Postpardum Care of Your Gun Dog
Writing by Admin on Tuesday, 27 of January , 2009 at 11:02 am
Most of us are aware that when our dog has pups they take care of most of the work all by themselves. For almost all hunting dogs, having the pups and expelling the placenta is a natural process and when followed by sufficient rest your momma dog will be back on her feet and happy and healthy as she ever was. Most dogs that are healthy have absolutely no problems giving birth. There are some complications that as a responsible pet parent you should be aware of (especially if you are a breeder).
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.
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.
Typically if mom is going to have any problems they will show up within a week of the puppies birth so you’ll want to watch her carefully and make sure that she is in fact returning to her old self.
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.
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.
Sometimes, agalactia can set in. This is a condition where the bitch can only produce little milk, or sometimes, not at all. The vet will be able to see if this is a problem during the first examination and take effective measures to treat the problems.
Most of the time, whelping is a natural, nearly worry-free process that will require little on your part to go well. Most bitches that are healthy will have pups without a problem and will be fine mothers.
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Category: Pets
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