After the birth of puppies

Question
Hi Patti my Papillon has had her first litter of pups on the 13th March 2010 evrything seems to be going well puppies are getting bigger but today the 17th march i notice some blood on her vagina is this normal thanks again

Answer

Hi Shirvani,

A vaginal discharge is normal after delivery. You should monitor this discharge daily. Watch for a decreasing amount of discharge, a change in color from red to brown, and a change in consistency from watery to mucoid (resembling mucus). It should never have an odor. Your dog will expel most of the discharge in the first two weeks, but you may see small amounts over the following four to six weeks. Blood in the discharge after the first week is abnormal, so if you see any call your veterinarian. If the discharge becomes foul smelling, or looks green do not delay in having her examined by a vet.

You should also examine your dog's mammary glands every day. Firm and painful mammary glands may indicate mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland. If you catch this early, your veterinarian can show you how to apply hot compresses or perform milk stripping two to four times a day to keep the problem from getting more serious. In most cases, the puppies should still be able to nurse.

As a good rule of thumb, it's best to have a dog that's just had a litter examined by a vet within 24-hours of delivery.

Best of luck,

Patti