Mum rejected baby??help please...

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slalic

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Sorry its a but long- but its all very strangge... I have a 3 year old English Bull Terrier, This is her first litter (?)One of the puppies was sadly born dead, very suprisingly she had the second puppy over 12 hours later. Both mum and baby were given the all clear at the vets. Everything was going great and she was a really good mum until 2 nights ago when she suddenly attacked him for no reason? and now she wont let him anywhere near her? Back to the vets for a check up in case she had mastitis or something else that was making her sore, but vet gave her the all clear. Dexter (puppy)is 3 weeks old today, the vet gave us powdered milk and advised to wean him onto solid foods as we would have done normally. As he ws the only one hes a good size and weght and generally stong n healthy. Im just reallly worried about him. I dont want him to be lonely or grow up unsociable? my little jack russel keeps trying to play with him but obviously shes not his mum... anyone any suggestions on what to feed him? or best way to look after him now?thank you x
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We always ween our pups on wheatbix and milk (you could use the powdered the vet gave you) very small amounts 3 or 4 times a day.
 
Thank you, we gave teh jack russell puppies weetabix and scrambled eggs when they were being weaned, the owner of the stud dog suggested giving him a little bit of mince meat. He does seem to be getting the hang of it a little better now. Poor little thing- he'll be wondering whats happening x
 
I can't offer much advice but I have been told in the past that EBT can be prone to infanticide and difficult whelping.

It is unlikely he will grow up unsociable if you put the work in during his early life, and your JRT will teach him how to 'be a dog' if his dam isn't interested.
 
I took on 7 GSD pups at 4 weeks old when their Mum wasn't interested.

I started them straight onto some puppy kibble and warm milk (for puppies not dairy milk). They weren't that keen on the kibble alone so I also added some puppy meat to encourage them to eat more.

Socialising wise, everybody tells me that they were the calmest litter or GSD's they knew. They played with our lab and JRT and anybody coming into the business would go in and handle them so that they got used to people.

In the event of them being at all naughty I used to give them a gentle shake on the scruff of the neck with a firm no.

My mum used to make all the puppies sit even from 4 weeks old if they came up to you so that they were wll mannered from the start. I also used to take them out for drives in the car so that they got used to car travel from an ealry age.

Essentially you will become mum, but as long as he has another dog - your JRT - to play with and you discipline him I don't see why you should have any major problems. The bond I have with the puppy I kept is greater than any I have had with any other animal.
 
Aww poor little boy!! I think it happens quite often- apparently our vizsla's Mum killed her entire first litter
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Fortunately they kept a much closer eye on her the second time!
 
When breeding, this is a risk owners msut take , not all dogs are maternal and take an instant motherly role, if they choose to attack/reject, there is a reason, I would suggest you take her hint and avoid having pupies from her again, as far as it affecting his temperament when older, again you can never be 100% sure how this will affect puppies as a very important part of their social development begin with the mother and interaction with siblings, as suggested u need to do all you can to get him used to stimuli and to allow him interaction with your other dogs will be a great help, it's no substitute for his mother but it's guidance thats he will benefit and learn from, along with your own interaction.
I your other little dog is tolerant maybe he could watch and mimic him eating some solid food, mashed up puppy meat from a large plate as they would with the mother.
 
thank you, we wont be breeding from her again!!! I know that some bitches do reject puppies but is it normal to do it at this stage. For the first three weeks she was the perfect mother and then for no apparent reason just had enough? x
 
She may just have decided to wean it? My cousins lab weaned her pups at 4 weeks old (there were 10 of them mind!)
 
Our ridgeback bitch got fed up with her pups at 3 weeks old, she didn't attack them but she wouldn't feed them as their teeth had come through - luckily we had them on James wellbeloved soaked in goats milk and then put in the blender to make a soup from 2 and a half weeks old - worked really well.
Don't feed wheetabix/scrambled eggs/mince/tuna as none of these have any nutritional value - the mince and tuna are just pure protein and have nothing much else in them. Wheetabix/scrambled eggs are used by puppy farmers as a cheap bulk as is tripe and have nothing of any use in them at all. The good quality puppy biscuits nowadays have everything a growing puppy needs so use that along with the goats milk and you'll have a bouncing pup in no time!!
 
Are you using Lactol. If not then I would asap. I must confess that I wouldn't be feeding anything like weetabix, I would aim for puppy food like Beta soaked in warm water.
He should be fine so long as he has a companion or two, though I would be really careful with him around his mum.

It may be that you were too attentive and put the mum off. I've heard of this happening - it's always a fine line between keeping a close eye and stressing the bitch.
I've never had a problem with my bitches - not that I've bred loads but have slept in the room with mum & pups for ywo weeks before and after to ensure they don't crush puppies. They are generally devoted if rather gormless mums but tbh I think all dogs are individual, there'snever any telling how they will react.
 
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thank you, we wont be breeding from her again!!! I know that some bitches do reject puppies but is it normal to do it at this stage. For the first three weeks she was the perfect mother and then for no apparent reason just had enough? x

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Yep, but in genral they can decide enough is enough as suggested, they will up and move away preventing the puppies from latching on, not attack.
 
Pleeease do not feed weetabix and cow milk, I used to use that but now know that it is not suitable for a dogs digestion, as already said use lactol, stimulate toilet funtion buy rubbing bottom area, and then you really will have to instill that he is not a baby and part of the pack that HAS to listen to you.


Good luck, and big hugs
 
Hi thank you for all your advice. He seems to be doing really well and is very stong and active.The vet gave us 'welpi' powdered milk which is whats hes been having. We ve also been giving him mince and proper puppy food (James Wellbeloved and another brand that i cant think of, he is going to the toilet fine too. I will def get some goats milk. So all in all I am starting to worry a little less. We are keeping him completly away from mum as i just cant risk anything like that happening again and she seems absolutley fine, doesnt even flick an eye lid if he cries whereas my Jack Russel gets rather concerned. Its all very odd. Anyway. Thanks again xx
 
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