The Usdan Institute for Animal Health Education at the AMC is the leading provider of pet health information. You should begin to take your dog's rectal temperature once or twice a day as her due date approaches. Postpartum low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) is most common in small breed dogs and with first litters. She should get plenty of rest and return to eating and drinking normally without any complications. Not to mention that the pups' suckling stimulates the mother dog's uterus to contract, which may cause panting as well, explains veterinarian Jon Rappaport. This is especially common in dogs that breed more than 3 puppies. % of people told us that this article helped them. 30-60 minutes of hard labor without a puppy being born. She's also shaking. I now know it's all normal for a few days. Please note, some of these are emergency conditions and should prompt a rapid trip to the veterinarian. I use the following parameters to help determine if a dog is having difficulty giving birth. To make sure your dog is OK after giving birth, give it plenty of fresh water, and monitor it for signs of infection, like whining, dilated eyes, or foul-smelling discharge. As AMC’s official spokesperson, she is regularly featured in the national news media, writes extensively about animal health, and hosts a monthly radio show on Sirius XM Stars Channel 109, “Ask the Vet.” In addition, she has contributed widely to research articles and textbooks, lectures internationally, and has won prestigious awards for her work in both veterinary medicine and journalism. My dog (mini dachshund) gave birth to 4 puppies 2 days ago. Prevention of Panting After Giving Birth After birth, mother dog should be monitored constantly for the first week. Shortly after her delivery, it happened—I started shaking. Dry puppy food is still dry, so it contains as little moisture as regular dry dog food. This is my first, "Clear, easy to read, gave me confidence that everything is on the right track. This is typically caused by poor diet and large litters. The best way to know when your dog is done giving birth is by taking it to the vet during its pregnancy so you know how many puppies to expect. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Is it normal for a female to be lethargic and have a dry nose after giving birth? I really appreciated it. Keep in mind that panting is common behavior in dogs. You may need to gently encourage mum to deliver puppies that are tail-first, but be very careful not to tug. ", experience with a litter, and the article was very helpful to me. Keep the whelping box warm. Add chicken broth to your dog's dry kibble to help supplement your dog's liquid intake. If she doesn't get any worse, just take her and the pups in on Monday to get evaluated by your vet. Toxins can cause a medical emergency very quickly, so don’t “wait and see” if you think your dog’s shaking was caused by eating something new. To make sure your dog is OK after giving birth, give it plenty of fresh water, and monitor it for signs of infection, like whining, dilated eyes, or foul-smelling discharge. This article received 23 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. To give your dog extra liquid while she's eating, try mixing some chicken broth in with her dry food. As long as she is eating and nursing the pups, that is good. "Thank you so much for this information. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. educational. This may need to be introduced gradually with your dog's regular food for best results. This contraction of the uterus stimulates lactation. Most new mothers do not want to eat right away, so give her time. My dog gave birth about 30 hours ago. • Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose. Bring in new people, one at a time, to play with the pups. She jumps in and out of the box where the puppies are and then runs to us and sits in front of us and cries as if she's trying to tell us something. My dog does not eat as much as it was before being, "We were concerned with drops of blood when our dog would get up from the nesting area to walk around, drink and, "I'm very pleased with this interesting information, thank you very much. Stress may also be a contributing factor. Continue to gradually increase the amount of solid food over time. My dog is experiencing diarrhea after giving birth, and the poop is dark green. Decreased calcium levels from nursing could cause panting shaking, fever, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Yes, to a certain extent. If these are present, contact your veterinarian immediately. ", "The tips highlighted are good and well educational. At this point, the puppy won't know how to chew yet, so it won't be able to eat dry food. This higher temperature will usually cause a dry nose. The Animal Medical Center hosts regular events in the New York City area. – Sharon Mason. If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately. Some women feel are hesitant to hold their newborn after experiencing what feels like violent shaking in some cases. Addison’s disease is more properly termed hypoadrenocortism and when the adrenal glands stop producing essential hormones, electrolytes like sodium and potassium become abnormal. Your support of the Animal Medical Center promotes the health and well-being of our animal companions through comprehensive treatment, research, and education. For more tips from our Veterinarian co-author, like how to help your dog care for its new pups, scroll down! There was nothing I could do to control it. Named for the little white dogs like Maltese, Westies and Bichons that commonly develop this strange syndrome, a dog of any coat color can develop white shaker disease. Strong odors in this fluid are caused by excess bacteria and are a sign of a uterine infection. Clinical trials help our veterinarians discover new ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat conditions that affect your pet. The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education features comprehensive curricula including our Externship Program, Internship Program, and Residency Program. At this point in their lives, your dog's puppies can't eat solid food, whether it's made for puppies or not. See your veterinarian if your dog has the shakes, unless of course it is a happy shake because you just came home! Correct! (212) 838-7053 appointments, The Animal Medical Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ©2021 The Animal Medical Center. Answer Save. After mother dog has successfully whelped a litter of puppies, it’s important to dedicate time on aftercare and monitor mom for any potential sign of complications. Read on for another quiz question. She is tending to her pups and drinking and eating. Consider offering cottage cheese, eggs, liver or other nutrition-packed delicacies. Join us to connect with other pet owners, our veterinary community, and learn more about your pet’s health and well-being. If it continues longer than a day or worsens during nursing, contact your veterinarian, as it could be a sign that something is wrong. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Dr. Ann Hohenhaus is a third-generation veterinarian, double board certified in Oncology and Small Animal Internal Medicine. In fact, a healthy dog's post-birth discharge can range in color from greenish-black to blood red, but a gray or pale color is a sign of infection. Greater than 4 hours have passed after the first rupture of membranes (water breaking) without a puppy being born. It's normal for a dog that's just given birth to leak a fluid called lochia for up to several weeks. For a few weeks after giving birth, a healthy dog may leak fluid that's... Nope! Try again... Not quite! Try again! You should also examine your dog's nipples twice a day to make sure they're not red or hard, which could be a sign of infection. Once this expulsion has occurred, the first puppy can take between 30 minutes to 12 hours to be birthed. Just be sure to watch for signs of sickness or discomfort. This article has been viewed 598,731 times. You can increase her food intake several weeks prior to the birth, and continue for several weeks following birth. Close! I was stressing over my chiweenie having babies, but I feel that I can. The puppy's nails on her tummy may also cause her pain. Click on another answer to find the right one... Knowing What to Look for in a Post-Partum Dog, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Make-Sure-That-Your-Dog-Is-Ok-After-Giving-Birth-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Sure-That-Your-Dog-Is-Ok-After-Giving-Birth-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Make-Sure-That-Your-Dog-Is-Ok-After-Giving-Birth-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid21005-v4-728px-Make-Sure-That-Your-Dog-Is-Ok-After-Giving-Birth-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"