Found a pregnant doggy: she gave birth and...

I hope I'm just being overly sensitive here,.
The dog I found is a shih tzu, she was outside our fence about 3 weeks ago and barking/whining, her belly was huge!!
So we suspected she was pregnant but didn't know for sure... (as I never owned a dog as an adult living on my own( kwim?
3 am on May 19th she had 5 healthy pups (myself and my sister saved 2) mom looks young, about a year old :( :mad:
We took her to the vet 9 hrs after and they just looked at her (for $100) they wouldn't even run any tests and I only had $100 to have them examine her :( I mean, they're there to help animals..but they NEED money asap?Jerks! that's disgusting and just as low as my new dogs owners for letting her go while pregnant!!!! (Yes we placed an ad in the paper and made up posters with NO reponse. :( CRY..

She's still panting, but not in a "I'm in pain here " way, just light tongue hanging out and sweaty look, I don't think there's any pups left in there, dead or alive.
Is it normal that she's still panting AFTER the birth of her pups?
Pups are feeding well and in awesome shape!! so proud of mom..and mom is also eating great!! I mean LOTS N LOTS lol

I'm a rabbit, fish and hamster owner LOL, I never wanted to own a dog but I'm quite fond of her and her new family. :lovestruck: So I'm keeping her, and I'm going to keep a pup also, if I cannot find a good loving home for the other 4 I'm keeping them until I do.
I feel like total poop that I cannot afford to bring her to the vet again until next week.

What should I look out for??

Thanks :)

Her flow is normal, no odor or the like..she has some diarrhea but the vet said that's normal after giving birth.
She's not even bleeding that heavily either.

Murnmum,I cannot give you any advice,but I am certain someone knowledgable will come around soon:fingerscr

Thanks :)

I called the emergency after hrs clinic and they won't answer me unless I fork out more money, I cannot until Thursday.
I had no idea this would happen so I didn't have a savings thing in place, know what I mean?
She's not sleeping because she's too busy taking care of her new babes, so could sleepiness cause panting also?

I have no idea about the panting. Did she deliver a placenta for each pup? She's been through a lot, maybe she was a stray in heat who has been wandering, pregnant, all this time and just needs a few days to recover. The fact that she is eating well and the pups are feeding are excellent signs. But she and the puppies really need to see a vet before Thursday. Do you think if you called around you might find a more sympathetic vet? Can you borrow the money?

Kudos to you for being so kind to this poor girl. If she had whelped outside, who knows what might have happened. And the fact that you have decided to keep her makes me think that fate had a hand in this, she was destined to find you and your good heart.

We love pictures here, if you're not too busy hovering over your new little family.

Mum, sorry, no advice here either... but just wanted to send good wishes to you, hope the mom and puppies will all be ok.:fingerscr :goodvibes:

Cant believe the emergency vet is taking such a hard line on this.:sad:
I understand they need to see the dog, but you'd think they could answer a few "basic" birthing questions.:shrug:
Is your regular vet back in tomorrow? Maybe you could ask for billing for this, it is unexpected circumstances after all.

I cant understand how someone could do this... put such a very pregnant dog out. and then not care what happens.:sad: You'd think they'd be frantic.

Good luck, and keep us posted!:fingerscr

If it is just light panting, I wouldn't be too worried, whelping is hard and stressful on the bitch. She should recover in a couple of days. If she seems to be in distress at all, I would take her to the vet immediately, and you will want to find a sympathetic vet who can check the bitch and pups throughout the next 2 months.

Here (http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/whelping.html#timeline-pups) is a good puppy raising timeline, it helps to compare to make sure pups are coming along well.

Thank you for taking in this poor girl, and now her puppies. :thumbs up

I But she and the puppies really need to see a vet before Thursday. Do you think if you called around you might find a more sympathetic vet? Can you borrow the money?



She's seen a vet 9 hrs after birth, the vet said as long as the pups looked/acted healthy they don't have to seen for 2 more weeks.
Yes, she delivered a placenta for each.

Thanks guys! and I love doing what I am doing, we are definitely spoiling her, she even had a mini-spa day after the birth lol
her hair was quite matted etc.. :( she looks awesome now that my hubby gave her a nice trim, brush and bath. The only bad thing is sleep deprivation with both me and mom LOL I sleep next to her box and I'm steady watching her and the boys.
They are all boys, btw!

here's some pics lol
She's not keeping them warm, so as advised by the vet tech I bought some little doggy toys to keep by them)
she is looking rough now with half of her fur gone. LOL I think she's part jack/shih tzu maybe?
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture002.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture001.jpg

Cute pup face
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture003.jpg

Here's some shortly after delivery :lovestruck:
(these two are STILL inseperatable)
LOL
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture3397-vi.jpg

Yumms
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture3399-vi.jpg

Rollie
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u195/murnmum/Picture3401-vi.jpg

The vet also said they look shih tzu so there's a possibly dad was also.

Here (http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/whelping.html#timeline-pups) is a good puppy raising timeline, it helps to compare to make sure pups are coming along well.



Thanks for the link!! I have it bookmarked.

I've weighing them with my food scale lol

Very cute. Good luck with the pups and the mom. :fingerscr :goodvibes:

I've weighing them with my food scale lol
We use a kitchen scale to weigh puppies and kittens too! whatever works, right? :D

The pups and mom are adorable! :cloud9:

It's very nice of you to take care of them all, good luck ! I hope everything goes fine :fingerscr

BTW, I can't believe the emergency didn't want to help you over the phone, they may not be able to do a diagnostic but a least they should give you some help and advices. Maybe you could try calling another one ?

Oh my puppies!! how adorable. And kudos to you for saving her and helping her have the puppies in a safe enviroment. :thumbs up the pups and mum look beautiful, you must be pooped. and yes i second the call another vet opinion, my old one in vancouver always gave advice over the phone.

Important. Newborn puppies can not regulate their own body heat for at least several weeks. Please use 1 or 2 hot water bottles, cover well with a blanket or thick towel, and place next to them. Ensure that they have room to move away from the hot water bottles in case they're too warm.

Congratulations and thank you for taking in this poor girl!! What idiot wold have allowed her to roam?? I also cannot believe the vet would be so difficult!! I know our vet would never - I once saw a dog being hit by a car and took him in and she refused to charge me since she knew it was not my dog and then even helped to find a home for the dog - after doing the vet work for free! So I do not comprehend this vet at all - I wold phone around and get another one!!

The puppies especially need to be kept warm . For the first two weeks of life, one idea is to place a towel (I am sure you already are using others) over the top of the place you are keeping mom and them to avoid any drafts. When the animal is four weeks of age, a heating pad (usually set on medium for the babies) is no longer necessary unless the room is chilly or drafty. Tho a heating pad should not be left alone unobserved! And if mom is there and you have a very warm room, it may not be needed at all.

Mom needs to see a vet to make sure everything went well, or no pups left in her or anything else and to make sure she is fine. It sounds good tho by all accounts- eating well and so forth,

Here are the signs to watch for that need an immediate trip top the vet:

-Bowel movement-loose, watery, bloody.
-Urination-bloody, straining, frequent.
-Skin-hair loss, scratching, oily, odorous, scabs.
-Eyes-half-closed, drainage for more than 1 day duration.
-Ears-shaking of the head, black color inside of ear, scratching, odor.
-Cold-like symptoms-sneezing, nasal discharge, coughing.
-Appetite-lack of, decreasing, vomiting.
-Bony Appearance-able to easily feel the backbone, emaciated appearance.
-Behavior-listless, inactive.
-If you see fleas or ticks, do not use over the counter flea/tick shampoo/products unless approved for under 8 weeks of age.
-Able to see any worms on rectal area or in stool, or any portion of the body.
-Limping/lameness.
-Open wounds or sores.

They'll prob be ready to begin eating solids are 4 wks. You will know!!

Are there no vets who will allow you to pay by installments? Or work out some sort of plan? I find it hard to believe (not that i am doubting yuo , just using a figure of speech and am so astounded by the unethical behaviour of these vets. It would be the same as me not seeing a patient because of any reason!) and while I do not know if vets are bound by the same kind of ethical commitment we are (ie Hippocratic oath), I am certain there is something similar!! I would appeal to that!!

Your new pooch looks adorable as do her babies!! Good luck!!!!!!!! And please keep us updated!

Thanks everyone for your awesome advice!! I appreciate it greatly. :thumbs up :love:

You're such an :angel: for taking care of these babies. I hope this doesn't turn you off being a dog guardian.....where abouts are you? Maybe someone can help you with a name of a good vet somewhere....

The pups are adorable!! And I'm sure mom's in excellent hands!! It's people like you that restore my faith in humanity!! Oh, and keep those pics coming!!

It is so good that you took her in, can't believe someone would allow that to happen. Do you have a local SPCA, I would call them and explain the situation. They are generally happy to help especially when you have taken in a pregnant animal, less work for them. I know our SPCA in Vancouver has a vet hospital attached to it and they would definitely look at the mother and puppies if you lived around here. If you have any other organizations I would give them a call too if no SPCA.

From what I remember it is normal for the mother to pant a little because she is using so much energy nursing and looking after the babies. Nursing burns a lot of calories, but if there are any abnormal signs like those listed in the previous post you would want to be concerned. When you take the puppies back for the check up make sure they look at mom too. Can't believe the vet wouldn't do it at a discounted price, that is horrible. Always thought vets were there because they want to help animals, not take all of our money.

Good job and I commend you!

Murnmum,I knew it,it never takes very long our good guys to answer:thumbs up
Mom is adorable as are the pups,thank's for the pics:love:
Hopefully all will be ok:pray:

You're so great to take her in and make sure that she's OK. Those pups are adorable, You should definitely keep her.:D

I agree with Levi...check online or your local yellow pages for shelter/rescue groups or an SPCA..They should be able to offer at least some kind of discounted vet care and can probably help in finding the other pups good homes. Please don't just post an ad in the paper offering the pups...you want to make sure they are going to a good home too! Rescue groups screen potential owners thoroughly and may pick up a lot of the vet costs as well.

They can help recommend a reputable vet for you too since you are keeping two of them. Definetely don't go back to the one you've been going to! It took me about 4 times to find my vet and I love her! I foster too and she's offered tons of free advice to me over the phone, even though she only sees my dog. They can't diagnose perfectly all the time obviously, but can still give their professional opinions and advice.

I commend you for having such a big heart to help out this fragile, new family! Please keep us posted! :D

I wish you all the luck with your new family.Have you found a home for all the puppies yet?If not I would be interested.Not sure where you are though.If you still need a home for one please leave a message and we can go from there.Thank you.Lindadevaul

Can I have one too??!! :cloud9:
How is everything going? We haven't heard in a while......hope everything is okay :pray:

I'm keeping one and my sister who helped save the first born is getting that one. :)

They are awesome, thriving and their little eyes are starting to open now! And mom has stopped panting LOL she's doing good, but we still have to place her in the box when it's time for the boys to start feeding, she's seems like a puppy herself and she wants to play with my kids etc.. :laughing:

here's some recent of the one, the others were sleeping and I didn't want to disturb them.

Should I sell them rather than 'giving' them away?
Statistics show that most pet owners treat their pets (especially dogs/pups) with more respect etc..when they actually spend money on them. Kwim? (please correct me if I'm wrong) I want to keep all but I know I just CANNOT. :(
I don't feel comfortable giving them out for free, it just opens people up to getting them to abuse/animal testing.

I just noticed this thread and think that you did an awesome thing to take in this little girl and her babies. I understand how you would want to ensure the boys get forever homes, and I believe that giving them away for free is probably a bad idea. Unforturnately, there are alot of bad owners as you stated, looking for a freebie with nothing to lose. I feel that a good owner would not hesitate to spend a little for the right pup, and shows that they have the integrity and financial ability to care for it. I don't mean to make this a money making scheme, but getting a little back to pay for your veterinarian bills, and the future cost of spaying your girl is commendable.

Something you may consider. Good owners will want to spay or neuter, so since you have all boys, you could ask a reasonable adoption fee....then offer a portion of the fee back to the owner upon proof of the surgery. That way, you still retain a little to cover your vet bills, and you also give incentive to the new owner to alter their puppy, and prevent future breedings like this one. Don't feel guilty about interviewing prospective owners, ligitimate ones will not mind. Ensuring these babies get the best homes is your priority. Good luck, and keep us posted! :)

It's a good idea to charge an adoption fee. It's also a good idea to do a background check. When we adopt out animals we first check 1.) If the people rent, we have to speak with the landlord to confirm they are allowed to have pets. People have lied to us in the past and presented us with fake leases, which is why we require talking to the landlord. 2.)we want to know how many people in the household, what ages (we won't adopt to families with kids under 4, for the safety of the child and the animal), and all of the family members must come in and interact with the animal to make sure they all agree on getting the animal. 3.) we ask who will be the primary caretaker of the animal. If they say "my 5 year old daughter" obviously that's a no-no. We also ask who will care for the animal when they are on vacation. 4.) we ask if they have any animals or have had any in the past, and if so what happened to them. We ask whether their other animals are/were spayed or neutered. If they have/had pets, we ask for vet information. we then call the vet to see if they have a good vet history, had the animal in every year for exams, etc. You would not believe the # of people this weeds out. A large number of people lie to us, and when we call the vet, there will be no record, or they will have only been in once in their 15 year old pet's life for a sick visit or euthanasia. You can ask people to show you copies of the vet records for their pets, as the vets won't give the info out to individuals who are not shelters. 5.) we ask if they have a fenced in yard, and how often and where they walk the dog. a fenced in yard is a bonus, but not a requirement. 6.) We ask if they are familiar with crate training, and whether they will be using it. We also ask if they will be willing to enroll the dog in an obedience course. 7.) Finally we ask if they are aware of all the costs associated with owning an animal, and list out a few of the expected costs.

Since you are adopting out puppies, you should have them sign a contract saying 1.) That they agree to spay/neuter the puppy by 7 months of age. 2.) That they agree to return the puppy to you at any point in the puppy's life if they cannot keep it, and 3.) that they agree that they are responsible for any and all medical and other costs incurred after adoption.

Good Luck!

....What SableCollie said :thumbs up

Very good suggestions, Sablecollie!

I would also watch if and how the parents instruct children on proper handling of a puppy. This will give you some indication of responsible parenting, which will hopefully also reflect on how responsible the parenting of the puppy will be.

Keep the pics coming, they are so cute!

Last year when we got our puppy, it was from a family who weren't planning on breeding (duh why not spey and neuter) and their two dogs had an accident while they were away on holiday and a neighbour was watching the dogs and Buddy and his siblings were the result. They asked us for $200 (which I felt was reasonable). The only thing was, we had never owned a dog and although we knew there would be needles, neutering etc., we weren't prepared for the worming and stuff. So, I think you are great person for taking the mom in and I don't think you are wrong in asking to charge as you have had to take care of them. I second the idea about interviewing, but make sure you let them in on all the secrets if they are first time owners and don't stick to the rules completely. If the owners of Buddy's parents had interviewed me, I don't think we would have gotten the puppy. We met them, they saw how we were with the puppy and we agreed to take it. Buddy is happy, healthy and loved.

Good luck with the adoptions!

I think your instincts are right on: people who aren't prepared to pay a reasonable sum for a pet will be less likely to pony up when the animal is sick or are just plain unrealistic about how much a pet can cost (and it doesn't have to cost a bundle).
I have five cats for adoption, some of them have been with me for more than a year :sad: and have had several conversations with people who did not want to shell out a red cent. One guy said he had no money but was about to start a new job (I was asking him about possible vet bills). Great, I said, call me in two weeks when you get your first paycheck; they will all still be here, waiting to meet you. End of conversation!
I'm willing to negotiate, but not down to zero, for people I don't know.
The more you know about the people you adopt to, the better. Offering a refund for animals that have been fixed is a great idea, make it a healthy amount. The SPCA could try this. They'd have to tatoo the animal to prevent fraud, but it would be so worth it, even if they only got 50-60% compliance. Of course, snipping them before adoption would be the ne plus ultra..
Murnmum, you're doing a great job. You should call your new dog Lucky, because she surely is.

I think you would probably be best talking to the SPCA and explaining the situation. You could surrender the pups that you are not keeping to them, they then in turn would vaccinate them, de-worm them and do vet background checks on potential adopters, landlord checks etc., All puppies are born with worms and it is very likely that the mother does have them too. My daughter works for the SPCA here in York Region and that is what they do. Also that would help alleviate any out of pocket expense for you. They do have a spay/neuter incentive program for cats and dogs that are too young. They also michrochip all cats and dogs and give a certificate for free pet insurance for 6 weeks, that is in Ontario, other provinces I don't know.

I so agree with Badger - she is Lucky!!! She even looks like a Lucky little girl - she and the pups are soooo cute!!!!! I would investigate anyone who wants to adopt - even do a home visit if possible. I love the idea of a refund - with kittens, we offered to pay and most did it but did not ask for the money. In a few cases - we, like someone mentioned, ended up with more than a few kittens and spayed them ourselves at about 5 mos. Some Rescue Groups offer a certificate for a spay or neuter.

I would draw up a contract and ask them to return the puppies if for any reason they cannot keep them. (The fact that 35% of rescues and pounds have purebreds means that just because people pay a lot of money for a dog or cat does not mean they all make perfect "owners"/) There must be a sample contract on this site or Board somewhere. If not, one of the groups here I am sure can assist you.

Good luck!!!

:sorry: for not replying in so long lol

My computer went SPLAT!

The pups are great, mom is great. :lovestruck:

They're getting ready to leave our home now to go their forever homes and I'm so depressed it about, like seriously. To me they almost feel like my own kids. :sad:

Here's some updated pics:
the last one is the one who left today and I've been crying ever since.

and no my son is not poking Mocha's eye! :laughing:

Theirs names are Mocha, Squirt, Sam, Bounce and the new owner called that one cutie 'Nibbles' :lovestruck:

I so hope he stays in contact me with me with updates, I miss him so much.:love:

Puppies are like that ~ they wrap themselves around your heart strings ! Hopefully everyone will be happy and healthy in their new homes. :pawprint::stork-baby:

Oh my, they are adorable!!!! :lovestruck: I hope they all do well in their new homes!