How to Care for a Mother Dog After Giving Birth

The natural instincts of a mother dog will guide her through labor, but it's essential to know how to assist both the mother and her puppies to ensure they are safe and healthy.

Take the dog to the vet for an examination. Schedule a vet appointment to have the mother dog checked. The vet will confirm her pregnancy status and check for any complications, if present.

Prepare a Nest for the Dog. Create a comfortable nest for the dog at least one week before the expected delivery. Provide a private area by setting up a bed or box with towels or blankets to ensure comfort.

Place food and water inside or near the dog's nest. Ensure food and water are within easy reach of the dog’s nest so she doesn't have to leave her puppies to eat or drink.

Feed the mother dog puppy food. Pregnant dogs should be given high-quality puppy food, rich in protein and calcium. This will help the mother dog’s body produce enough milk for the puppies.

Keep a close watch on the mother dog during labor. If your presence doesn't make the mother anxious, keep an eye on her as she goes into labor. Don’t worry; the mother will experience contractions similar to those of a human woman giving birth. It's a natural part of the birth process.

• In many cases, puppies are born in the middle of the night while you are sleeping. As the delivery date approaches, make a habit of checking on her as soon as you wake up.

Ensure the mother dog immediately cleans her puppies. The mother dog will begin cleaning her puppies right after birth. Wait for a minute or two as she tears away the outer membrane and licks the puppies clean. If this process isn't completed within this time frame, you need to step in and remove the membrane, then rub the puppies dry and stimulate their breathing.

• If necessary, carefully tie the umbilical cord about 2.5 cm from the puppy and cut it with clean scissors.

Make sure the puppies nurse from their mother. Puppies will start nursing within 1-3 hours after birth. You may need to gently place the puppy near the mother's nipple and lightly squeeze a bit of milk to help the puppy smell it and begin nursing.

• If the puppy refuses to nurse or the mother refuses to feed it, something may be wrong, such as a cleft palate. Gently open the puppy's mouth and inspect its palate. It should be solid, with no holes leading to the sinuses. If you're concerned, consult a veterinarian.
• If the puppy is unable to nurse or is unwell, you may need to feed it using a tube or bottle with puppy formula.

Count the puppies. After the puppies are born, make sure to count them to determine the exact number. This will help you track them more efficiently.

Don't dispose of the placenta immediately. The mother dog may want to eat the placenta, and that's perfectly fine. She is replenishing the nutrients she invested during pregnancy. There's no need to clean up immediately. If the mother doesn't eat it, you can dispose of it in the trash.

• In some cases, the mother may vomit after eating the placenta.
• Keep in mind, each puppy has its own placenta.

Keep the puppies warm. Puppies are not yet able to regulate their body temperature effectively, so they need to stay warm. For the first few days after birth, maintain a temperature of around 30°C in the puppies' nest. Later, you can reduce it to about 24-26.5°C.

• Use a heat lamp placed in one corner of the box where the puppies are resting. If the puppies are too cold, they won't move much. Regularly check to ensure the nest is warm, and that the puppies are huddling together close to their mother.

Take the mother dog and puppies to the vet for a check-up. Schedule an appointment with the vet to have the dog checked after birth. The vet will examine the mother to ensure she is recovering well after giving birth and that the puppies are growing properly.

Avoid letting other dogs near the mother dog and her newborn puppies. If the father dog is also kept in the house, ensure that he is kept away from the mother and her puppies. No other dogs in the household should be allowed near the newborn puppies. The mother may become protective and aggressive to safeguard her pups, which is natural, and you should not punish her for this maternal instinct.

• The mother may also show protective instincts towards humans, so be sure to prevent small children from disturbing the puppies.

Do not bathe the mother dog immediately after giving birth. Unless the dog is dirty, wait a few weeks before bathing the mother dog with a mild oatmeal dog shampoo. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to prevent any residual soap from coming into contact with the puppies when they nurse.

Feed the mother dog puppy food. The nursing mother needs to eat high-quality puppy food that is rich in protein and calcium to produce enough milk for her pups. Continue feeding her puppy food until the puppies are weaned.

• Allow the mother to eat as much as she wants, as her food intake during this period may be four times more than usual. Don't worry about overfeeding her, as producing milk for the puppies requires a lot of calories.
• Note that in the first 24-48 hours after birth, the mother may not eat much.

Do not add calcium supplements to the mother dog's food. Do not add calcium to the mother dog's diet without consulting a veterinarian first. Excessive calcium intake can lead to a condition called milk fever later on.

• Milk fever is caused by a significant drop in calcium levels in the blood, typically occurring 2-3 weeks after the puppies begin nursing. The mother's muscles may stiffen and she could start trembling. This condition can lead to seizures if the calcium levels become too low.
• If you suspect that the mother dog has milk fever, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Let the mother dog set her own schedule. During the first 2-4 weeks, the mother will be very busy caring for her puppies. She will likely not want to leave them for long periods. What's most important for her during this time is to stay close to her puppies to keep them warm and nurse them. You should only take her outside for short breaks, no more than 5-10 minutes at a time for bathroom trips.

Trim the fur of long-haired dogs. If the mother is a long-haired breed, she will need to have her fur trimmed around the tail, hind legs, and near the mammary glands to keep these areas clean when the puppies are born.

• If you find this task difficult or do not have the proper tools, you can take her to a professional groomer or a veterinarian for assistance.

Check the mother dog's mammary glands daily. Mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands, can develop quickly and worsen rapidly. If you notice that the mother's mammary glands appear very red (or purple), hard, hot, or painful, there may be an issue. In some cases, mastitis can be fatal for the mother during the nursing period.

• If you suspect that the mother has mastitis, take her to a veterinarian immediately. Even if it requires an emergency vet visit, it is important to act quickly.

Be aware that the mother dog will have vaginal discharge. It is normal for a mother dog to have vaginal discharge for a few weeks (up to around 8 weeks) after giving birth. The discharge may be brownish-red and can flow in strings, sometimes with a slight odor.

• If the discharge turns yellow, green, or gray, or has a strong odor, take the mother to a veterinarian. This may indicate an infection in the uterus.

Monitor the puppies nursing from their mother. Make sure the puppies nurse every few hours during the first few weeks. They should feed at least every 2-4 hours. Well-fed puppies will rest peacefully; excessive crying may be a sign of malnutrition. You can check their small, round bellies and soft coats to confirm that they are being properly cared for.

• You can weigh the puppies using a digital scale to make sure they are gaining weight daily. Puppies should double their weight by the end of the first week.
• Do not overlook any puppy that appears to be weaker or more sluggish than the others. Take it to the vet immediately. It may need extra feeding or treatment.

Observe any abnormal signs in the puppies. If you notice that all the puppies are growing well except one, which remains small and thin, this could indicate malnutrition or another health issue. You should take the puppy to the vet right away. Newborn puppies, much like human infants, can become ill or dehydrated very quickly.

Maintain cleanliness in the whelping area. As the puppies grow and start moving around more, their bedding will get dirtier. It’s important to clean their sleeping area at least 2-3 times a day to keep it hygienic.

Handle the puppies for social interaction. Puppies need healthy interactions with the world around them, which includes becoming familiar with humans. Pick up the puppies several times a day. Allow them to get used to being touched all over their bodies to avoid them being startled as they grow older.

Wait until the puppies are eight weeks old before rehoming them. If you plan to sell or give away the puppies, wait until they are at least eight weeks old before transferring them to a new owner. In some states in the U.S., such as California, it is illegal to sell or rehome puppies before they are eight weeks old.

• Puppies need to be fully weaned and able to eat dog food before moving to a new home.
• Starting deworming and vaccinations for the puppies should be done before they leave. You can consult with a veterinarian and follow their advice for proper care.