This article was co-authored by Tom Robertson. Tom Robertson is a Dog Breeding Specialist and the Owner of Prize Poodles and Doodles. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in breeding doodles. Tom has also received additional educational training in dog grooming, boarding, and training.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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When a dog gives birth, most of the time she'll be just fine afterwards. However, you can take some precautions to make sure your dog stays healthy, such as providing her what she needs and getting her checked out by the vet. You should also monitor to make sure she doesn't develop certain health conditions.
Steps
Giving Her What She Needs
Clean up the area. After birth, you need to do a bit of cleaning up. Take out anything that was soiled by the birthing process. Put in fresh, clean bedding for the pups and the mother, as that will help decrease her chance of developing an infection.[1]
Clean up the mother. You should also make sure the mother is clean and dry. Wipe up any fluids on the mother you see using a warm cloth, and gently pat her dry. Doing so will also reduce her risk of developing an infection later.[2]Advertisement
Take her to the vet. Within the first day or so, it's a good idea to take the mother and puppies to the vet for a checkup. The vet can check the puppies and sex them, but more importantly, the vet will be able to check the mother and make sure everything is okay with her health and well-being following the birth.[3]
Supply plenty of fresh water. Your dog will be dehydrated and tired after giving birth, and she'll need plenty of water to help her recover and to start producing milk for her puppies. Therefore, make sure she has access to fresh water at all times while nursing.[4]
Provide enough quality food. When a dog gives birth and is nursing puppies, she's going to need to eat often and well, though it may take her a day or two become interested in food again after giving birth. You don't need to limit what she eats at all. If she's hungry, let her eat. Try a food designed for dogs who are nursing, as that will provide the high-quality nutrients she needs.[5]- If she doesn't show much interest in food even after a day or two, take her to the see the vet, as that could be a sign that something is wrong.
Let her know it's okay to take care of business. Your dog may be reluctant to leave her puppies after giving birth, particularly in the first day. You may need to encourage her to go outside to take care of business. Nonetheless, if she is very reluctant, it may be better to wait a bit.[6]Advertisement
Monitoring Her Health
Watch her drainage. It's natural for the mother to continue to have drainage from her vaginal area for a few weeks. However, that drainage should be brownish, greenish/blackish, or red, and you shouldn't smell much. Pay attention if it changes to pale or gray discharge, particularly if it is thick and has a bad odor. That could indicate an infection, and she should be seen by a vet.
Check her teats. Her teats can also develop infection, so it's important to keep an eye on them after she gives birth. Look for swelling, redness, irritation, and pain. Also, the milk should flow freely, and it should be white, not yellow, red, or green.- If you notice these symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet immediately, as it indicates an infection called mastitis.
- Think about grinding the puppies' nails down, too—they can cause some significant irritation to the mom's nipples.[7]
Look for signs of low calcium. Another problem dogs are in danger of developing after giving birth is a condition called eclampsia, where the dog's body is not pulling enough calcium from the bones to keep up with the demand of milk. In turn, the mother doesn't get the calcium she needs to survive, though usually it doesn't affect the puppies. This condition is particularly common in smaller breeds, and it usually develops in the first month or so after giving birth.[8]- Symptoms of eclampsia include strange behaviors from your dog, such as loss of interest in her puppies, disorientation, and nervousness.
- Your dog may also whine, pant rapidly, and have stomach problems. She may also have a fever.
- It will begin to affect her muscles, so she'll walk funny. She may have tremors. About 8 hours after symptoms she begin, she may lay on the floor with her legs extended straight out in front of her.
- Visit a vet if you see these symptoms.
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Knowing What's Normal
Expect some panting. Some panting after birth is to be expected. For one, the mother is tired. Plus, it may be connected to the contracting of the uterus after birth, as well as other pains she's having. Also, having the puppies and blankets around can make her warm, all leading to more panting.[9]- As long as she's not panting all the time and she seems healthy, panting shouldn't cause you too much concern.
Be ready for some diarrhea. Mother dogs often develop diarrhea after giving birth, which can be due to the fact that they eat the placentas. It can also be due to stress. Either way, your dog may have loose stools for a bit. You can feed her a bit of pure pumpkin puree to help.[10]
Don't expect her to eat right away. While your dog will need to replenish her energy stores, she'll be very tired after giving birth and may not eat right away. If she hasn't started eating more than 24 hours after giving birth, contact your vet.[11]Advertisement
Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ Tom Robertson. Dog Breeding Specialist. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ Tom Robertson. Dog Breeding Specialist. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Health-Common-Complication-in-Dogs-After-Giving-Birth
- ↑ https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Animal_Services/Foster_Care_Manual/Nursing_Mother_Dogs_and_Their_Puppies.pdf
- ↑ http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/keeping-your-dog-healthy/reproduction-breeding/care-of-the-new-mother-dog
- ↑ http://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/keeping-your-dog-healthy/reproduction-breeding/care-of-the-new-mother-dog
- ↑ Tom Robertson. Dog Breeding Specialist. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
- ↑ http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/reproductive/c_dg_eclampsia
- ↑ https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Health-Common-Complication-in-Dogs-After-Giving-Birth
About this article
After your dog gives birth, help prevent infections by removing soiled bedding from her birthing area and replacing it with fresh, clean bedding. Clean up the mother as well by wiping away any fluids on her fur with a warm, damp cloth and gently patting her dry. Within a day after the birth, take the mother and pups to the vet for a checkup. The vet can catch any potential health problems with the mother and babies. While your dog is recovering at home, make sure she has access to plenty of fresh water and nutrient-rich food to help her heal and produce milk. If she’s reluctant to leave her puppies so she can go to the bathroom, gently encourage her to do so. For more tips from our Veterinarian co-author, including how to monitor your dog’s health after she gives birth, keep reading!
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