The undercooked microwaved plain beef sausages lose their casings and take on an appearance and texture not unlike the umbilicus of the freshly delivered pup

It is my pleasure to have the opportunity here to pass on some tips that might be of use to some; they have certainly proved useful to me. It involves enticing the new mum to eat and drink, some hours after whelping.

For some bitches this is not a problem because they are food-mad. But for other bitches the ‘pleeeease –  eat or drink something!’ becomes the mantra of the weary breeder, deprived of sleep for longer than they care to remember.

This becomes all the more important a couple of days after parturition, when the bitch’s milk comes in and her liquid and solids intake is more vital than ever if she is to produce good volumes and quality of milk for the babies. Not to mention the need for her own good nutrition needed to repair her body and restore energy levels following giving birth. [Read more...]