Allergic reaction?

Question
Hello Jennifer. My boyfriend and I just got a three year old german boxer from a good home. Princess has just littered her first batch of nine pups about 10 weeks ago and seems to me to be still under weight. The previous owners still have her on puppy food. We wre wondering if an adult diet would be better for her now. One thing about her though is she has these small bumps around her neck and along the small of her back. The prevous owners were aware of this and she has been vet checked. They are questioning whether she has an allergy to something in her diet. She had been also bathed alot with tea tree oil shampoo and we are maybe questioning that. Eggs were also used in her diet, should we stop? Another question we have is how long does it take for her teats to dry up? They are still quite long but are dry. Other then that she seems very happy. We also own a 10 month old rotti and they just love each other's company. One other thing was that the vet wanted to take a skin graph and test it, the previous owners didnt get that done, should we go through that process?

Answer
Hi Adam and Erin,

Whelping and nursing can take quite a toll on a bitch, so it's not surprising if she's still a bit underweight.  I'm assuming the pups are all fully weaned by now - you can switch her back to a high-quality adult food, and maybe add some "healthy extras" like cottage cheese, hamburger, yogurt, chicken, etc. in moderation, to increase the fat/calories without causing a nutrient imbalance.  Eggs are also good in moderation, especially the whole egg.  You want her to gain the weight back slowly - too much too soon can cause other problems.  Also, her teats may shrink a bit but they won't go back to pre-pregnancy size; they'll remain at least somewhat elongated and enlarged.

The bumps might be a lingering effect of the hormonal fluctuations that go along with whelping/nursing - many bitches have issues with histamines and some loose most of their hair; generally after the pups have been fully weaned for a few months and the hormones settle back down to non-estrus levels, these issues clear up.  Tea tree oil shampoo is generally good for itching, but it can be problematic for some dogs, as  can too much bathing regardless of shampoo used.  I would give her a couple of months still, so long as her condition doesn't worsen, and then re-evaluate.    

One thing to consider, if you do suspect a food allergy issue, is that many dogs have problems with grains.  You could switch her to one of the grain-free kibbles, such as EVO, Nature's Variety Raw Instinct, Wellness CORE, or various others - these are generally higher in fat and protein, as well, which can help with the weight gain.  

Good luck!