What to do after dog has puppies?

Having a litter of puppies is one of the most exciting experiences for any dog owner. Not only is it a joy to watch the puppies grow and explore their new environment, but it is also a responsibility that comes with a lot of important decisions. One of the most important decisions is deciding what to do after your dog has had puppies. It can be difficult to know what steps to take or what resources to use, but it is essential to make the right decisions to ensure the health and safety of all involved. This blog post will provide an overview of some of the best practices for managing your new litter of puppies, from scheduling vet visits to selecting a healthy diet. We’ll also look at what to do if your puppy has trouble adjusting to their new home. So, if you’re a new dog parent or a seasoned veteran, read on for some helpful tips for post-puppy care.

Immediately After She Gives Birth

Your mother dog needs postpartum care after each puppy has made their grand entrance. This is extremely important for her health and well-being.

Remove and replace all soiled material from the whelping box with clean, soft bedding. Repeat as needed.

Do not bathe your dog after she gives birth. But do gently clean her with a warm damp cloth. Wait a few weeks to give her a full-blown bath. Use a mild soap and rinse her thoroughly to prevent the puppies from coming into contact with any soap residue when they nurse.

After giving birth, your dog will continue to bleed for up to eight weeks. Your mother dog will produce more post-whelping discharge if a C-section was required than she would have if she had given birth naturally. This discharge, known as lochia, can be greenish-black, brownish, or brick red in color. It should be almost odorless. She needs to be seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible if it becomes thick, grey, or pale in color and starts to smell. She might have metritis, an infection of her uterus, or a retained placenta that is infected.

She should rest quietly and sleep for several hours after she whelps, while the puppies are nursing or sleeping. When she wakes up, she should be bright-eyed, alert, and responsive to her litter of puppies.

Caring for Your Dog After She Gives Birth

Puppies frequently arrive while you are sleeping in the middle of the night. Make it a habit to check on your dog every morning, especially as her due date approaches if you want to be able to monitor her while she is giving birth.

Treatment for dystocia (problems giving birth)

Contact your veterinarian right away if your dog is having trouble giving birth, and try to provide as many details about her and the pregnancy as you can. Your dog may need the following:

Monitoring: your vet may decide to keep your dog in the hospital to monitor her and see what happens. Your vet will check her regularly and take further action if necessary.

X-rays or a scan: x-rays and scans can help check the unborn puppies and diagnose any problems.

Medication: if your dog is struggling to give birth, your vet may decide to give a medication called Oxytocin, which causes the womb to contract more forcefully. However, it’s important that your vet examines your dog before this is given because Oxytocin is not always appropriate, and used in the wrong situation can cause severe pain and tearing of the womb.

Assisted delivery: if your dog is struggling to pass a puppy, it might be possible for your vet to gently help deliver it. However, if the puppy is too big or deformed to pass through the pelvis, your dog may need a caesarean section. Never pull a puppy without advice from your vet; you could seriously injure your dog and/or the puppy.

Caesarean: A caesarean section is an operation performed under a general anaesthetic to open the womb and remove the puppies.

Following your dog’s delivery, you should keep an eye out for the following:

To ensure that your dog is producing enough milk to feed her puppies and is not experiencing any issues, such as mastitis (a painful infection of the mammary glands), it is a good idea to check her mammary glands each day. If you notice any of the following signs, seek advice from your veterinarian right away:

Lack of milk

Pain

Redness

Itching

Swelling

Abnormal coloured milk

Metritis (infection of the womb)

Metritis is an infection inside the womb. It’s a rare but serious condition that typically affects dogs who have difficulty giving birth or who have puppies or placentas that are still inside the uterus (which is extremely uncommon in dogs). Low energy, a diminished appetite, a high body temperature, an odorous vaginal discharge, and decreased milk production are typical symptoms of metritis. If you experience any of these signs, speak with your veterinarian right away for guidance.

* Your dog may experience vaginal discharge for up to six weeks after giving birth, but it shouldn’t smell and she shouldn’t exhibit any other signs of illness during that time.

Eclampsia (hypocalcaemia)

Eclampsia, also known as puerperal tetany and hypocalcaemia, is a potentially fatal condition brought on by low calcium levels. It typically manifests in the final few weeks of pregnancy or the first few weeks following childbirth. It most frequently affects small dogs having large litters, pregnant dogs who weren’t properly nourished, and dogs who produce a lot of milk. It may seem strange that dogs who received calcium supplements during pregnancy are also more likely to develop eclampsia, but this is because the body becomes dependent on calcium supplements and is unable to use its own calcium when required. Drooling, stiffness, weakness, uncharacteristic behavior, muscle twitching, spasms, and eventually seizures are all signs of eclampsia. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice any of these signs prior to, during, or following your dog’s delivery.

Behavioural/mothering problems

Most dogs instinctively adapt to motherhood, but some find it a little more difficult, especially if they underwent a caesarean section, had a difficult birth, or required a lot of assistance from their owner or veterinarian. Set up a whelping box for your dog well in advance of her due date, and make sure it’s placed away from the busy areas of your home in a warm, quiet, and calm area to reduce the likelihood of a problem. While your dog is giving birth, keep an eye on her and only step in if it is absolutely necessary. If you have concerns about your dog at any time during her pregnancy or whelping, call your veterinarian for guidance.

FAQ

What should I give my dog after giving birth?

• Feed a nutrient-dense diet such as puppy food.
• Increase the number of meals served throughout the day without increasing the amount of food offered at each meal.
• Feed her at will, allowing her unrestricted access to dry food all day long.

What to watch for after dog has puppies?

Watch for signs of eclampsia or milk fever. These symptoms include, among others, agitation, anxiety, sweating, trembling of the muscles, an increase in body temperature, whining, and dilated pupils. Within the first four weeks following the birth of the puppies, this condition may manifest.

How long after a dog has puppies can you touch them?

Puppies start to move on their own when they are about three weeks old. At this point, you can start petting them and engaging with them more. If you notice a sick puppy, if its mother abandons it, or if the puppy is orphaned, you should not handle or pick it up.

Can I leave my dog alone with her puppies?

The majority of ethical breeders never abandon young puppies with the mother. There are numerous reasons why it’s best to constantly keep an eye on the dam and her young. Inexperienced dams can easily become overwhelmed by the new litter, and if you’re not there, you might overlook rejection cues.