Many physical changes take place in a human body after birth, but what about a dog? Specifically, it refers to the period immediately following the birth of a litter of puppies. Compared to women, female dogs experience many of the same bodily changes shorter than men. That lovely and cuddly puppy litter does not necessarily signal that your Mother Dog’s birthing procedure is done.
Just like human mothers, your dog’s body undergoes a series of physical changes after giving birth. Immediately after giving birth, your dog is going to be physically weary and panting. As motherhood creeps in, this will begin to slow down for a few hours. In addition, your dog will be able to see. Mucus-like and bloody fluids are flushed out of the body through this procedure.
Because of this, there is no need to be alarmed! Lochia is the name given to this discharge. You can tell if your dog’s spotting is normal by monitoring the type of discharge she expels. Veterinary professionals should be made aware that their patients may be suffering from a severe medical condition.
It’s normal to have a bloody discharge after giving birth, but if it feels like it’s been a long time coming, it’s not. Should contact your veterinarian immediately for medical guidance.
As a result of poor blood clotting, problems such as postpartum hemorrhage might occur. When things don’t seem right, we pet parents get that familiar “parent” sense. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to get help!
Lochia’s Stages:
There are three stages to spotting your dog. Blood and fetal membrane slivers will be present in the first stage of the discharge. In most cases, this lasts between three and five days.
Your Mother Dog’s lochia is likely to thin out and turn brown or pink at this point. Around ten days following your dog’s arrival, this will continue. Once the lochia has turned white or yellow, the spotting of your dog will finally come to an end.
Changes in the body:
When a dog is pregnant, she needs to consume more food to keep up with the needs of her growing puppies. Weight gain may occur as a result of this. Mothers who have recently given birth to puppies may need to improve their milk supply.
Continued food intake is necessary to keep up with the needs of feeding and protecting her offspring. Those extra pounds will fall soon as the puppies mature and the mother resumes her usual exercise level.
When your dog has just given birth, she will be physically and mentally fatigued. When a dog has given birth, it is familiar to pant for a few hours as its body adjusts to motherhood.
When this condition occurs, it is most common in the first 24 hours after birth, and it should subside on its own without the need for medication or intervention on the part of the mother.
Contact your veterinarian if it persists for more than a day or worsens during breastfeeding. We are concerned because it may be a precursor of something more dangerous behind closed doors in the background.
Changes in the Mind:
When a woman gives birth, she undergoes a variety of physical and mental changes. In much the same way as motherhood has a profound effect on human beings, the same is true for dogs.
Your dog’s emotional health will also be affected by giving birth to a litter. Changes in one’s state of mind can lead to a wide range of behavioral changes. Dogs are so happy when their litters are born that they put their own needs on hold for a short time.
Your dog’s maternal instincts may be heightened in response to her newborn pups. Those who come within earshot of your dog’s litter, no matter how well-behaved she was before, can cause her to become territorial.
She’ll also become very protective of her pups, hiding them from strangers or other animals in the house she perceives as a potential danger to them. It’s essential to keep your Mother Dog’s in a calm and private setting at this period. Your dog’s mind changes similar to those experienced by people after the birth of a puppy.
Giving birth to a child transforms your dog’s brain in the same way it does in humans. A female dog goes through a wide range of emotions after the birth of her litter, which leads to distinct behaviors.
In the beginning, the mother is entirely absorbed with her new litter, which is understandable given that her babies’ life is in her hands. When a dog is amid an illness, she cannot spend time with her owners or even go to the bathroom. As a result, taking your dog outside may necessitate the use of a leash and your guidance. When necessary, or in the event of a home accident. A female dog’s maternal instincts may be heightened if her litter is born.
In the presence of her newborn pups, even the most well-adjusted dogs might become possessive. To protect her pups from potential predators, she may hide them under bushes or trees.
To ensure that she receives the privacy she requires throughout the first few weeks of her pregnancy, you must give her that privacy. Fortunately, by the time puppies reach the age of four weeks, both of these habits have mostly subsided.
Care for New Mothers:
There is no need to quit caring for your pup’s mother just after all of the puppies have been rescued. Your female dog’s postpartum care is critical. After giving birth successfully, your female dog will require special attention, which the following suggestions may be able to provide.
It would be beneficial if you kept a constant watchful eye on your canine companion. Keep an eye on her during the first week after she gives birth. Because our furry friends like to always be right by our side, this is typically not a problem.
However, it is critical to keep a close eye on her in this situation for various reasons. To ensure that she doesn’t roll over her puppies, for example. I am taking them apart, freezing them, isolating them from one another, and so on.
Make the following changes to your dog’s diet to make it more nutritious: For several weeks, Mama Dog will be feeding her pups exclusively from her milk. A single, smaller meal may be preferable to two large ones.
Instead, make sure she has plenty of food and drink available to her throughout the day. Add up to three times the average amount of food to her diet and give her calcium to avoid milk fever. Don’t forget to take your multivitamin! In other words, canine-specific multivitamins, not just any old human multivitamins.
As a result, your Mother Dog’s body will heal from childbirth and regain its pre-pregnancy form with the help of this food. Provide a stress-free environment for your dog and her puppies.
Stress should be minimized when your female dog is breastfeeding and recovering from delivery. Your dog will quickly develop strength if you don’t allow any guest for the time being. The less worried she is and the faster she recovers, the more time she has to relax.
Take Care of Mother Dog’s:
Maintaining proper cleanliness and regularly checking her mammary glands for symptoms of infection is essential. Every day, make sure they’re clean and free of debris.
In the whelping box, keep her away from all the gross stuff. Whelping pads that you can wash and reuse are ideal. Her offspring will be safe from infection as a result of this. Your dog’s lochia discharge will persist for the foreseeable future. Dog diapers are a perfect solution in this instance since they will keep your dog’s whelping box clean. Once the bedding is in place, everyone is warm, dry, and content.
When pups are young, they are entirely dependent on their mother’s milk for sustenance. As a result, the tests will be inflated to make it more difficult for the puppies to obtain milk. The Mother Dog’s milk production decreases as the pups grow older and begin to wean themselves. Teats will begin to revert to their pre-puppy appearance when she is no longer producing milk.
