Sick Dog Mom
If your female dog is suffering from an illness, she may reject her puppy(ies) simply because she doesn’t have the strength to care for one or all.
It’s not uncommon for a nursing canine to suffer from mastitis – an infection of the mammary glands.
She could also have post-birth complications like a bacterial infection of the uterus called metritis, which can also cause her to reject her young.
If your mother dog is exhibiting symptoms of lethargic, lack of appetite, has a fever or exudes a pus-like discharge from her vagina or teats, get her to the vet right away for treatment.
You will also want to have the puppies checked over as well, as they may also need extra care.
Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with “The Pitt News” and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
If your dog suffers from metritis after giving birth, it can cause her an immense amount of discomfort that compels her to reject her young. Metritis is a uterine infection that affects nursing dogs for a variety of reasons, including retaining placenta and/or fetuses. While veterinary treatment can help your dog fight the infection, she may neglect her puppies in the meantime.
Mother dogs dont have the benefit of prenatal education, and sometimes the maternal instinct is lacking. If your dog has rejected one or more of her newborn puppies, she has a reason. That reason may be biological, instinctive or simply that she doesnt know what to do — in any case, you should carefully monitor your dog with her newborns for a few days after the delivery.
Sometimes, mother dogs simply dont know what to do with their puppies. The stress of pregnancy, delivery and caring for puppies may cause a dog to reject her young — particularly a first-time mother. Similarly, a new mother needs her space after giving birth — if she feels encroached upon by humans or other pets, she may reject or even kill and eat her puppies.
Your dogs natural instinct tells her that if something is wrong with her puppy, the pup probably wont survive. Mom doesnt know that a human may be able to care for him if hes sick or deformed. If your dog determines that her puppy is not an ideal specimen — such as if he suffers from a genetic defect, or is sick or undersized — she may reject him simply as a way of cutting her losses and allowing nature to run its course, giving the other puppies her attention.
Encouraging the Mother to Stay
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1 Relocate the whelping box. If your dog has a close bond with you or suffers from separation anxiety
Whelping dog rejecting puppies
Watching a mother dog give birth is an exciting time, but it can also be quite stressful for everyone involved, including the new mommy. Sometimes things can go wrong, like if a mother decides to leave her puppies to fend for themselves. If a mother dog leaves their puppies, those puppies cannot possibly take care of themselves.
Therefore, the owner needs to understand why a mother dog might leave their puppies, the signs that abandonment is imminent, and what to do if the mom refuses to show interest in her pups. Here are a few steps that should be taken when it is time for your mother dog to give birth, so you are prepared in case she ends up leaving them.