Milk Already? Oh my!

JLS Stuck On You
August 6, 2021
Momma J Better Get Ready…
June 29, 2022

Milk Already? Oh my!

Okay, I have been breeding about 30 years. Most my girls follow a pattern that is normal for my line, but ocassionally one didn’t read the books and does nothing according to what is “normal” or expected. I had anticipated that Peony would make me work for it. My beautiful, drama queen. I love her dearly. I know she will make a great Momma Dog once the pups are here… she is so very loving and caring.

6/23/2022 - I freaked out a bit as Peony had milk in ALL teats, even the very small front teat on this day. She was acting restless. I started googling and reading. How early can they come and make it? Well the answer is 5 days early. They may need supplementing and extra care but they can survive 5 days early. Before that their lungs would not be formed enough to allow them to get the oxygen to breath and survive. I also read that sometimes first time momma's can get milk a week before they whelp. My girls in 30 years of breeding, have generally started getting milk a week prior to whelping, but it starts in the very back (large) teat and each day it moves up a row, so that by the day prior or right before whelping milk is in the very front small teat. See, old dogs can learn new stuff, or relearn anything they may have forgotten. 

Peony temperature -

Thursday, 6/23/22 - 8:32 p.m. - 99.5

Friday, 6/24/22 - 8:30 a.m. 99.6 and 99.9

After speaking to my reproduction vet, and Peony settled down and all seemed well .