New Puppies...HELP!

    • Silver

    New Puppies...HELP!

    My lab/retriever just had puupies about 2 days ago. During the 1st stage of labor she went underneath our house, which i read was normal.We're not sure where she gave birth, but it was probably underneath the house. We called the vet yesterday and asked what to do because the dog nor the puppies were coming out from underneath the house. He said to get the puppies from underneath and make sure they are alright. We did and they are fine. We put them in a little swimming pool in our back yard, but our dog kept trying to get them and bring them back underneath the house. Last night out dog ran away and took one of the puppies with her. So we took the other puppies inside and fed them with bottles. Our dog came back this morning and we put the puppies back outside. Again she took the puppies and brought them underneath the house. Are we supposed to leave them there with her or bring the puppies back out?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Bring the pups and momma inside and KEEP them inside.  Pups this young absolutely MUST be kept warm...they can't do it themselves, plus outside stuff like fleas can quickly kill them.  What happened to the pup she ran off with?  Did she bring it back?
    • Gold Top Dog
    I am sorry I have no experience with breeding or puppies - but hopefully someone will come along soon.  I do know that everyone on this forum who breeds or has ever bred their dogs, keeps the puppies and mama dog indoors, watching the puppies and mother carefully and constantly for the first several weeks of life.  I think everyone should be moved inside to some sort of penned area.  I really hope someone will come along to help you soon - puppies are a lot of work and they need A LOT of care!! 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh good - Glenda - I am glad you saw this post...  you must have been posting when I was!! 
    • Silver
    The other puppy she took with her was underneath the house with her last night. We would take them inside but our landlord will not allow pets inside. What should we do?
    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog
    You don't have a friend or relative who could take them in? 
    If your landlord will allow you to have a dog, but not bring them inside, will he/she allow you to construct a shelter outside - like in a shed or something?  The dog and pups need to be kept safe and warm and the access to the area under the house should be blocked if you HAVE to keep the dog outside - is the yard fenced?  How is she getting under the house?
    • Gold Top Dog
    What did the vet say about the REST of the pups?  It is highly unusual for momma to take ONE pup and leave the rest behind unless they are not healthy.  In fact, it's very unusual for momma to leave any of them for any length of time.  When I've had pups I literally have to drag momma away for the first few days to get her to potty.  You HAVE taken the new pups to the vet, right?
    • Silver
    This is very sad.  Your dog is taking her pups underneath the house because she knows that having them out in the open isn't safe.  She's trying to do her job.  You need to do yours and provide her with someplace clean and safe so that she can raise her pups.  And please get your dog spayed - it is so unfair and cruel for her to have to whelp underneath a house, probably on dirt and who knows what else.  Can you appeal to your landlord to allow mom and pups to come inside for a couple of months? 
     
    Sorry to be harsh but this scenario should never have been allowed to happen. 
    • Silver
    The backyard is partially fenced. We are more than likely going to put up the rest of the fence. The dog can get under the house just by crawling. We live in Louisiana so our house is a little elevated. She has no problem getting underneath the house. Last night when she only took that one dog, we went outside and took the rest because we thought she ran away, we didn't know she went back underneath the house. We haven't taken the puppies to the vet yet. They were just born Sunday night/Monday morning and we spent all day yesterday trying to get them from underneath the house. How important is it to take them to the vet?

    Sorry for all the questions, this is my 1st time ever having to deal with puppies and whatnot.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I foster and I take new pups to the vet within 24 hours of birth.  It's THAT important.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Im worried about all of them, mom included.  I think the stress of trying to get the pups in a safe place is going to have an effect on her.  She needs somewhere other than out in open to care for these pups and get some rest for herself.  I would take the dogs inside anyway for a while or your going to risk losing them. 
     
    Also they are VERY easily infected so you need to keep close watch and get to the vet, and also keep a watch on your momma dog, shes not getting what she needs either. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    simple...if you can't bring mom and pups inside take them someplace safe - say perhaps a shelter where at least the pups will have a chance to find new homes.
    Also I'm worrying here about heartworm disease. You say you live in Louisiana isn't heartworm very common there?
     Has mom dog ever been tested for it?
    They should ALL be vet checked and soon. Fecals, bloodwork to check for heartworm in mom. Has she had her vaccines?
    If you can't do that don't keep them.
    she should also be spayed.
    not supposed to have dogs inside - so why do you have an unspayed female dog who HAS to live outside.
    Sorry I'm venting but IMO the solution is simple - give them up
    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh boy...  It sounds like you are very overwhelmed right now...  I understand that this is probably not a situation that you planned.  But, that being said, I am sure that you want to do the right thing and protect these puppies and your dog. 
     
    Please realize that these puppies are totally helpless and defenseless. They need you to care for them.  They MUST be taken to the vet and they MUST be provided with a clean and safe place to grow.  If your landlord can't make an exception, I think you need to find another solution.  And, it needs to be done very very quicky.  Maybe the vet could keep them in their kennel for a few days while you come up with an idea??  I know you wouldn't have come on this forum and asked if you didn't care about your dog, so please, take all the advice that people here have to offer - many on this forum have a lot of experience in this area.  Also PLEASE make an appointment to have your dog spayed.  It is so sad that she had to have a litter of puppies under these circumstances and in these conditions.  It is up to you to make sure it never happens again. 
    • Silver
    The dog has been checked for heartworms and has taken medicine for it. I plan on eventually giving the puppies up, but I don't want to give them away to young. And we just moved into this house, at our other house she was allowed inside. It seems like she and the puppies are doing fine underneath the house. We're giving fresh water every hour and she's feeding the puppies without a problem.
    • Silver
    I don't know anything about dog pregnancies. Sorry for getting yall all worked up about it.