Nursing Bichon

Question
Hi, Our Bichon delivered 4 healthy pups 4 days ago. She has been a very attentive and good mother. I am concerned with her eating though, she will only eat if I place the dish in her whelping box then remove it. When I leave it outside of the box for her to eat, she turns the bowls, food and water, over. Is there a reason she is doing this? She also has diarrhea which I have been told is common. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer
I have no clue why she is doing this but if you think like a dog does, she might feel the food and water on the outside (in her mind) is going to attract predators to her puppies. If the food is on the inside then she cleans it up and is done with it.

There is no harm in her having it her way. Make sure she is eating a high quality puppy food and she should be fed free style, not amount fed.

So fill the bowl up is what I am saying and I would leave it in there as long as you can.
The diarrhea is from her eating all the afterbirth etc and should clear up in a few days.