Postpartum Care Tips for Dog Mothers: Essential Precaut

Dietary Concerns

During pregnancy and lactation, a mother dog's appetite significantly increases. Pet owners can adopt a strategy of "more frequent, smaller meals." It's crucial to feed the dog a wellbalanced and nutritious diet.

Moreover, calcium supplementation is vital for the mother dog in the latter stages of pregnancy. Purchasing calcium powder can be beneficial. It's important to maintain calcium intake throughout the entire pregnancy, and not to neglect it after the dog has given birth.

Evidence shows that if the mother dog receives adequate calcium during the postpartum period, her puppies will have strong bones. Conversely, if the calcium intake is insufficient, the mother dog's bones may appear significantly thinner after giving birth.

After giving birth, the mother dog should not be fed immediately, and her diet should consist of liquid foods. To stimulate milk production, you can offer milk, crucian carp soup, bone broth, eggs, spinach, steamed buns, and various nutritional supplements for dogs.

Matting Issues

Mother dogs often experience severe hair loss during pregnancy and lactation, especially in longhaired breeds. Therefore, it's essential to bathe the mother dog before giving birth. Many pet owners overlook this, leading to more severe hair loss during the postpartum period. If the mother dog becomes too dirty, you can gently wipe her down with a warm, damp towel. Be sure to keep her warm to avoid any chill.

Hygiene Concerns

After giving birth, the mother dog will bleed for about a month, which is the normal discharge known as lochia. Therefore, it's important to regularly clean the mother dog's nesting area.

Mammary Gland Issues

Following birth, the mother dog's milk production will increase, causing her breasts to swell and the skin around them to become thinner, with more prominent veins. At this time, it's crucial to trim the puppies' nails to prevent them from scratching the mother's breasts. After 14 days, the mother dog's milk production will gradually decline, but the puppies' demand will continue to rise. This is when you can introduce specialized puppy formula.

During the first month postpartum, the mother dog's body will gradually recover. However, due to the stress of giving birth, her urinary system may not function as well as before, and she may experience occasional dribbling at home. Pet owners should not scold the mother dog for this and should never assume it's intentional.