bitch wont eat after whelp

Question
my labrador had two puppies yesterday, since then she is not really eating even her normal diet, she is otherwise very fond of her food and will eat anything. now she is not even considering delicacies. she is not drinking enough, no milk, no chicken broth. pls advise quickly as am concerned she will

Answer
Hi Sanjeev.  It is not unusual for the mother dog to loose interest in food for a couple of days after the litter, however; it is very important that she drinks plenty of water and does not become dehydrated.

One way you can test for dehydration is to pick up the skin at the section where her head meets her shoulders and pull it out away from her body (like forming a tent) and then let go.  

If the skin/fur returns to it's normal position quickly, then she is ok.  If the skin remains "tented" or takes a long time to return to normal, then she is probably dehydrated, and in danger.  

If you determine that she is dehydrated, and you can not take her to the vet for fluids (such as an IV), then you must try to re-hydrate her yourself.    

One way to do this is to get a large syringe (without a needle) like a turkey baster.  Fill the syringe with water and put it in her mount and force feed her water.  Do this every 30 minutes or so, until you feel she is re-hydrated.

If she continues to not eat, or drink on her own,  call your vet and see if you can get her in for a post delivery check-up.  There  are several medical conditions that can be dangerious - like lack of calcium.  And the last thing you want is for her to loose her milk and not be able to care for her new puppies.

Good Luck and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com