[Guest]

Hi all! I have been very thankful to two great mentors on this forum, Diane and Jac. We have been blessed with our first litter. Angel, our great doodle has been a great mom so far, I on the other hand am not so instinctive. I have 2 questions:

1) Dew Claws - when do they need to be removed? My vet's receptionist is telling me I have to be scheduled for the 6th day. Is this correct?

2) Separation from the litter - In the last day, Angel seems to be wanting som time away from the pups. She comes downstairs and sees the rest of our family, and always returns to her pups. The pups are all thriving, having gained at least 50-65% of their birth weight (at 5 days old). Is this ok? How much time away is "normal"?

Thank you for any gudiance you can lend....
Carol

 

[lieverdmom]

I'm far from the greatest expert on this forum, two days into my own first litter, but I have been doing some reading, and the book I have, written by a reproductive specialist veterinarian who teaches in a vet school, suggests that the dew claws be removed between 3-5 days old, or wait until later. I understand they make a quick clip, glue it together and voila! I'm not even supposed to take Deva along, just the babies.

The same book says the puppies should double their weight in 7-10 days, so you must be right on track.

Maybe there would be something in the archives here about recommended reading. I bought three books that were recommended to me by other breeders on this forum, and they have been tremendously valuable. I especially like one on puppy development, that has some good suggestions regarding socialization. There's a lot more to raising puppies than feeding and laundry!

Congratulations on the new litter. Enjoy!!!

 

[Jac]

Carol and Deb, I am so happy for you both...

Dew claws, it's a personal choice. Many remove them, but I have heard that if you wait until after the 3rd day it is hard on the pups. I don't remove them. I know that there is a danger of them ripping off, and if that happens it is horrible...but I believe that there are uses for them...my dogs use them to more gently scratch their ears and eyes...I just can't do it.
But I think that if you do, the earlier the better...and certainly after 5 days it should wait until they are put out for something else, like spay/neutering...then have them done...but it is major surgery then and a very painful one, from what I understand.

It is very common for the mother, after about two weeks, to leave the pups for a bit. It seems that she is trying to put them on a schedule of sorts. Then she stays away longer and longer. Mine let me know when they want to get back in with the pups...she knwos that they are safe in the whelping room. I shut the door until she is ready to go back.

 

[movistar]

we do dews on day three

and I encourage my mom to take as many breaks as she needs. I never worry. She will FLY back in their if she hears a whine or cry!

 

[dixiedi]

Hello Carol, I'm so sorry I missed this post so I guess I'm not going to be much help with your question on dew claws. But I do mine as early as possible, usually day 2. My vet swears the puppies don't feel anything at this point. I have noticed a difference in doing them at 2 days and doing them at 5 days, less bleeding and very little "peep" at 2 days. I don't have to glue or anything. Just a dab of "blood stop" if needed. They should always be done by 5 days of age. After that, it requires surgery.

Congrats on the puppies, how's little "Zeke" :wink:

 

[Guest]

Hi Guys! I have to say things are going really really well. Jac, you were so right. Angel has got these littles one on a real schedule. She is doing a great job. Everyone has double to almost tripled their weight at 14 days.

The vet got me in on day 4 and it also went well. They didn't have any back dew claws so that was a lot less.

Di: Little Zeke is doing well!