When diarrhea affects a dog that recently gave birth to puppies, owners may be worried about the effects on the overall health of the mother and her litter.
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Considerations
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Giving birth to and nursing a litter of puppies puts a certain strain on the dog's body. It may take a few days for body systems to recover.
Significance
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Mild diarrhea in a dog that just gave birth can be normal due to stress or because mother dog ate the puppies' placentas. The soft stools or diarrhea should subside after a few days.
Motives
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The placenta is a sac that is typically expelled after each puppy. Dogs may instinctively eat the placentas to hide evidence of birth from predators, and there are theories that placentas provide a form of nourishment at a time when the dog may not want to leave her litter alone to search for food.
Time Frame
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Diarrhea lasting more than a few days or accompanied by other symptoms should be checked by a veterinarian.
Prevention/Solution
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Some breeders try to prevent diarrhea by removing the placentas as they are expelled or allow their dogs to just eat one. Should diarrhea still develop, one to two teaspoonfuls of pure canned pumpkin can help firm up the stools.
Conclusion
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Have the mother and puppies seen by a veterinarian within 24 hours after whelping for a general wellness exam.
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