The best way to ensure that your dog is doing well after giving birth is to learn more about what childbirth is like in dogs. Remember that this process has been going on for thousands of years and is natural. However, you can do a few things to help. After giving birth, the dog should be checked by a veterinarian to make sure that all the puppies have been born.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Caring for a Dog that Has Delivered
Step 1. Clean the dog with a cloth dampened in warm water
Make sure that the dog is clean of blood, placental fluid, or feces. If hygiene is maintained properly, the risk of bacterial infection after childbirth will also be reduced.
- Dogs may pass a fluid called lochia for several weeks after giving birth. This discharge is natural and normal, appearing due to the shedding of the dog's uterine lining. Healthy lochia is odorless and comes in a variety of colors (from greenish brown to blood red).
- If your dog doesn't lick the puppies thoroughly within a few minutes of birth, you should wipe the puppy's face and nostrils with a clean, damp cloth to clean the placental pouch. After that, immediately return the puppy to its mother.
- If your dog doesn't seem to want to clean it, you may want to wipe the puppies with a clean cloth to stimulate breathing.
Step 2. Remove all soiled sheets and blankets from the delivery area
You can take your dog outside to poop and/or poop while someone else changes the bed to a clean, dry cloth.
- Keep changing soiled dog bed sheets and blankets regularly. Make sure that the area is kept clean.
- For easy access, keep a pile of clean sheets or blankets near where your dog gives birth.
Step 3. Let the dog rest
Dogs may sleep for several hours after giving birth while their puppies are nursing or sleeping. When awake, the dog should appear alert and interested in the puppies.
- If they seem disinterested in their puppies, the dog may have an infection. Check for other signs of discomfort, such as wheezing, enlarged eyes, or a foul-smelling discharge. If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- While your dog may be sleeping longer than usual, you should watch for signs of discomfort or restlessness.
Step 4. Ensure that the dog has plenty of access to fluids during and after delivery
If your dog won't drink water, try giving him chicken stock
Part 2 of 3: Checking for a Dog that Has Give birth
Step 1. Watch your dog's health closely for the first few weeks after giving birth
Even if you sleep longer than usual, your dog's eyes should be bright when he wakes up. Dogs must also have a good appetite.
- Feed your dog several times a day instead of one or two large meals. You can increase the amount of her food a few weeks before giving birth, and continue it for a few weeks after giving birth. Breastfeeding dogs can eat 3-4 times the amount of food they normally eat.
- Many veterinarians recommend feeding puppies at this time so that the dog gets more calories. For optimal results, gradually introduce this method with the food your dog usually eats.
- Give a special treat to increase the dog's appetite. Try giving cottage cheese, eggs, liver, or other nutritious foods.
- Make sure that your dog always has easy access to fresh water. Add chicken stock to your dog's dry food to help supplement his fluid intake.
Step 2. Look for signs of infection
In the first 24-48 hours after giving birth, the dog's body temperature may rise slightly. An increase in body temperature is normal and should not be accompanied by symptoms of disease.
Signs of infection in dogs are restlessness, disinterest in puppies, foul-smelling discharge, and enlarged eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately
Step 3. Check the health condition of the dog's mammary glands twice a day
Normal mammary glands, or nipples, should feel tender and enlarged due to milk production. If the glands are hard or reddened, the dog may have an infection.
- If your dog seems unwilling to nurse his puppies, check for signs of infection in his mammary glands. Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mammary glands and can be treated with antibiotics. For more information, contact your veterinarian.
- You can easily check your dog's mammary glands by squeezing them. If your dog looks painful to the touch, or his nipples are hard and/or hot to the touch, your dog may have an infection.
- Dog milk should be white, liquid, and not lumpy. Signs of mastitis are a change in the color of the milk (usually pink or yellow).
Step 4. Look for signs of metritis in the first 24-48 hours after the dog gives birth
Metritis is inflammation of the uterus and can be caused by retained placenta (not expelling from the uterus) or trauma during delivery.
- Signs of metritis are fever, foul-smelling discharge, loss of appetite or disinterest in children.
- If you see signs of metritis, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Step 5. Look for signs of eclampsia in the first few weeks after your dog gives birth
Eclampsia ("milk fever") is caused by calcium depletion. Eclampsia can cause muscle spasms, seizures, and death.
- Signs of eclampsia are restlessness, muscle tremors, lethargy, and dilated pupils.
- Call your vet right away if you see any signs of eclampsia.
Part 3 of 3: Helping Dogs Take Care of Their Puppies
Step 1. Watch carefully and make sure that the dog is paying attention to its puppies
In the first week after giving birth, dogs will spend most of their time with their puppies. A healthy dog will care about his puppies and enjoy feeding them.
- Make sure that the puppy has a clean and safe place to nurse. Also make sure that the bedding is clean and dry. Move the breastfeeding place to a place that is not too crowded or used for activities.
- Keep the dog's feeding area warm. Ideally, for the first week after birth, the temperature should be around 30 degrees Celsius. If your home is warmer than 30 degrees Celsius, provide a fan to keep the puppy cool. When the weather is cold, provide a heater to keep the puppies warm.
- Trim the puppies' nails so they don't scratch their mother.
Step 2. Help the weaning process
Within three weeks, the puppy will be able to drink fluids. When this happens, the dog can begin to wean. Offer a milk substitute once per day. In this way, the puppy will learn to "suck" fluids and supplement his nutritional intake. After two days, start mixing the milk substitute with the puppy food to create a very soft textured treat.
- Over time, gradually increase the amount of solid food. The texture of the food should change from creamy to dense like oatmeal within a week.
- Puppies will continue to nurse while weaning. After the sixth week, puppies should be given soft, wet and dry food. Puppies should be completely weaned in the eighth week.
Step 3. Provide stimulating toys
From the third week, the puppy will become more aware of his surroundings. The teeth will start to grow and the dog will have to chew. You can help him by providing toys that can distract and stimulate his playing skills.
Begin to familiarize the puppy with the sounds of everyday life. Ask new people, one at a time, to play with the puppies. Turn on the radio near the puppies for 5 minutes at a time
Warning
- Signs of discomfort or infection in a dog are restlessness, disinterest in puppies, a foul-smelling discharge, and dilated eyes. If you see any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
