Hi I found a very very pregnant dog on Saturday April 5. I think she is some type of terrier - maybe a rat terrier? We have brought her home because we did not want to leave her on the street or be picked up by the pound. We think that someone dropped her off by the road because she is so pregnanat. She is terrified of being outside and will not go out willingly, she also is not leach trained. I can't get her into a vet till next week and I think that it will be to late. What do I need to do if she has them sooner? I am also worried about her health she doesn't seem to want to walk around more than a few steps, she is eating good though, but her gums look really pale. Is there anything that I can give her or feed her to help her if her iron is low? She is pretty dirty, can I give her a bath safely this close to her having puppies? I also have a little dog of my own, a female pomeranian mix, do I need to keep her separate from the mommy dog? Any help or information would be great!

Go to the library and get a book. Somebody I had great respect for used to say that any book was better than none at all. I would skip the bath. Do what you can with a brush. Put her on a puppy chow, and skip any suppliments. As long as your dog is 6 months old and up to date on shots, I would allow them to be together if the stray welcomes her. See https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/whelping-puppies-urgent-151659.html?highlight=whelping

We all joined in to help another saint that rescued a pregnant dog.

The back of my hand to whoever dumped her.

Thank you for taking in that poor girl. I wish I could offer you advice, but I only have my best wishes and deep gratitude. Let us know how it goes.

The only advice I can give you is listen to labman. Bless you for taking her in, I wish there were more people like you out there.

Hi guys she's in labor! She started about 30 minutes ago with her panting and pushing... no baby yet though, please be praying because this is freaking me out and while I read what labman sent I still am really freaked out...

Please update us!

Puppy number 1 is here! So far the mommy is going all the work...

You are a wonderful person who took in a dog that someone threw out! I was thinking that by the sounds of what you wrote, she was going to be giving birth quite soon!

Let mommy be relaxed and comfortable. Mommy dogs/cats do the whole birth themselves! Don't worry, she sounds fine and she is very lucky to have you there! Do take her to the vet later, but be careful with when you separate her from her babies, talk to the vet about that. She will be very protective over her babies, so you might want to keep your dog away for a while.

You are a wonderful person and hopefully the one who threw that dog away pays the price some time. Dogs are very lucky to have people like you around!

Don't worry, the person who discarded her will get what's coming to him/her one day, karma is a wonderful thing.

Let us know how it goes and congratulations!

Ok two more re here, they are twins and came out at the same time in different sacks, one she wouldn't remove and I had to take the puppy out, tie off her cod and rub her to get her breathing, problem is the mom seems to be not ne paying her a lot of attention and the pup isn't as active as the other one... any help would be great

Hi the baby is having a hard time breathing any suggestions?

Ok two more re here, they are twins and came out at the same time in different sacks, one she wouldn't remove and I had to take the puppy out, tie off her cod and rub her to get her breathing, problem is the mom seems to be not ne paying her alot of attention and the pup isn't as active as the other one....any help would be great

You need to contact a specialist on this. If you were to leave it alone, most likely that pup would die. This is an amazing thing that is going to be hard, but you may need to raise that pup on your own. Please, contact a vet or someone. You need to find someone who specializes in this. Yes, you are going through a hard time, but we are always rewarded, somehow, for the good we do. Keep it up, you are wonderful!

Okay I found this on the internet so I don't know how reliable it is, but since no one else is answering;

Try artificial respiration by laying the puppy on his back and blowing gently into his mouth (pull the tongue forward), while alternating with applied pressure on the puppy's chest. (this info seems to be for a dog that isn't breathing, not one having trouble, but maybe a puff in the mouth will help)

Also

If a puppy sounds congested, rubbing briskly does not do the trick, try a baby ear syringe. This is especially good for clearing throat and nasal passages. Make sure the bulb is deflated (pressed flat) before inserting gently into the back of the throat area. Release the bulb slowly to remove any fluid or mucus. Following the throat area, do the same action in the nostrils.

If the puppy stops breathing;

Following birth, if a pup is slow to get going, appears lifeless and if swinging and rubbing briskly with a coarse towel does not work, try a drop of Brandy on the tongue. Or try alternating the puppy in bowls of hot water and cold water. Fill 2 bowls with water--one from the hot tap and one from the cold tap. Immerse the puppy first in one pan and then in the other (to the neck). I have used this method successfully over the years on several occasions, with seemingly dead puppies and it has worked! The idea is to shock the system into taking that first breath. Do it about 10 times. If it works, towel dry the puppy vigorously until he is breathing normally and then put him with the dam.

Once again, this is not something I'm familiar with, I found this on the internet, it was written by a breeder who has had many liters, not sure if it's reliable though, so the ball is in your court. I hope he's okay.

Hi guys I tries the swinging and the bulb syringe along with rubbing her briskly on the pup that was having trouble brreathing and it seems that she is finlly coming around, in fact she just latched on to mommy and the mommy is finally paying attention to her. Thank you all so much for your help you are all lifesaviors. Thank you.

Whew, I've been sitting here hoping that you'd post, chewing on my nails. I'm so glad that the pups okay and nursing. You do realize that now you'll have to post a picture, don't you. :)

:) I will post a picture in the morning to show you mommy and pups... I think that there may still be another one waiting to be born so I'll let you know what happens. Thank you so much again for all of your help.

Just think, you saved a puppies life! Keep it up!

I'm just so glad that mom and pups are doing good so far. I'll be waiting for that picture. Good luck, and at the risk of being politically incorrect, God bless.

Wow! That sounded like it was a tense situation for awhile there! The mommy and little fur babes will be forever grateful to you for being such a kind and loving person, and taking them in when they needed help! Some good Karma is coming your way! :)

I'll be waiting for moma and babes first pics too!

Ps. Quick thinking Alty! ;)

I went to bed thinking about you and the dog, or the situation. I hope everything is going great, I'm sure it is!
There was a reason for all this to happen to you. There was a reason for you to find the dog and bring her into your home. One day you should find out why. You are a very wonderful person!

Hi all here are some pictures of the proud mama and the babes, one boy and two girls. Sadly there was a little boy born last that did not make it - was born dead and I wasn't able to get him to ever come around :( Thank God the rest seem to be doing great, thank you all again for all of your help! Enjoy the pics and I will post some more soon as I get some close ups of the little ones. Thanks again!
Hopefully these come through, I'm not relly sure how to do this!

Mom & babes:
http://webmail.aol.com/35874/aim/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.21919172&folder=Inbox&partId=2

Mom & babes:
http://webmail.aol.com/35874/aim/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.21919148&folder=Inbox&partId=2

Baby boy:
http://webmail.aol.com/35874/aim/en-us/Mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.21919122&folder=Inbox&partId=2

I clicked on those and it couldn't do anything. Can you post pictures here?

Sorry about that I wasn't sure if they would go through, they worked when I clicked on them... if you can tell me how to post them, them then I will try.

Hey guys can anyone tell me how long it takes for the mommy dog to start acting normal again? About two hours ago, she started heavy panting, this went on for several minutes, then she stopped. However this has happened twice now and it kind of reminds me of when she was in labor but with no purshing or straining! During these times she shows no interest in food, but when she isn't panting she is ravenous. She doesn't seems to be running a fever or in any pain. Any ideas what could be going on?

I would tend to think she is just in recovery mode. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as she is eating and taking care of her babes. She's probably still a little worn out. How many pups did she end up having?

Make sure she is getting water! Panting is how dogs sweat! You don't really need to worry about food right now, but you have got to make sure she is drinking water!

I am looking for a good web site for you to check out, I read in one that a vet should check the mom and puppies out within the first 12 hours after birth. Now that, I'm not sure is really important, unless something just doesn't seem right.
If she makes signs like she's trying to push another puppy out, call a vet immediately!
I can't remember what web sites others have given you, but here is one I found,
Giving Birth to Puppies (http://www.marvistavet.com/html/giving_birth_to_puppies.html)

I would think that some of the panting is due to stress. I have only witnessed a cat have kittens and one of the things the mamma cat did was pant. Also I would make sure that she was not being bothered by people or other animals coming and going.

I would like to add that you are a very kind person to help this dog out.

Okay, once again info that I found on the net, not mine, but sounds accurate to me;

Wouldn't you pant if you gave birth to one or more baby's! LOL She's tired and now she has puppies to feed. It's a good idea to let your vet give the mother dog a physical to be sure all is well with her. In most cases 'mom' is just fine and the puppies will be too. She may wander off a little just to get away from the puppies, but will certainly come back at feeding time. Be sure you let the mother dog and puppies have as much quiet time as possible for the first week and don't allow the puppies to be handle too much.

Makes sense I think. Keep us updated.

Hi all just wanted to let everyone know that mom and baies are doing great, no more heavy panting since last night, and pups have nice round little bellies! :) Yay! Thanks for helping me out evryone, this is just so new to me and its great that there are people out there like you who are willing to help. Thanks again. I'm still working on trying to get the pictures posted on here directly, so far no luck though.

So happy to hear that momma and babes are all doing great! Keep all of us Aunties and Uncles updated! :)

Naomi - Glad to hear that the puppy family is doing well, keep up the good work!

Hi all I can't seem to figure out how to get the pictures on this site, if anyone knows how I can send the pictures to you and maybe you will have better luck than me. Mommy and the pups are doing good, and are getting bigger already. They go see the vet tomorrow morning. What do you guys know about tail docking? My vet suggested that I have their tails docked because of the breed, but I hate the idea of the puppies suffering especially when I think that look adorable as is. What do you all think? Let me know. Thanks.

I'm glad to hear that momma and babies are all doing well :)

If the vet recommends getting their tails docked, I would do it. It really doesn't hurt them much at all. I used to have 2 Dobermans, and I had their tails docked, and it didn't even phase them at all. It's best to get it done when they are very young too.

I don't know how to post pics on here either, but Altenweg (Alty) just may be able to help you with that. We're all excited to see them! :D

There are nerves in the tail and sometimes docking them will cause damage to their spine. Even animals that are born without tails have a genetic spinal problem.

I have a rat terrier mix that has his tail docked and he wags the little short thing all of the time so I am sure that this is probably part of the reason why he suggested it. I will say that I have seen quite a few rat terriers that they leave their tails alone.

Maybe get a 2nd opinion, but I would not wait to long I am sure there is a cut off age at which it should be done. I will see if I can find a site that discuss the pros and con for you.

Once again this was found on the interenet. I do not have experience with tail docking, although I did have a poodle with a docked tail who suffered back problems all throughout his life. Having said that, here is the info I found. I personally would ask the vet why he thinks it necessary to dock their tails.

Tail docking has also been performed for centuries and although it may cause pain, it is often done without any anaesthetic. Tail docking is performed when the puppy is only a few days old and involves removing the hair from the tail and then clamping the tail with a rubber band at the desired length, at which point it is cut with a scalpel or cutters, stitched up, and bandaged. In the process, muscles, tendons, nerves, bone, and cartilage is severed.

Some say it is required for dogs with feathered coats for hygiene reasons or for working dogs. Most do it to give their dog a “traditional” look for dog shows. However, tail docking is not necessary for hygienic reasons or for working dogs, and can be a painful procedure that should not be performed for purely cosmetic reasons. More and more veterinarians are refusing to perform it. A dog's tail is important both for balance and body language.

Breeds that commonly have their tails docked are spaniels, some pointers, some working breeds, terriers, and some herding breeds.

The Kennel Club in the UK has banned the exhibition of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails in dog shows as of 2007. The Canadian Kennel Club permits the showing of uncropped or undocked dogs; however, the “traditional” look is still the norm.

Tail docking is banned in many countries in Europe and has been banned in Australia since 2004, except when performed by a veterinarian for medical reasons. Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom voted to ban tail docking in March 2006, except for working dogs or for medical reasons.

A similar painful and possibly life-altering procedure for cats is declawing, which removes cartilage, bone, nerves, and muscle up to the first joint. Physical problems and emotional anguish are often results from declawing.

The puppies will be 6 days old by tomorrow if I am doing the math correctly. Docking is usually done within the first 48 hours and done for cosmetic reasons. It is usually done to meet the breed standard by breeders and by those interested in showing the dog. There is a reason it is becoming illegal in many countries. Amputating a dogs tail for cosmetic reasons does not seem like the humane choice to me. I do not mean to offend, however if the puppies are not full bred which I assume you have no way of knowing, what would be the reason for docking?

The puppies will be 6 days old by tomorrow if I am doing the math correctly. Docking is usually done within the first 48 hours and done for cosmetic reasons. It is usually done to meet the breed standard by breeders and by those interested in showing the dog. There is a reason it is becoming illegal in many countries. Amputating a dogs tail for cosmetic reasons does not seem like the humane choice to me. I do not mean to offend, however if the puppies are not full bred which I assume you have no way of knowing, what would be the reason for docking?

I've believe I've changed my mind with this and Alty's info. I did have my Dobies tails done, but it was probably more than 20 yrs ago, and the vet did tell me it was for hygiene and health reasons. Guess I learned something new today. :)

If it is only for aesthetic reasons and outward appearance, there is no reason to unnecessarily put a little fur babe through the pain of that experience. Like I had mentioned, it didn't seem to have any ill effects on my Dobies, but maybe they were just lucky. Or maybe they were just trying to be tough guys... awww, now I feel bad for doing it. :( I didn't know! I guess that's why you should always do your research right?

Hi teachnk, no offense taken and no I don't know if they are mixed or not. I actually really don't care for the idea of having the pups tails docked, it was just what my vet suggested that I have done. From what everyone has shown me (Thanks all!), I now don't think that it is good to have it done, especially since it past the normal time to have it done. As for my vet he said it was for cosmetic reasons. But I have decided not to have it done. I think these babies are perfect already and don't need to have their tails shortened. They are perfect as they are.
Thank you everyone for getting me all the helpful info and for your thoughts, it helped me to make my mind up and not have their tails done. Have a nice night all!

I've believe I've changed my mind with this and Alty's info. I did have my Dobies tails done, but it was probably more than 20 yrs ago, and the vet did tell me it was for hygiene and health reasons. Guess I learned something new today. :)

If it is only for aesthetic reasons and outward appearance, there is no reason to unnecessarily put a little fur babe through the pain of that experience. Like I had mentioned, it didn't seem to have any ill effects on my Dobies, but maybe they were just lucky. Or maybe they were just trying to be tough guys...awww, now I feel bad for doing it. :( I didn't know! I guess that's why you should always do your research right?

You didn't know then, you do know now. We learn new things every day, no need to feel bad about decisions made long ago, and as you said your Doberman was fine.

When we got our poodle he was already 5 months old, his parents were show dogs, they cropped his tail shortly after he was born. Like I said our poodle had back problems all of his life. Our wonderful vet, whom I adore and trust completely, said that it was possible that the problems resulted from the tail being docked, but purebred poodles inheritently have back problems anyway, so that might not have been the case. He was one of the first vets that I know of that wouldn't preform tail dockings or ear dockings. He felt that it was completely unnecessary unless there was an infection.

Naomi, I'm glad that you've decided to leave the pups the way nature intended, especially since the vet did say it was for cosmetic reasons. They are so lucky to have someone as dedicated to their welfare as you are. I'm glad that they are in your care.

Good Luck.

Oh, I'll post on how to post pictures another time, okay?

Hi all I just wanted to let all know that the pups and mommy are doing good. The pups are starting to open their eyes and are already getting big! We have named them Elizabeth, Emily and Jack(because he looks like a little pirate with his eye patch). Mommy has been named Angel. All checked out good with the vet and are healthy. I just got a new camera so I am going to try and post some new pictures. By the way does anyone have any suggestions for leach training an older dog? Angel is terrified of the leach and if I put it on her she freaks out. I have been able to get he to step outside now - no leach about 5 feet from the door to go potty but she is still scared of going out but is starting to get a little better.

I'm glad to hear momma and babes are all well. Those are cute names for the pups, and Angel is perfect for mom! :)

Poor Angel is probably afraid of being abandoned on the streets again. Did your vet give you any idea how old she might be?

Check out this site. They have a lounge and the people there are all try to help you with your dog questions much like here, except it's all about dogs specifically.

Dog Tricks Training Lessons Online (http://www.dogtricksacademy.com)

Hope that helps you a bit. Can't wait to see the pics! :D

She's probably afraid of leaving her babies, they are still very dependent on her. I'd wait until the babies are weaned before attempting any kind of training. It could also be that she suffered abuse and part of it happened while on leash. Give her time and love and she'll come around, I'm sure of it.

Try using a short leash, 4 ft and just putting it on her and letting her drag it around. That way she can get used to it. Please supervise when doing this to make sure it doesn't get caught on anything. I agree with Altenweg that you should wait until the pups are weaned.

Ok I can't seem to get my pictures to come through of the pups but I was able to put a picture of the mommy, Angel under my sign in name. If any one knows how to post let me know. I tried the link to post them, but it still won't work - stumped.

It's probably because the pics are to large, try resizing.

The momma is gorgeous, what a sweetie, can't wait to see the pups.

Once again, congrats and bravo for being such a kind caring person. :)

I am posing a picture of one of the pups under my screen name. This is Jack the little boy. For some reason there seems to be an error when I try resizing so I am just not having any luck posting to the site, so I'll put a new picture on to show everyone the family, one at a time.

Awwww... look at baby Jack the pirate :) What a sweet looking little guy! Love it! Give your adopted momma lots 'o' licks Jack!

Jack is such a cutie, what a little angel, love the eye patch, tooooo cute. Those pups and momma are so lucky that you found them and that they found you, it was fate. :)

I agree, my neighbor had a pup (shelter dog) with his ears done, and u could clearly see that they had messed up when doing it! They were sad, scarred up, and healed up "crooked"!