced out feedings of 1 cup 4Xa day) and a cup of egg or cottage cheese. Now I'm feeding her 1 cup 6X a day. As a husky, I don't want her to become obese, her original weight being 39 lb and after birth 44 lb (highest during preg 49 lb). What amount should I be feeding her, because I'm not sure if it's enough. So recap:).
1. Was wondering how to bring some relief to mom's diarrhea
2. Help me understand the digging.
3. What is normal puppy behavior their first week?
4. Am I feeding enough, should it be more or less or is it just right?
thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Laura.  Thanks for the update on your wonderful new family.  Sounds to me like you are taking great care of your new mommy and puppies.  I'm going to check out the website and see your babies on the cam a little later - how exciting!

1.  Relief for diarrhea.  The diarrhea is most likely the result of her eating all the placentas.  A bland diet of boiled chicken and white rice for a few days should help firm up her stools without any danger to the new puppies.   Some breeders suggest that  kaopectate and or peptobismo will work and is not dangerous to the puppies, however I would check with my veterinarian before giving either of these. It is also normal for some, soft stool, to continue up to a couple of months after giving birth.

2. Digging.   I agree with you that your new mommy is looking for a place to hide her new litter.  This can be due to too much activity in the room where they are currently located.  Possibly this is mommy's way of saying I want more alone time with my babies.  Or, it can mean nothing at all, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

3.  Normal puppy behavior.  Most puppies sleep, eat, poop, and wiggle around.  It is very important that the new puppies have blankets or something in their whelping box to give them traction.  The act of pulling themselves over lumps and bumps, and wiggling around (like rooting for the nipple) helps to develop their leg muscles.  With out this exercise the puppies can develop what is normally called "swimmers legs" which is just a fancy way of saying underdeveloped leg muscles and will not be able to stand correctly.  Sounds to me like your puppies are doing great!

4.  Feeding.  You are feeding and doing everything great.  Only on word of advise, try not to help mommy and new puppies so much.  If the puppies are growing, and active, then relax and have fun with them.

Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi penny! I did have blankets in there, but everyone's advice on the webcam was to remove them, so I stripped the pen and it's just a sheet over whelping pad and pig rail for now. They're still doing laps, but much better about the crying. I noticed that Mom only stresses she wants to go out to dig when 3 is upset (3rd puppy). This is our most demanding puppy that cries if he's upset (he's not in his corner, or he wakes up and no longer likes the corner he's in and cries all the way to a new one, he hasn't been pottied, he's hungry, he doesn't like the position he's in, fellow littermate disturbed him in his sleep, etc). he cries incessently until we figure out what was upsetting him and relieved him of it, usually me cycling getting mom to clean him, getting him nursed, sticking him in a corner, flippin him on his back in a corner, until something soothes him and stops his crying and he passes out again. we tried the method of leaving him alone and letting him cry, but mom gets so upset. now we're trying letting her out to dig until he's finished and then letting her back in. what do you think?

Answer
Hi Laura.  Great idea of letting mother out to "dig" off her stress until #3 calms down.  Possibly she is planning on sticking him in that hole and covering him up!  (sorry bad joke : )

Here is the address to a website that has a little more info on Swimmers Puppy in case you are interested

 http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/swimmers.html

Good luck and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com