My heart aches as I watch Piper, my beloved dam, going through the weaning process. It's a challenging time for both of us, and I find myself constantly worrying about her comfort and well-being.
Seeing her breasts swollen with milk, knowing how uncomfortable it must be for her, is truly distressing. Yesterday, her discomfort was so apparent that I allowed her to nurse for just a minute and a half. While it provided some relief and stopped the leaking, I know it might prolong the drying process. It's a delicate balance between showing compassion and recognizing when it's time to stop nursing altogether.
I've been gradually reducing Piper's food intake over the course of a week to help decrease her milk production naturally. I'm cautious not to stop her meals abruptly, as I know this could cause her unnecessary stress and potential health issues.
I've considered limiting her water intake slightly, as it can help reduce milk production. However, with three adult dogs in the house, it's quite challenging to restrict only Piper's water. Plus, I'm always concerned about maintaining the right balance between reducing milk production and keeping her properly hydrated. For now, I've decided to continue allowing free access to water for all my dogs.
I take Piper on two-mile walks to help alleviate her discomfort. This gentle exercise encourages her body to reabsorb the milk. Last week's scorching weather forced us to cut our walks short, but I'm relieved that we're back to our regular routine this week.
I've also been applying warm compresses to Piper's mammary glands. I soak a clean cloth in warm water, wring it out, and gently place it on the swollen areas for a few minutes several times a day. I'm careful not to stimulate her mammary glands too much, as I know this could encourage more milk production.
I've even tried an old remedy of using cold cabbage leaves to reduce swelling and discomfort. Seeing Piper wearing her Sutical (or her Surgi/Snuggly) with cabbage leaves peeking out might look silly, but I'm willing to try anything to relieve her. The Sutical also helps support her mammary glands and prevents any sneaky nursing attempts from the puppies.
Throughout this process, I'm constantly on high alert for signs of mastitis. The symptoms of mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands, include redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and sometimes a fever. I wouldn't hesitate to contact our vet immediately if I suspected anything was wrong.
This weaning process is undoubtedly difficult for Piper and equally challenging for me. It pains me to see Piper suffering, and despite my best efforts to alleviate her discomfort, I can't help but feel that I should be doing more. I keep reminding myself that this phase will soon pass, but it's a daily struggle to see my sweet Piper going through this. I look forward to the day we can put this behind us and enjoy our usual, carefree time together.
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