Nursing Bitch

[dkirkuk]

Another question!

What is normal in terms of milk production and a reduction in lactation in a nursing bitch.

Daisy is now almost 4 weeks post whelping and has been doing a fantastic job feeding the puppies who are looking very healthy and developing really well. Mid week I noticed that Daisy suddenly got exceptionally full with milk - so full that she looked really uncomfortable. At the same time she really didn't want to eat much, having eaten fairly well since the puppies were born. She also seemed reluctant to feed the puppies but I came to the conclusion that they were just overwhelming her. She would hop in to feed them and all 8 of them would literally pounce on her and suck the life out of her. I have been lifting the puppies out a few at a time to let her feed them and she will happily feed them this way. She isn't sore (other than the odd yelp when the puppies bite her) and I am confident that she didn't have mastitis, just loads of milk.

The extra milk and suppressed appetite lasted 48 hours and today I have noticed that she suddenly has much less milk. I wondered if this reduced appetite was normal and maybe natures way of reducing the milk supply as the puppies start to get weaned. I did start the puppies on semi-solids about 5 days ago and they have taken to that pretty well.

I don't think I am especially worried, but just noticed this change and wondered if it is normal?

[bluegirl]

I'd say 4 weeks is about right for when the bitch thinks the suckling needs to reduce. High demand with good diet will keep her milk flow good and low demand will reduce it. I found the pups were always ready for an extra bit of milk whether mum planned it that way or not. Penny's milk bar was hijacked on more than one occasion when pups saw her, even when they were all out of the box. Penny continued to feed her litter until 8 weeks old. Some breeders like to separate them and stop this from about 4 weeks but I saw no reason to stop it, although I was careful not to let them take advantage of her as she clearly didn't want to do it as often. She also continued to feed the 2 pups we kept for a few more fews after the others had gone. She also started to regurgitate food for the pups as soon as they turned 4 weeks, and will to this day still do that on occasions (and mine are now 4 , but they know whats coming and they'll pester her to do it)

[Ninasmum]

When Jo Jo had her litter of 9, i must admit i started weaning them 2 days before 3 weeks of age.  By the time they were 6 weeks old they were almost fully weaned (& very fat & chunky ).  An experienced breeder advised to do this because it was a fairly large litter, like yours dkirk & personally i didn't want Jo Jo to get more & more tired coping with them.  They were overwhelming her every time she went to them & would frantically feed like there was no tomorrow.  It did seem to be getting painful for her to feed them because their little teeth were coming through & we all know how painful the little needles are.    With a smaller litter though, i would have let them feed from mum a little longer.

There is a homeopathic pill available from http://www.dorwest.com/Catalogue/Homoeopathic-Remedies/Urtica-Urens-3C-THREE--100-pillules   this dries the milk up in a couple of days.  Just in case you decide to take the earlier route with weaning. 

[bluegirl]

Penny also nursed 9 pups and had huge amounts of milk but her diet was rich in milk producing food and herbs. They were only weaned at 4 weeks exactly.

[loppylugs]

My Tia had loads of milk all the time she was nursing her pups,i started them on food at 3 weeks and she weaned them herself,if she wanted to go into them we let her,it got less and less ,by the 6th week she wasnt interested in feeding them and her milk dried up,they werent interested in her as they were getting food/milk else where,and they are 2 chunky pups.