Important Tips On Postpartum Care Of Your Bird Dog

If you’re a breeder of bird dogs, you’ve probably seen a dog whelp the puppies and expel her placenta with no problems. And with some rest and care, she can be back to her healthy, normal self. Although this is true when the mother dog is usually healthy and strong, there can be unforeseen complications, so postpartum care is something that all dog breeders should know and understand.

The bitch should go see a veterinarian within one day of whelping as a check-up, and the puppies should probably be looked at, as well. The vet should make sure that the mother is healthy and has had no problems of unborn pups or placenta remaining in the womb. This is very important — these problems can lead to infections and/or death. A shot will usually be administered to help with milk and clear out the uterus.

Carefully watch the bitch for several days after giving birth to make sure that there is no high fever, lack of appetite, or diarrhea, as these are signs of bacterial infection. Without antibiotics, she can die or develop serious problems. And since puppies should never be away from the mother dog, they should also have the benefit of vet care. The vet will check temperature and examine them to make sure that everything appears normal. If anything seems unusual, you should take her to the vet immediately, especially during the first week after whelping.

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.

For your part, if all is going well, you will still need to concern yourself with your portion of the puppy’s and mother’s care. Keep their bedding area clean, replacing bedding daily and wiping up all messes as quickly as they occur. Keep everything as clean as possible, but be careful not to overuse cleaning products (especially bleach and similar) as these can cause eye and nose irritation in the newborns.

Mom needs to be watched for signs of eclampsia (i.e. milk fever) which could happen if she’s not naturally producing enough calcium. This condition typically occurs within a month of lactation and can be very serious if left unidentified. You can add supplements to moms food to help make up for her bodies lack of production, but you’ll want to make sure that it’s caught early. Watch and make sure that mom does not have any unusual stiffness, pain or fever (potentially leading to seizures). If you see any of these symptoms contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Your dog may develop an infection of her mammary glands which can be common and you should be aware of. This is especially true as your mom pup nurses her babies and they start cutting teeth. Mastitis can also happen shortly after birth and is distinguished by purplish spots on the teats accompanied by a fever. This is relatively easy to treat with a topical cream.

Agalactia is another problem in which bitches will produce too little milk (or none at all). A vet, on the first examination, can usually tell if this is a problem and will take measures immediately.

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.

Tags: Bird Dog, bitch, eclampsia, lactation, Mastitis, Pets, Postpartum, puppies, vet care, whelping