Dog after childbirth

Usually dogs themselves give birth without problems, because inThey can not wait for the nature of help. Therefore, when giving birth, your help is most likely not needed. If something goes wrong during childbirth (say, the interval between the birth of puppies is more than two hours), be sure to call a veterinarian, do not try to ask for help from a friend or climb behind the answers on the Internet. Only a veterinarian after a thorough examination of the giving birth can help.

Even if everything is all right, and the dog after birth appears normal, it is advisable that during the day she is examined by a veterinarian. He will make sure that there are no placenta left in the uterus, no puppies left. Perhaps, he will make a special injection to reduce the size of the uterus, prevent complications and infections.

The dog after childbirth is especially prone to infectious diseases, because her body is weakened by pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, it must be protected from colds and other infections. In the room where the dog lies, it should not be cold. In no case should the dog not lie in a draft.

The place where the dog will lie after giving birth should be secluded, it is important that the dog feel safe. Try not to disturb her, not to let unfamiliar people. It is clear that you want to boast of puppies, but it is better to protect them and mother from intrusive attention for the first time.

It is also important to protect the genitals and mammary glands of a dog from infection, so you need to regularly change the litter,on which the dog lies. A dog's crotch and mammary glands need to be wiped with a disinfectant solution, for example, with a solution of furacilin (you can, for accuracy, consult about an antiseptic with a veterinarian).

In the first couple of weeks after childbirth, the dog may have a discharge - first mucous with blood (brown color), then colorless. This is not cause for concern. You need to worry if the color of the discharge is dark green, yellow or scarlet, and the smell is unpleasant, putrid. In this case, measure the dog's temperature and as soon as possible contact the veterinarian. Also, it is worth worrying if the allocation is abundant or lasts more than two weeks.

A dog after childbirth is not yet ready for long walks. First, the body has not yet recovered andneeds peace. Secondly, in the first days after childbirth the dog has a particularly strong maternal instinct, as well as the instinct of guarding the puppies. She will be afraid to leave the puppies even for quite a while. In two or three weeks the dog will calm down a little, and then you can walk with it longer.

How should the dog eat after childbirth? Immediately after the end of labor, the dog does not need to be fed: it eats the afterbirth (the placenta with the remains of the fetal envelope), which are rich in nutrients. It is undesirable to give the dog more than 3-4 puffs. But pure drinking water must be provided for sure. After 6-8 hours after childbirth, it is possible to give the dog digestible food, preferably in liquid or crushed form. Do not give the dog a lot of food, it is better to feed a little, but often, 5-6 times a day.

During lactation (on average, it will last 4-6 weeks) the dog needs more nutrients than usual, especially for proteins. Vitamins and minerals (especially phosphorus and calcium) are also needed by the dog in large doses. If you feed your dog not with premium foods, you need to add vitamin and mineral supplements to your diet.

If the dog after delivery will receive the usualfood (the same as before delivery), it threatens her with health problems. The fact is that the puppies get the nutrients they need from the mother's body with milk. If the vitamins and minerals in the dog's diet are small, everything will get to the puppies, and the dog itself can get sick.

A dog after childbirth needs special attention. If you notice any anxious symptoms (fever of 40 degrees or more, purulent or bright red discharge, unpleasant odor, excessive anxiety, refusal of feed), contact your veterinarian as soon as possible!