I have bred and foaled mares for 35+ years, so I feel very confident and pretty relaxed, although alert about that. BUT – having a pregnant bitch that I bred explicitly for what I want to produce is new territory. I have a video (Leerburg), which is quite lengthy and explicit and will watch it again. I have read several lists of what is recommended for whelping kits and have ordered ALOT of stuff. She is going to have her litter in a downstairs bedroom that no other animals are allowed in and she is in here resting alot – very comfortable here. I will sleep down here as I did after my bad accident in 2011 and she stayed with me then, too. I have a wading pool to line with newspaper and towels that will be easily
cleaned for her to whelp in – just need to move some stuff around to set it up. So – any advice or items you include and why is welcomed. She is a 4 y.o. GSD and my personal companion. I sought her out after losing my “soulmate, heart dog” male, looking for a similar pedigree. Her sire and dam are imported, SCH titled and come from very good lines. She is bred to a sensational male, he has been the leading sire of working GSD’s in the world, so I am fortunate to have the opportunity. His name is Drago vom Patriot and he has litters worldwide and working sons/daughters – you can google him or go to his kennel website www.canineconcepts.com and see him and a video of him working. He is over the top impressive in person. I want to keep another male and have the litter from birth to really bond and select the one to keep. I already have people who want a puppy for working purposes and don’t know that I will repeat this. Not breeding for dollars. She is OFA’d “Good” and brucellosis clear. She is an awesome girl in her own right even thought I haven’t pursued the titling route with her with all the horse stuff I have going on. She meets my needs and criteria and she certainly could do the work. Anyway – TIA in advance as I have the jitters big time, LOL!
PennyG
If you haven’t already read the books by Myra Savant Harris, I would encourage you to do so. I keep Citrical around for calcium supplementation. Goat’s milk powder in case I need to supplement somebody. Red rubber tubes to tube feed if needed. DeeLee suction catheter for clearing the airway. Automotive towels from wal-mart are the cheapest puppy cleaning towels. Hemostats for clamping the umbilical cord and dental floss for tying it off.
Get yourself a little notebook. As the time draws near you’ll want to record her temperature - it will spike or remain the same, then drop when she’s close.
Thermometer
Small scale- to weigh puppies at birth and daily to record weight gain and general health. Record each puppies markings or anything distinct about them to help you identify them at birth, and to help you make sure you know which one you’re weighing.
Dose of oxytocin (you’ll need to work with your vet on that one - your vet may not want you to have it)
Hemostat for clamping umbilical cord - I have not used it as the bitch chews it off and the puppy is fine.
Ice cream for the mother (the calcium helps with muscle contractions) - I also give cottage cheese with her kibble - the calcium and fat is good for her while she’s nursing.
Feeding tube and eyedropper.
Milk replacer - goats milk is good there is also a puppy replacer formula.
Suction bulb thingy to clear airway.
Latex gloves
I do not line the whelping box with towels - I use bed liners for incontinent adults. They work great and are absorbent - some brands also have an odor control something or other in them.
I clean the whelping box each day with a disinfectant towelette, and I wear shoe covers when I walk into the whelping area (to help prevent parvo). The disposable automotive towels are a great idea - I use washcloths from the dollar store.
If you have a sluggish puppy or one that doesn’t want to nurse, you can gently rub it to wake it up. I had one that really wanted to just lay there and die - I rubbed it to wake it up, got it to nurse, and it did ok. Once the little guy did a teeny growl I knew he’d be ok.
Some people don’t want the bitch to eat all the placentas, some don’t mind. I’m told it is good for them to eat a few at least - something about hormones. Talk it over with your vet and see what he/she recommends.
My guys are not pets - they are hunting dogs. The bitch whelps out in my barn, which has a concrete floor and run to the outside. I also use a wading pool, which works great although you need to watch the bitch to make sure she does not squash a puppy. When her time draws near I sleep in the tack room so I’m there when she stars labor. It’s nervewracking, especially if it’s her first litter, but it usually all goes well.
Keep your vets emergency number on hand. Also - have a basket or something similar on hand in case you need to take the bitch to the vet - you cannot leave the puppies behind. I whelped out a litter of ten and used a laundry basket to get them and the bitch to the vet. Worked great.
Good luck!!!
$2500. Or whatever the going rate for a C-Section at your local emergency clinic is. Because when neonates are involved minutes count and you don’t want to be calling around/applying for credit/scrounging up money. And not to rain on your parade more, but you need to know now who is your goal to save, your bitch or the puppies. It is rare that you’ll have to make that choice but again, seconds count. Be prepared to get your dogs out of the hospital ASAP, emergency clinics are full of sick dogs and you don’t want them picking anything up. Barring no complications our C-Sections are sent home less than 12 hours post OP. We kept spays longer! But we have several vets/techs who breed and are anal retentive about protecting the bitch/pups.
Also, ask your vet for some 25 or 27 gauge needles to stimulate the respiratory point if needed. I’m on my phone and can’t google/link well but most vets can show you, it’s an acupuncture point that helps with breathing if you have some slow to come around.
What are your bitch’s bloodlines? We need photos!! If I didn’t have a house full of ACDs DH would want a GSD
The Leerburg video is a good one. I breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and have shown them for 15 years. Off the top of my head, my whelping kit contains the following:
Thermometer for thrice daily temp check starting a week before due date
Several small hemostats to clamp off umbilical chords
Lots and lots of fresh clean towels
Pad of paper and pen for recording temps and them noting things like when she went into hard labor, when each pups presented, any distocia issues, weights and markings of each one, and anything else that might be important
Oxytocin just in case
Canned goats milk.
Feeding tube and syringe
Karo syrup
Tums for quick calcium boost for bitch
Stethoscope
Sucking syringe
Small pair of sharp scissors
Amoxicillin
Digital scale that measures to the tenth of an ounce
Unwaxed dental floss for thing cords
Hot pad
1 liter bag of saline that I warm in microwave and wrap in a towel to keeps pups warm while next pups are being born
Basket lined with towels that is large enough for the entire litter. I put them all in it with warm bag of saline and/or hot pad each time bitch begins serious contractions for the next puppy
Small forceps
k-Y jelly
Zip lock bags for placentas
That’s all I remember at the moment.
This is great information and so helpful – I can’t thank you all enough! On the feeding tubes – I’ve never done that – how risky is it and how quickly can one be trained? I could put the $2500 on a credit card if I needed to do so. The emergency clinic is about as far as my vet, though. They would meet me if I needed them – we have a 40 year history and they know how much this means to me, so they would meet me I feel sure (but will also check). I have different size needles for the horses, I’ll see what I have and ask them about the respiratory points. Do the females usually gnaw off the umbilical cord or is that usually cut and tied? It’s late, so I don’t have Nola’s file in front of me. Her topline is pure Kirschental bloodlines, one of the oldest kennels in Germany. They actually use their GSD’s alot for herding, which I find wonderful since it is something they were originally bred to do. Her sire came from their kennel. Her damline I can’t remember as much about, I know Ducati is in there. I’ll put in a link to her pedigree when my brain kicks back in. You could look at my Facebook page and probably see some photos. I’ll have to find some and put in a link. She’s a big girl, almost 100 lb. but more now, of course. She’s very active, so that’s not a “fat” weight. What are ACD’s – I cannot seem to figure that out. I just can’t remember not having a GSD, other than just after losing Norman. I am so dependent on having them as a companion out here since I’m alone alot. When I had my catastrophic accident, I was alone and was able to finally dial 911 and she led the EMT to me and then got in the ambulance with me. She had to be kenneled while I was away so she wouldn’t go looking for me. They are so loyal! I just want to be very prepared, so thanks again.
PennyG
You really need to talk with and work with your vet on the feeding tube, oxytocin, etc. If you get in over your head, or things start to go wrong, time will not be on your side.
I’d skip the oxytocin. The consensus from the canine repro gurus really seems to be towards not using it in the home setting. Essentially, it can cause contractions that are too strong and last too long which can cut off oxygen supply to puppies. Usually only used if you’re in a position to move straight to a c-section. Or, if you know via ultasound that any remaining puppies are deceased, it can be used to try to avoid a c-section. Retained placentas aren’t a significant issue either. Nursing should stimulate enough release of oxytocin to help clear the “slime” from the uterus.
You can learn from the Leerburg video how to use the feeding tube. It’s not difficult.
Oxytocin can be very helpful in some cases but you should discuss with your vet when and how to use it and exactly how much.
Regarding the umbilical cords, most of the time the mother will chew them off properly and then eat the placenta. However, I have twice seen the disembowelment (sp?) that can result from the mother being overzealous in this regard, so I generally do not allow the mother to chew it. I usually scoop the pup up as soon as it emerges and take it and the placenta into a towel, clamp it and cut and tie it myself and discard the placenta (except one - the first, that I give to the dam).
This all such great information. I have a call in to my vet to discuss everything. I don’t plan to use any oxytocin and don’t have any. I am familiar with it from my vet using it on mares to dispel the placenta, etc. I will watch the Leerburg dvd again – I’m not really comfortable about a feeding tube but will discuss that with Ken. If I encounter issues, I will pack her up and head to the vet clinic ASAP after a phone call for advice. She is getting really uncomfortable and was restless alot last night. She is 3-4 days from due date – how early could she safely have them? Do you find weather has any affect – we are having some temp changes and unstable weather – I know that can affect a mare. I will certainly keep you all posted as this develops and try to get photos somewhere so I can share them. For the person who asked about her pedigree - her registered name is Nola Vom Mathasen-TKR. Her sire is Krischental primarily with Farbenspiel, Wienerau, Ursus von Batu, Arlett and Bad-Boll primarily. Her damline is Ducati, with the same as above sprinkled throughout along with Wildsteiger Land, Quando von Arminius, which are the bloodlines I was seeking that were in repeated in Normie’s pedigree. I am so nervous!!
PennyG
They can safely come as early as 57 days post fertilization. Anything earlier than that is unlikely to be viable.
Watch her for panting. She will begin nesting and panting about 36-42 hours before whelping. The panting will be in fits and starts at first, but as she gets close the panting will be heavy and pretty much constant. And if she can, she is likely to go try to hide (in a closet, under the bed, etc). Keep close eye.
Everyone’s pretty much covered what you’ll need.
Would love to see a photo of her & her pedigree.
Drago a nice dog. Most of his progeny here in the states are still fairly young so many haven’t done a whole lot(competing wise), but he’s producing dogs with nice drives & working temperaments. He also passes larger/heavier size & can throw coats.
I’m sure you are aware if it, but he is a DM carrier. Have you had your girl tested for DM?
In the process of having this done, have ordered a DM kit for her to be tested. Her registered name is Nola vom Mathasen-TKR. She is in the pedigree data base if you want to see her pedigree. I guess I need to put some photos on Facebook and post a link here. I don’t have any recent ones, but will do that. Thanks for asking.
PennyG
Not to derail this 
just curious what made you decide to breed to a WL (Drago) when your female is SL?
I have always admired the working lines and what they do. I was looking for a specific type of male that I thought would work well with her and produce what I am seeking. I was fortunate that Drago is nearby and I could meet him in person. The show lines that my female is from also produce many schutzhund titled dogs as were her sire and dam. I have no interest in bench shows, but I do appreciate the dogs being bred for “work” and the intelligence and other wonderful traits these-- wl produce. It is more in line with what the breed is about. I grew up with GSD’s owned by neighbors who trained them through CDX, tracking, etc. and showed and learned to appreciate and love the breed, particularly their big male, who I rode as a kid (I was very small – still short, LOL). I understand that the working lines need alot of activity and work and can be stronger personalities, and I’m fine with that. I am very interested in perhaps getting involved with a schutzhund club that is relatively close by and some of them have Drago babies. I love this breed and all the things they can do! They are just the most complete, perfect dog IMO (for me!). Thanks for asking.
PennyG
Yes they are a wonderful breed!
I currently have 3
This is my female I am currently competing with: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=628741-champi-apanta-rei
My other two are just pups.
I have PUPPIES!! So far 3 males and a female (who is the most vocal, LOL). I know there is at least 1 more to go. Nola is pretty tired, but I’m giving her vanilla ice cream and some calcium powder, she has also had some canned food and a couple of small steaks and alot of water, so I’m trying to keep her energy good and hydrated. I predicted 6, so we’ll see. I’m good with these 4 but I am certain we are not done. I’m pretty tired and a real mess, but we’ll get this done.
PennyG
keep us updated please!
Apparently, we are done. I spoke to my vet after 4 hours plus and no more contractions or puppies. He said the full, tight belly is from fluid and stretching/bruising. He said she could have more, but the belly doesn’t mean she will. I think she’s done, but am staying with her. She’s a good mother and the puppies have nursed well, napped and seem to be thriving. I’m fine with 4 – that’s alot for me! I think I 've chosen my male. I’ll try to get some photos and will post a link but they will just look like little black blobs with color coded paper collars. Nola is a worn out girl, but eating well. Thanks for all the help!!!
PennyG
awesome!!
