Help - a Lovely but heavily pregnant Lurcher turned up at my door today

[HoundoftheBaskervilles]

I know it's late & I know there's a thread for pointy hound lovers, but I seem to have acquired a heavily pregnant Lurcher, she was lurking round my house all day - very rural no near neighbours, every time I looked out the door she was there, very underfed but sweet & extremely sociable, after about three hours I crumbled & fed her, at which point I noticed she was HEAVILY pregnant & rather skinny.

I've taken her to the Vets', no chip, no report, so she's come back here, she had a show of mucus at the vets' and has been intermittently been panting very heavily, I've phoned the vet again (who luckily are personal friends) who told me how to do an internal, couldn't feel anything yet, so I guess it's just a waiting game.

I've had dogs in the past, but DOGS, never bitches & I've never whelped a pup in me life.

Help & hand-holds would be lovely.

One of the first things I thought about this morning was to warn you that when the pups arrive she might turn into a bit of a she devil; if you have other animals it would be wise to keep them away from her. She might get REALLY snarly with you too, but i see Nanny has already done it!

If she does, leave her to it. It doesn't mean she is an aggressive dog, just being a dog Mum. They don't all do it though - none of mine have.

Also, once the pups have arrived, don't allow a flood of visitors. You'll have to be really strict while she finds her feet. Keep the house calm and quietish, and certainly don't permit a parade of people looking at her. Not only can stress cause her milk to dry up, but it can even cause her to eat her pups.

Towels will be fine - they are just harder to dry than vet bed. The first three weeks are quite clean - they can't move much and Mum will clean them up. Once you start weaning - say about 3.5 weeks, you'll be v glad to have vet bed! I suggest 3 pieces.

Cleaning wise, during weeks 1 - 2, once a day, weeks 2-3, twice a day, 3-4 three times a day, 4-5, four times a day and then by week 5 they should be causing mayhem in a puppy pen or similar and if its not too cold, learning about outside too which will need cleaning as you go. Buy lots of poo bags

Someone up thread has mentioned pig rails - the bars that go around the edge of the whelping pen to stop Mum squashing the puppies. I have never used them, I use rolled towels around the edge and sleep next to the whelping box for the first 4 weeks.

I have also found incontinence pads (bulk buys from ebay, much cheaper than puppy pads) perfect for putting under the vet bed - and I suggest you start a plea for newspaper for when they're bigger. In the 8 weeks you'll have them, you will get through A LOT!

Shameless place mark too.
You are so lovely for taking her in. Hope everything goes well

Oh - and the greed at the moment is likely because she's hungry. Really, really hungry.

Most bitches go off their food just before they're about to go into labour - or throw it up!

Feeding her will be your top priority, especially once the pups are here. She needs as much as you can manage, especially as she's skinny already, in order to keep her milk in and for her not to loose too much condition.

This is good, practical advice - see here and honed by years of breeding experience.

Still lurking on this thread

Have no experience whatsoever of puppies but I am very good at looking at photos of them

Me too

I have a spare piece of vet bed you can have if you like - happy to post it to you if you pm me your address (cat was supposed to be using it while he was on crate rest after major surgery but spurned it to lie in the litter tray instead . Keeping fingers and toes tightly crossed that all goes well

Norks - I bet I can see you too, I'm on top of a large hill (not the Malverns though) and can see for miles.......

Hound - sounds like you've got every angle covered, good luck and above all, enjoy!

Still no news?

Have you got her a birthing ball? Might help things along.

Perhaps hound is too busy boiling kettles of water ad fetching towels at the moment to update :o

Come on puppies

Oh this is exciting!

Shameless place marking

Some cracking advice here - how lovely you all are.

Daisy I read your post about getting snarly and wanting peace and quiet after the birth and nodded along - that's exactly how I felt after I had DS! I have been called a bitch in the past.....

All the best OP - hope it goes well.

Just this read this thread while making poor ill DH wait for breakfast, bad wife You sound like a lovely family. Your DH sounds a darling. Any sign of the babies?

Another local-ish (Malverns) lurker here, eagerly anticipating puppy pics! Good luck to you and Mabli when they arrive! DH and I currently considering a puppy...maybe meant to be?!

You need a lurcher puppy Idlefolly. I was up on British Camp with mine at the weekend, and it is perfect for lurcher running

I think we should have name suggestions.

Since it's nearly Halloween how about Halloween themed names... Or sweet themed names..

Pumpkin
Jack (as in jack o lantern.. Or jack the pumpkin king!)
Toffee
Liquorice

Etc?

I reckon Ifor, Lloyd and Nye for boys and Ceri, Lowri and Nia for girls.

I've been so desperate for a dog since we moved to Malvern, such perfect dog-walking territory!

Concerned about lurchers Vs cats though as we have a very much loved five year old cat who is the clingiest thing ever (wherever I am, she is).

Any news on Mabli hound?

Along the same lines of Mabli (Welsh, meaning lovable) how about Cariad for a girl (Welsh, meaning love/darling)?

I have 3 cats and 2 lurchers . evilgingercat is boss of the household tbh. Cmotdog has no prey drive at all, and cmotpuppy has more, but has quickly learnt that the cats are off limit.

.

I've always said that if we ever get a female Lurcher she would be called Seren (Welsh name, meaning Star).

That's good to know Dribbler...I will give it some thought! Have just posted a new post actually about dog before or after baby, which is probably more of a head-scratcher!!

Sorry for hijacking post OP!!