Is it normal for a dog to have a fever after giving birth? A Complete Guide

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What causes milk fever in dogs?

While milk fever is caused by the excessive loss of calcium, the condition can also be caused and exacerbated by a few other factors, such as:

  • Receiving a non-balanced diet, particularly one lacking in calcium
  • Excessive calcium supplementation prior to giving birth
  • When milk production is high, their body can’t keep up with the demand of calcium to produce milk
  • Hormonal problems with the parathyroid gland, causing a disruption in normal calcium levels
  • Low levels of albumin in the blood which can cause a disruption in the transportation of calcium
  • Some dogs are prone to producing milk too rapidly

    • What is Panting After Giving Birth?

    Panting is a normal part of giving birth. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how difficult labor and recovery can be for any creature who goes through the process of delivery. During birth and for a short amount of time afterwards, your dog will most likely pant heavily. This is completely normal and should not be a cause of alarm. If, however, the panting continues past the first few days and happens frequently during nursing, this is something that will need to be addressed. While stress and exhaustion can be a factor in prolonged panting, more often than not the underlying issues are much more serious. We would need to consider:

  • Incomplete birth
  • Milk fever (eclampsia)
  • High temperature
  • Heart problems
  • Pain

    • Regardless of what may be causing the postpartum panting, it is always best to get medical attention to your dog as soon as possible. This is because while some issues may not be life threatening immediately, delaying treatment could potentially cause irreparable damage or death.

    Mild Diarrhea

    According to Beth J. Finder (breeder, exhibitor, and author of Breeding a Litter), the ingestion of placenta may cause the new mom to have diarrhea. Stress may also be a contributing factor. However, the soft stools should subside after a few days. About one to two teaspoonfuls of pure plain canned pumpkin (not the pie mix) can help firm up the stools.

    Eclampsia in Dogs: symptoms, treatment + prevention of this killer – Dog Health Vet Advice