What Happens to a Dog's Milk if the Pups Died?

A pregnant dog's body naturally prepares to nurse her pups by producing milk. If her pups die, she is still prepared to feed, her body not realizing her pups are deceased. Exploring why a pregnant dog produces milk and what happens to her milk supply if her pups die can help you maintain the dog's optimal health after loosing her pups.

  1. Why Dogs Produce Milk

    • The dog's body produces milk because the pups are dependent on her milk for the first four weeks of their lives. Her milk supplies all of the nutrients the pups need to grow healthy. The nursing pups empty the milk supply in turn signaling the dog's body to produce more milk. If nursing stops, the engorgement, or fill up, of the mother dog's teats and glands will alert the body to stop producing milk.

    What Happens When Her Pups Die?

    • Since milk is produced in relation to demand, the dog's supply starts to decrease if the puppies are not nursing. Because the milk supply is not being used the body naturally starts to decrease supply and eventually stops producing milk. It should take about two weeks for the mother's milk supply to stop. If a lactating dog who is not nursing continues to produce milk her owner may need to assist with signaling her body to stop production of milk.

    Helping Her Milk Dry Up

    • To assist in the process you can reduce the dog's food supply. This triggers her body to produce less milk if her body does not begin to decrease naturally. During pregnancy and nursing a dog should be fed more food to supply the adequate nutrition to her and her pups. If the dog continues to produce milk consult a veterinarian.

    Helping Foster Pups

    • Another option in assisting with the depletion of milk supply is to check with your local dog shelter to see if there are any pups that need a foster mother. This allows the dog to nurse since her body is already producing milk and helps the foster pups by supplying them with the nutrients they need to grow healthy.