If you think that only humans suffer from post pregnancy trauma or complications then you are quite wrong. Dogs too suffer from them. Dogs cannot communicate like human when they are in pain. So, we must understand their behavior to know whether they are suffering or are happy. If you have a pet dog who has just given birth and is refusing to eat then you must read this OneHowTo article to know why your dog is not eating after giving birth.
Normal eating pattern after giving birth
If your dog has just given birth then you must monitor her diet and eating habit. Just after giving birth to the pups, your dog will be busy cleaning her pups and herself. Also, the rigorous event of giving birth has left her tired. So, she must start to eat soon.
Normally after giving birth, dogs try to eat their own placenta. If your dog has eaten hers then she may not be hungry for some time. But if she has not done so then she should be feeling hungry which is but normal. According to vets, a mother dog should start eating within 24 hours of giving birth to the last pup.
During this time mother dogs become very hungry. So, she will normally eat a lot.
Abnormal eating pattern after giving birth
If your dog is not eating within 24 hours of giving birth to the last pup then it is not normal. She may be in some pain or facing some complication and you must become alert.
Sometimes the mother dog eats normally for 2 – 3 days. But suddenly she seems to be neither interested in eating food or even in drinking water. This is also a thing of concern for dog owners.
Reasons for lack of appetite in dogs after giving birth
Metritis
Metritis is the bacterial infection in dogs which causes inflammation in the lining of her uterus. Usually it occurs within a week after giving birth. Loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of Metritis. Other symptoms include blood and pus mixed discharge from vulva with foul smell, swollen abdomen, fever, dark red gums, reduction in milk produced and neglecting the puppies.
Mastitis
Mastitis is a bacterial infection in one or more lactating glands of the mother dog. It can be caused by a scratch or bite on the mammary glands by the pup’s teeth or toenail. Its symptoms are loss of appetite, swollen and painful mammary glands, fever, dehydration and neglect of puppies.
Septic Shock
Septic shock or Sepsis is an infection in the mother dog’s body causing severe inflammation. If it is not treated immediately, it can lead to multiple organ failure. Septic shock might be the reason as to why the mother dog doesn’t want to have her meal. Along with loss of appetite she may show other symptoms like vomiting, increase in heart rate, dark red gums, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, difficulty in breathing and panting.
What to do if dog refuses to eat after giving birth?
Go to the veterinarian immediately. If you feel that her condition is deteriorating rapidly even in the middle of the night then take her to emergency vet hospitals. Sometimes even a few hours of delay in conditions such as septic shock can prove to be fatal.
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