Is my dog in trouble?

Question
My female dog just had puppies about two weeks ago.  I'm worried because her bottom nipples are swollen and very very red.  She also has little bumps that look like pimples or even chicken pox!  She also has been biting at her back which is causing her hair to fall out!  Are these sort of things normal after a bitch has her pups??  HELP!!!

Answer
Hi Tanya. Are her breasts really warm? This girl needs to go to the vet. Most females will blow their coat after whelping, but they usually don't dig at themselves because of it. The bumps, the itching, and the thining fur may be because of the hormones, or may be because of a different skin condition. A lot of times, if a dog has a skin condition it comes out when their hormones are really out of whack, like whelping. Could she simply have fleas? Some dogs have flea bite dermatitis. They are severly allergic to the flea saliva and it causes severe itching and baldness. I'd take her in for a check up to have her breasts and skin problem checked out. If she does have the bigining of mastitis (breast infection), the earlier you catch it the better. Good luck, and if I can help with anything else, let me know!