The day your pet dog finally gives birth is often a day for celebration and relief. You’re happy that your pet has given birth to some adorable puppies, but you’re also relieved that she made it through that period. However, you still need to be vigilant and watch over your pet closely even after she gives birth.
Your pet is not going to return to normal immediately after she delivers her puppies. She may display some concerning symptoms after that event and you need to know if they are normal.
In this article, we will focus on what condition your dog may end up in after she gives birth. We’ll highlight some of the issues that may emerge during that time so you have a better idea of what to expect. Continue reading so you are better equipped for the new mother in your care.
Do Dogs Have Diarrhea after Giving Birth?
Diarrhea is an ailment that commonly affects dogs. Chances are you’ve probably had to care for a dog with a case of diarrhea at some point as well.
Dogs deal with diarrhea fairly frequently because it can be caused by numerous factors.
Your dog may get diarrhea because she ate something spoiled or bad for her. Diarrhea is also a symptom linked to several diseases and infections. Even some of the medicine used to treat illnesses in dogs may have the side effect of causing diarrhea.
Notably, dogs may also experience a bout of diarrhea after giving birth. That particular case of diarrhea in dogs who recently gave birth is likely caused by one of two factors.
Your Dog Ate Placentae
Observe your dog after she gives birth and you may notice something strange. To be more specific, you may notice her eating placentae.
Unless you’ve cared for a dog fresh from giving birth before, the sight of your pet eating placentae will likely catch you off guard. Still, that is completely normal behavior on her part.
New mothers eat placentae for different reasons.
First off, dogs may engage in that activity to clean their surroundings. Dogs instinctively want to keep their surroundings clean for their puppies. They don’t want the placenta there so they may just consume it to get rid of it.
Your dog may also eat the placentae because they need additional nutrition. Giving birth takes a lot out of new mothers. They need to boost their body somehow and eating placentae can help with that.
While eating placentae can do some good for your pet’s body, it can also cause some ill effects. Chief among those potential side effects is experiencing diarrhea. Expect your dog to expel some loose or soft stool if she ate placentae.
Your Dog Is Stressed Out
Stress is another factor that can cause your pet to experience a case of diarrhea after giving birth. Giving birth may have been a stressful experience for her. Her body changed throughout the pregnancy and it just changed in a big way once again.
As you can imagine, going through all of that can be very stressful. That huge amount of stress can also impact your dog’s body.
Is It Normal for Dogs to Have Diarrhea after Giving Birth?
Finding out that your dog has diarrhea not long after she just delivered puppies can be scary. Your pet is likely still in a vulnerable state. The last thing you want is to see them dealing with an ailment of some kind.
Understandably, you’re worried about your dog. However, you can rest easy a bit because what you’re seeing is still normal.
A lot of dogs get diarrhea not long after giving birth. That is especially likely to happen if your dog ate some placentae.
Your dog experiencing a bout of diarrhea during that time is normal, but you shouldn’t disregard it completely. Keep a close eye on your pet and watch how her condition develops.
Diarrhea, by itself, is not that worrisome. That’s no longer the case if it is accompanied by other symptoms. Make sure your pet is in good shape at all times because giving birth really can put a huge toll on her body.
How Long Do Dogs Have Diarrhea after Giving Birth?
Your dog developing a case of diarrhea not long after giving birth to some puppies is a normal thing. Still, it can be difficult to deal with that as well as the new puppies.
So, how long will your dog’s case of diarrhea persist? In all likelihood, you won’t have to clean up those soft or watery poops for very long.
Most of the time, a case of diarrhea related in some way to giving birth will only last for a few days. Your dog’s waste should return to normal not even a week after delivering her puppies.
Unfortunately, there may be times when diarrhea lasts longer than that. Your pet may still have diarrhea long after the day she delivered. At that point, you may be dealing with a different issue.
Your dog’s case of diarrhea may be caused by other factors aside from eating placentae or being stressed. Get your pet checked out so you can understand what’s wrong with them.
What to Do if My Dog Has Diarrhea after Giving Birth?
Observing is not the only thing you can do if your dog experiences diarrhea after giving birth. Doing a few simple things can help settle your dog down. Follow the tips we have detailed below if you want to help your dog through her bout with post-pregnancy diarrhea.
Feed Your Dog Plain Canned Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin is a great treat for dogs. Dogs like canned pumpkin because it’s tasty, but that’s not the only reason why you should feed it to your pet.
You should also give canned pumpkin to your dog because it contains important nutrients. The canned pumpkin can also soothe your pet’s digestive system and help clear up her case of diarrhea.
Just make sure you pick up plain canned pumpkin. Avoid the ones that contain artificial flavorings or sweeteners. Those added ingredients could be harmful to your pet so it’s best to avoid them.
Give Your Dog Probiotic Supplements
Probiotic supplements are also helpful if your dog has diarrhea. The probiotics should help your pet absorb nutrients better. The probiotics will also improve her digestive system.
You should have an easy time finding probiotic supplements for dogs. Most pet stores should have them in stock so drop by the nearest one in your area.
Take Your Dog to the Veterinarian
Hopefully, your recently pregnant dog’s case of diarrhea will clear up after a few days. If that doesn’t happen, you should take your dog to the veterinarian. There may be underlying causes for her diarrhea and you don’t want your dog getting dehydrated so get them examined by a veterinarian immediately.
You should also consider going to the veterinarian if your dog has other symptoms aside from diarrhea. She may be dealing with a more serious ailment if she is exhibiting symptoms other than diarrhea.