Train My Pets

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In most cases, a dog that has just had pups will whelp the puppies, expel her placenta, and with a little rest be back on her feet as healthy as ever. Whelping is a natural process in which a bitch will usually have no problems—especially if she’s strong and healthy. There are possible complications, however, so it’s a good idea to be aware of them. Postpartum care is important for any breeder of gun dogs to understand.

Within a day of whelping, the bitch should be taken to a veterinarian to be checked. Most vets will also want to look at the puppies, which is also a good idea. You want to be sure, in the mother’s case, that she is still healthy and that no unborn pups remain in her womb and that her placenta ejected completely. If she retains either, she could get an infection (or worse) and die. Most veterinarians will also offer a shot to help her let down her milk and clear her uterus.

The puppies, which should not be away from their mother anyway, will benefit from seeing the vet right away. Temperature checks, physical checks, and so forth are all in order here. During the first few days of birth, watch the mother to be sure she doesn’t develop a high fever, diarrhea, or a lack of appetite. These can be signs of infection. It’s likely she’s gotten a bacterial infection and will require antibiotics to avoid serious problems.

Watch mother carefully for the first few days to be sure nothing unusual is happening. If she is to get sick after whelping, it will be during the first week after the puppies have come.

You should stay proactive in the need to care for the well-being of the dog and her puppies by keeping the bedding area clean. Replace the bedding daily and clean up messes as soon as they happen. Use gentle cleaners and don’t use abrasive cleaners, like bleach, too often because it can irritate the eyes and noses of the newborn pups.

You should also watch out for eclampsia in the mother dog, which is a condition in which the body cannot produce the calcium needed for lactation. She will need to see the vet right away. Symptoms can include pain and discomfort, fever, sttiffness, and seizures. Also known as milk fever, this condition can happen around week three of lactating and can cause a serious threat. However, if you catch it early enough, you can add supplements to her food to make up for the lack of calcium.

Mammary gland infections, particularly the teats, are a common problem so you should them frequently. As her puppies get older and teeth grow in, these infections can occur. Mastisis can set in within a day of birth; watch for purple spots around the glands and check for fever. These and other infections are common and is easily treated with topical creams.

Another potential problem is too little or no milk production which is called Agalactia. Your vet can tell if this is going to be a problem through their examination of your new momma dog and if this is going to be a problem they can take immediate steps to alleviate this condition.

Although the conditions and problems above are serious, you’ll find that whelping is a very natural and healthy process, with little care required from you. Most dogs produce healthy puppies and will be fine after birth.

Healthcare is extremely important for any dog, but so is the type of hunting dog supplies that you purchase. Never rush into a purchase for your dog, including dog training collars.

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