Large litter!

Question
My Golden Retriever is having 12 (for sure) puppies, possibly 14.  I was curious if dogs can prematurely go into labor when they are due to have that many puppies?  If so, what is normal as far as time frame is concerned?  Anything special to prepare for other than A LOT of loving homes?

Answer
Hi Lisa:

Wow -- you'll definitely have your hands full very soon! But try not to worry too much, a friend of mine breeds Olde English Mastiffs & recently had a litter of 12 who all survived & were perfect. You'll likely need to supplement the puppies with a milk replacer -- fresh goat's milk is best but canned is next best or if neither is available use a standard canine milk replacer such as Just Born or Esbilac. It's crucial all the puppies receive mother's milk for at least the first 36 hours so they'll receive her colostrum which helps guard them against a host of viruses & such. You'll probably need to rotate puppies to accomplish this so have a "catch" box nearby where you can place the puppies after nursing so you'll know who's had what & when! As for the possibility of an early delivery, in my experience I've not seen this to be the case with larger litters versus smaller ones but it would be best to be prepared well in advance just in case. Usually labor arrives when it should (which seems to almost always occur around 2 a.m. on a Sunday!). It would also be wise to notify your vet once labor begins as it's entirely possible his assistance may be needed. Delivering that many puppies takes a tremendous toll on a mother's body & she may grow weary after half the litter are born & may need some additional support. It's not uncommon for an injection of oxytocin to be needed to help the uterus to contract when Mom has become too tired. It also aids in milk production so even if it's not needed during whelping I'd advise she receive one no later than the day after so that her milk will be readily available. If you're familiar with giving injections your vet may even be willing to supply you with the dosage needed & entrust you with it -- some do & others won't. I'm including a link for some additional milk replacer recipes (scroll down the page a bit) you may find helpful. Once Mom is over 45 days gestation & I'm assuming she already is based on the known litter count, I would begin giving her a little milk replacer mixed in with her food. She's going to need all the help you can give her. Please let me know if you have any additional questions & I wish you & "Mom" the very best of luck!

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