Postpartum Care

In the last two columns we covered a lot of ground, from the days leading up to pregnancy to the delivery itself. This issue, I would like to cover postpartum care of your dam and the warning signs to watch for during the first few weeks after whelping. Common reproductive problems after delivery include: metritis, eclampsia, mastitis, and agalactia. We will address each one of these in turn.

METRITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE UTERUS)

Within twenty-four hours of the bitch delivering the last puppy, it’s a good idea to have her examined by your veterinarian. The postpartum check-up ensures she has not retained any placentas or unborn puppies. If the bitch should retain a placenta, she is at risk of having a serious uterine infection. Many veterinarians will give your bitch a shot of Oxytocin (otherwise known as a pit shot) to let down the bitch’s milk and clear the uterus of any remains. It’s a good idea to frequently change the bedding in the whelping box while the uterus is being cleared to prevent bacterial growth and maintain a sanitary environment for the new puppies.

	It is important to weigh each puppy at birth and then continue on a daily bases until the puppies are 4 weeks old. Failure to gain weight can be an indication of Agalactia.

Over the next couple days it’s a good idea to periodically check the bitch’s temperature to make sure she is recovering well. It is normal for the “stressed bitch” to run a slight fever for the first few days after giving birth and she may even vomit and/or have a brief case of black diarrhea (caused from ingesting placentas). However, a body temperature greater than 103.5 degrees, listlessness, loss of appetite and/or continual diarrhea are all indications of metritis and you should seek prompt veterinarian assistance. Metritis is the inflammation of the uterus caused by a bacterial infection. Metritis is most common from 1 to 7 days after birth. Immediate treatment with antibiotics is necessary. In some cases, the puppies will need to be removed from the dam and hand-raised if the infection has spread to the bloodstream and has caused an infection throughout her body.

A green to reddish-brown vaginal discharge (called lochia) is normal for few days after birth. The lochia should change to a watery pink bloody discharge that may persist for up to a month. A tell-tale sign of metritis is an abnormal discharge, of puss that is green or brown colored and has a foul odor originating from the vulva.

If you suspect that your dam is suffering from metiritis is important to seek veterinarian assistance immediately. Your vet will want to examine your bitch and run several tests to confirm the diagnosis. Most likely he or she will order a complete blood count and cytologic examination of vaginal tissue to determine if your bitch is suffering from metritis. Treatment will largely depend on the extent of her condition and can range from prescribing antibiotics to have her hospitalized and even spayed.

ECLAMPSIA (MILK FEVER)
Eclampsia, otherwise know as “milk fever”, is a condition that results from a bitch that has trouble supporting the calcium demand of lactation. Signs of stiffness, a painful gait, nervousness and restlessness are early signs of eclampsia and require immediate veterinarian attention. If not treated, these symptoms can progress to muscle spasms, inability to stand, fever and eventually seizures and even death. Eclampsia typically occurs within the first three to four weeks of lactation, and is more common in small breeds (bitches under 25 pounds in body weight). Calcium supplementation during pregnancy is NOT RECOMMENDED as supplementation can predispose a bitch to this condition by decreasing the intestinal absorption of calcium.

	Even at 3 weeks old it is important to encourage the bitch to continue nursing to prevent Galactostasis.

MASTITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE BREASTS)
Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mammary glands caused by heavy milk production and incomplete draining of the glands. It is a good idea to make sure that the puppies are nursing from all mammary glands, especially in the first 24 hours after birth. Inflamed mammary glands can become very painful, dark red with purple spots. The bitch may be extremely sore, run a fever, have a loss of appetite and discourage her puppies from nursing. In mild cases, you can apply warm compresses and gently manipulate the affected mammary glands to encourage drainage. Bitches with severe infection may require hospitalization and/or surgical drainage of the mammary glands.

AGALACTIA (LACK OF MILK)
There are two cases to be concerned about in regards to the lack of milk, failure of the bitch to let down milk and the failure of the bitch to produce milk.

Of the two, failure of the bitch to let milk down is less serious (and treatable) than the failure of a bitch to produce milk (which is not treatable). During the whelping process, allow the mother to accept the puppy and begin nursing. It is very important that puppies begin nursing off the mother within the first 24 hours. The suckling process stimulates the release of oxytocin in the dam. The oxytocin released from the pituitary gland causes the dam’s milk to be let down. Once the bitch’s milk is completely let down she will more willingly accept the puppies and begin nursing more naturally. This condition is often solved by a vet issuing a shot of oxytocin to the bitch within 24 hours of the last puppy being delivered.

The second case to be concerned with is the failure of the bitch to produce milk. This is a condition that is poorly documented in veteranian journals but often stems back to undernourished mothers. There are no drugs a vet can give your dam that will help to stimulate milk production. Treatment with oxytocin only aids in the letting down of milk – NOT the production of milk. In most cases, the only available option is to hand raise the puppies.

Most dogs are excellent mothers and the likelihood of having any problems after the delivery is low. However, one can never be too careful. It’s a good idea to be in contact with your local veterinarian and seek his or her advice if something doesn’t seem quite right.