Most health problems occur in the first few weeks after the birth. … Contact a veterinarian if any of these signs are noted:
Fever.
Foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
Listlessness.
Loss of appetite/vomiting.
No interest in the puppies.
Decreased milk production.
Why is my dog panting 3 days after labor?
Eclampsia typically occurs at peak milk demand about 2-3 weeks after delivery but it can occur even during delivery. The low calcium levels can result in panting, restlessness, pacing, crying, disorientation, increased thirst and urination, gait problems, tremors, muscle spasms and seizures.
Expert Q&ASearch
Question What is milk replacer? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Milk replacer, also known a dog milk replacer, is a powdered formula that, when reconstituted with water, is the same as the dog mothers milk. Therefore, it can “replace” a canine mothers milk if she isnt feeding the puppies properly.
Question My dog is experiencing diarrhea after giving birth, and the poop is dark green. Is this normal? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Many female dogs eat the placenta and afterbirth, which can upset their stomachs and produce green poop. Make sure she is otherwise well (eating, drinking, wagging, and feeding the puppies), and offer her bland foods such as chicken and rice for a few days. If there is blood in the diarrhea, she seems out of sorts, or isnt eating or drinking, then get her checked right away.
Question My dog is restless, panting, and drinking a lot. She didnt react like this the first time she gave birth. Is this normal? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer No, this isnt normal. There could be a number of explanations, including a puppy still stuck in the womb, an infection, or low blood calcium levels. It is best to get your dog checked by a veterinarian immediately.
After giving birth, your dog may display signs of aggression toward you or your family. This is normal behavior—she is protecting her pups, and will likely go back to her usual temperament once the puppies are a few weeks old.[17] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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If you have questions or concerns, contact your local veterinarian. ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
Signs of discomfort or infection in dogs include restlessness, disinterest in puppies, foul-smelling discharge, and dilated eyes. If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.[18] ⧼thumbs_response⧽ Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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How do you tell if your dog has a retained placenta?
Nobody likes to be kept waiting. I’ve always tried to get my clients in and out of the veterinary clinic in a reasonable amount of time, but sometimes an emergency throws the schedule completely out of whack. A dystocia can do just that.
Dystocia means “difficult birth,” and it can be an all hands on deck kind of emergency since we’re simultaneously dealing with mom’s health as well as that of a sometimes large number of newborn puppies. Even if you never plan on having a pregnant female dog in your life (I’m going to avoid the b-word to keep the profanity filters happy), knowing the basics about the canine birthing process might help you understand why you’ve been kept waiting, or why your appointment has to be rescheduled if a dog with dystocia arrives at the clinic. Normal labor is divided into three stages:
Dogs move between stages two and three as they give birth to a litter. Sometimes a puppy will be born followed by a placenta. Other times, several puppies will be born followed by several placentas. I use the following parameters to help determine if a dog is having difficulty giving birth.
When an owner calls after noticing any of the above, I have them bring the dog into the clinic. Depending on the condition of mom and any unborn puppies, I’ll either send her home to continue labor, set up a quiet birthing room and nest in the hospital for close monitoring, stimulate contractions using feathering (firmly stroking the top of vaginal wall) or giving calcium and/or oxytocin injections, or move straight to a caesarian section. To make appropriate decisions around the time of birth, veterinarians need to know when the litter is due (based on breeding dates, a surge in luteinizing hormone(LH) prior to breeding, and/or a drop in temperature or progesterone levels prior to labor) and how many puppies are coming (based on X-rays or ultrasounds). Good preparation and communication between owner and breeder can help prevent many problems associated with the birth process. So if you ever get swept up in the controlled chaos associated with a canine dystocia, please be patient … the vet will get to you eventually.
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