Take Mom away from her puppies?

[flyingfur]

A customer called me today. She has an appointment tomorrow for her two dogs. One of them just had puppies 2 weeks ago. She still wants to bring her for a groom. Do you think this will be ok?

[Poodleluv]

That sounds awfully soon to be taking her from pups. I wouldn't. Just MO If you do,I wouldn't keep her more than 2 hours,and when you bath her,use tepid water on her teats,as warm seems to make them fill up with milk. I hope the client has the pups nice and warm,or provides a little extra warmth. What about her vulva being vulnerable to germs if she has discharge,or a bit of gaping from the whelping? Too bad the client didn't get her a maternity trim before she whelped,then wait till the pups are at least partly weaned. It is up to you and your client ,and the circumstances I guess. I woul;d wait just a bit longer.She may be very anxious too. Just a couple more weeks would be better.

[flyingfur]

Thanks poodleluv. I'm certainly worried, and you bring up some very good points. I did shave her belly short (#7)when she was in last because mom said she might be preggers! She is a cockapoo that is kept in a longer pet cocker trim.

[odette]

there is a risk that another dog has come into contact with parvo etc, that the mom could be exposed to! maybe i am over careful, but i personaly won't do the mom that soon after. jmo

[4Sibes]

In addition (and unless it was my bitch, under my roof, and dire circumstances...I wouldn't bathe her till pups were at least 3.5 weeks old) I would be JUST as concerned about exposing my Momma dog to junk she might take home to the little ones. You just never know. Yeah...I'm paranoid, but sorry...some things are just plain preventable...and exposing her to anything other than her own backyard....I wouldn't do it.

[sittingpretty]

Poodleluv gave you good advice, I second it! You didn't mention what breed this new mom is, perhaps she wasn't trimmed pre-delivery and is now a messy mommy?

Keep her as short a time as you can. A day at the spa should be secondary to motherhood, in my opinion...


sittingpretty

[PAWS]

Perhaps this would be a time to recommend an in-home groomer? Not a mobile groomer, but in the client's home. My trailer is kept sanitary and there are not multiple households in it at once, but I would still be concerned about the possibility of passing germies. I would say hold off completely, but perhaps it is a sanitary issue with the puppies?

[puppy love]

I agree, 2 weeks is too soon. Tell her that you can groom the dog 4-5 weeks after delivery. That gives everything time to get more back to normal for Mama Dog. And keep her away from the other dogs as much as possible to avoid any germs to go back to the pups. I would probably sanitize the kennel that she is going to be in before putting her in it, young pups are very susceptable to diseases and she will be lying down in the kennel then going back to let the pups nurse and snuggle to her.

[tridentk9]

with pups that young

IMO- no. If she stresses out too much it is entirely possible that she'd go home and injure (or worse) the pups. Hormones and stress can cause an otherwise laid back bitch to do some very strange things.

[Briarpatch]

If it were my girl, she'd go absolutely nuts if she were taken from the pups. Under NO circumstances would I take her for grooming! The only time I've ever taken her away from her pups was when she contracted an infection and we had to go to the vet. Even then we kept the pups in a warm crate so she could see them the whole time.

[flyingfur]

Thanks for all the input. I'll call her tomorrow morning and let her know "we" don't advise a groom so soon.

[KarlaSnyder]

Wouldn't do it either. I would even be leary about taking in her other dog if you have a busy shop with lots of dogs. If she is a really good client, you might offer to do a housecall for her.

[lexapurple]

No I would not take her. The risk of bringing something home to the pups is too great even if you shop is most sanitary one on the planet. Also, the babies still need their mama with them at all times at this point.

[Lucy in the Sky]

NO NO NO
The first bite I received that required medical attention and stitches was from a mom who had 3 week old pups at home. I was still fairly new and just a bather and the dog was upset and didn't want to walk toward the bathing station. I didn't want my boss to be mad that I was falling behind with this- so I thought- stubborn dog. I picked her up to carry her to the tub and I think I may have hurt her. She whipped around and caught my ear.
Now with years of retrospect, I wish I had had more compassion for that dog. I really just did not know yet how to understand dog behavior. Imagine a dog groomer that had never had a dog, lol.
Beyond the disease factors, mom's emotional state may be a big factor in the decision too.

[D'tails]

No way. Puppies will suck on a mother all over. Who wants to take a mother out in public. expose her to strange dogs, then put her back in the whelping box where her puppies will nurse and lick her all over, including her feet after she walked through a crowded shop full of potentially ill dogs?