The Power of Motherhood

[mcbosco]

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Yesterday my friend's 3 year old Spinone, my dog's littermate, gave birth to 9 puppies. She was late and it was determined that a C section was the best course of action. She died on the operating table after an emergency spay was attempted. Being who she is, she found a Bernese Mountain Dog that had only one pup last week and rushed the puppies in a 7 hour drive up north. Well the Bernese was eager to have 10.

Proof something good can come from something bad.

[Birddogz]

Dogs are simply the coolest animals ever. Great story.

[wems2371]

That's wonderful. Hope everything works out. Keep us posted.

[tro182]

I am sorry to here about the mother dog. The dog that whelped our pup last month had 7 pups one died at three days. The breeder had another dog that whelped 1 week latter and had 1 pup. The dog that had one pup would loveto have all the pups and the one that had 7 pups goes through the motions but that is about it. Some dogs have more of a mothering nature than others. I am glad to see you found a dog that tacks your pups as her own, great ending.

[ezzy333]

Hope they gave the pups some colostrom since they didn't get any from the mother. Hope it works out well for both pups and step mpm.

Ezzy

[Onk]

Talk about a tragic story with a happy ending! Hope everything works out for you, good luck!

[AzDoggin]

Sorry about momma, but wow, what a Plan B!!

Amazing story.

[BigShooter]

Hope they gave the pups some colostrom since they didn't get any from the mother. Hope it works out well for both pups and step mpm.

Ezzy

Thanks for the tidbit. i didn't know you could get packaged canine colostrum formula.

[ezzy333]

Hope they gave the pups some colostrom since they didn't get any from the mother. Hope it works out well for both pups and step mpm.

Ezzy

Thanks for the tidbit. i didn't know you could get packaged canine colostrum formula.

I think you can. Need it to get things working in new born babies and I am quite sure the vets carry it but then again I may be wrong. I know I was once before :roll:

Ezzy

[BigShooter]

I found a supplier on the internet so yes, it's available. I knew about colostrum but had never thought about whether it might be available commercially.

[bossman]

Really a great story. Sorry to hear about the mom. Thanks for sharing....

[mcbosco]

[quote="BigShooter"]I found a supplier on the internet so yes, it's available. I knew about colostrum but had never thought about whether it might be available commercially.[/quote

It is easy to get. In fact some people feed it to adult dogs and themselves as well. They used NZ Bovine for these pups I believe.

[ezzy333]

I found a supplier on the internet so yes, it's available. I knew about colostrum but had never thought about whether it might be available commercially.[/quote

It is easy to get. In fact some people feed it to adult dogs and themselves as well. They used NZ Bovine for these pups I believe.

I have always found if you can't get the real thing use goats. Have raised about every kind of animal, wild or domesticated on it and it works better than anything else.

Ezzy

[BigShooter]

It is easy to get. In fact some people feed it to adult dogs and themselves as well. They used NZ Bovine for these pups I believe.

Seems to me they use NZ bovine for a lot of natural formulations because they are free ranging cattle (imported feed not used) and BSE has been thought to be due to cattle feed from India. Last I knew there still had been no cases of mad cow disease reported in NZ. FWIW

[BigShooter]

I have always found if you can't get the real thing use goats. Have raised about every kind of animal, wild or domesticated on it and it works better than anything else.
Ezzy

Al, are goats like other mammals I'm familiar with so the colostrum is only available from the dam for a few days following a birth?

[mcbosco]

I found a supplier on the internet so yes, it's available. I knew about colostrum but had never thought about whether it might be available commercially.[/quote

It is easy to get. In fact some people feed it to adult dogs and themselves as well. They used NZ Bovine for these pups I believe.

I have always found if you can't get the real thing use goats. Have raised about every kind of animal, wild or domesticated on it and it works better than anything else.

Ezzy

Goats milk really is valuable. I have access to raw goats milk from the women I board with and buy food from. She has a nice group of Alpine goats that are real milkers and really outgoing with people. Have to keep it hush though because selling raw milk in NJ is a no no. Makes great yogurt.

[ezzy333]

I have always found if you can't get the real thing use goats. Have raised about every kind of animal, wild or domesticated on it and it works better than anything else.
Ezzy

Al, are goats like other mammals I'm familiar with so the colostrum is only available from the dam for a few days following a birth?

You are right. As a rule it will be produced for about three days. After about three days the female will come to her milk and start producing regular milk. You probably remember some of the discussions we have had about feeding for several days after a female has given birth. You do not want to feed much and as little energy producing feeds as possible for at least two days, since the dam is not producing milk and all you will do is increase the swelling of the udder with the possibility of producing mastitis which can be quite serious for her. The pups need very little feed the first few days and really start to pick up about a week after birth. And we try to feed the bitch to time her high production to the same period the pups are needing it.

The mother will normally eat the afterbirth if we just stay out of the way and that also helps her start the production of the colostrum. This is the normal procedure for all mammals as far as I know or at least for all of our domesticated farm animals.

Just to make it clear, the goat colostrum as well as the goat milk is really special compared to cows milk or most other animals. it is lower in butterfat but very high in milk solids. Much easier for newborns to digest.

Ezzy