Why Is My Dog Throwing Up After Having Puppies? [Important Facts!]

When you have a mother dog who has just given birth, it can be a particularly stressful time, particularly if she starts to vomit. If this is left for a long time, it could become catastrophic, which is why you will need to figure out the reason and give the correct treatment accordingly.

Why Is My Dog Throwing Up After Having Puppies?

If your dog is vomiting after giving birth, this can range from being completely harmless to something you’ll need to worry about. It can range from having some dietary changes and feeling stressed to having an infection that may become fatal if not treated. 

Do All Mother Dogs Vomit After Giving Birth?

In general, it’s not too unusual for mother dogs to vomit after giving birth because of the toll it takes on her body. However, if the vomiting continues more than a day or so after giving birth or you notice blood in the vomit, it might be time to call the vet.

Why Is My Dog Throwing Up After Having Puppies?

Hormonal Changes

Vomiting from hormonal changes is most likely to occur during the first phase of labor and is completely normal. However, if you notice that this phase is lasting longer than twenty four hours, you need to contact the vet immediately as something could be wrong.

Stress And Anxiety

One of the signs of stress and anxiety in any dog is vomiting. This is likely to occur in new mother dogs because their body is going through many changes in a short space of time and their new pups are relying on her for everything.

 

Try and keep her calm but if this continues, contact the vet and they’ll tell you what to do.

Eclampsia -Milk Fever (Eclampsia)  (Signs, Causes, Recovery)

Eclampsia is where the mother dog doesn’t have enough calcium levels in her body and is most likely to happen in small dogs with large litters during the first three weeks post-birth. She might have trouble standing, restlessness, muscle spasms, and seizures.

Metritis

This is an infection of the uterus and usually occurs when there is a retained placenta, retained fetuses, birthing complications, and surgical instruments. It is likely to occur around a week after giving birth and will require a course of antibiotics.

Retained Placenta

As mentioned, a retained placenta is likely to cause metritis. A result of which can not only cause vomiting, but also dehydration, vaginal discharge, a loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, panting, and diarrhoea.

Mastitis

Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands and can cause the nipples to become red, hot and inflamed. It’s likely to occur because her puppies have scratched against her mammary glands and can cause a fever, withdrawal from the puppies and the puppies crying.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Gastrointestinal issues might include gastritis, gastroenteritis, haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, parvovirus, she has eaten something she shouldn’t, a gut blockage, a twisted stomach, worms, or in rare cases, a gut ulcer.

Ingestion Of Foreign Material

Dogs are naturally very inquisitive by nature and if they see something new, regardless of whether it’s food or not, they’re likely to want to eat it. Keep an eye on what objects are nearby and if you’re worried she’s eaten something she shouldn’t, take her to the vets immediately.

Dietary Changes

Your dog throwing up after giving birth due to dietary changes is one of the least worrying reasons for her vomiting. Her diet may have changed slightly throughout pregnancy and after giving birth, but if this continues, ask a vet for some advice.

Dehydration

Dehydration can be a sign of metritis, which is an infection of the uterus and can be caused by a number of different things. It could also simply be just because your dog has been vomiting, which can cause dehydration, so you will need to give them plenty of fluids.

Postpartum Constipation

If your dog is experiencing postpartum constipation and is also vomiting after giving birth, this is quite an unusual thing. You will need to get her to the vet as soon as possible so they can check her over and provide the relevant treatment.

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Gdv) – A Very Dangerous Condition!

GDV is quite rare in dogs and is where your dog has a bloated and twisted stomach which is very painful and can even be life threatening. Other signs includes excessive drooling, pale gums and your dog collapsing.

 

Your dog will need an operation due to the severity of the condition, but even with this, it doesn’t guarantee that your dog will survive.

Exhaustion

Exhaustion is very common in mother dogs as she will likely be tired after giving birth and having to look after her puppies can be rather tiring too. However, exhaustion can also be a sign of an infection, such as metritis or mastitis, and she should be looked at by a vet.

Other Health Issues That She Had Before Giving Birth

Health issues your dog might have before she has given birth includes pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, mastitis, and having a retained placenta. These may include vomiting amongst many other symptoms and will likely need to be monitored by a vet.

Is The Mother Dog Vomiting To Feed Puppies? (Epimeletic/Care-Giving In Female Dogs) ?

One way the mother dog will try and wean her puppies off her milk is by bringing back up the food she has already eaten for her pups to eat.

 

This makes the food easier for the pups to digest and is something completely normal for mother dogs to do and is nothing to be concerned about.

What Can I Do If My Dog Is Vomiting After Giving Birth?

Take Her To A Vet

If you notice that alongside the vomiting your dog is retching, has low energy, has been vomiting for 24 hours without any breaks, has blood in her vomit, is dehydrated, or is disorientated/collapses, you need to take her to the vet immediately.

Medicine Prescribed By The Vet

The vet may prescribe some medicine for the mother dog depending upon the reasoning behind her vomiting and what treatment she needs in order to make it stop. Ask the vet any questions about the medicine and make sure you administer it as and when required.

Calm Environment

As one of the reasons why your mother dog might be vomiting is due to stress and anxiety, plus the fact that mother dogs require a calm environment when they have just given birth anyway, create a calming environment where she is nursing her pups to relieve her from any stresses.

Hydration

Regardless of the reason behind the mother dog, or any dog for that matter, vomiting, you should ensure they are getting plenty of water because the more they vomit, the more dehydrated they will become; which can cause more issues if not dealt with promptly.

Change The Diet

In some cases, particularly if her diet has recently been changed for whatever reason, the vomiting will be a result of this. Look at what is currently in her diet and see if there are any patterns between what she eats and when she throws up and change her diet accordingly.

Gradually Get Her Back To Regular Food

If your dog is throwing up, it is best to keep her off food for the next eight hours at least and then over the next couple of days give her a diet of boiled rice and chicken, before gradually bringing her back to her usual diet.

Don’t Change The Diet Suddenly

The issue with quickly changing up your dog’s diet is that it can cause a number of gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting. If you are planning on changing your dog’s diet, make sure this is a gradual process to avoid these complications.

Provide Proper Care

If your dog is vomiting, you shouldn’t give them any food for around 24 hours and then introduce them to a bland diet of boiled rice and chicken before gradually introducing her back to her usual diet. You should also give her plenty of water and make sure she rests.

My Dog Has Diarrhea And Vomiting After Giving Birth?

This is one of the signs of metritis, which is an infection of the uterus that mother dogs can get after giving birth to puppies. This will also cause her to become dehydrated, so make sure to give her plenty of fluids.

What Color Throw Up Is Bad For Dogs After Giving Birth?

If the sick is green or yellow, this is likely stomach bile and if it’s brown, this will be food of some sort and in both instances is nothing to worry about. However, if the sick is red, black or brown, this is a sign that there is blood in the sick and you should contact a vet immediately.

What Are Bad Signs After A Dog Gives Birth?

If mother dog doesn’t eat anything within 24 hours of giving birth, this could be a sign that something is wrong. Also, if she is still panting a few days after birth, this could be the sign of an infection, such as eclampsia.

 

Discharge that has an odor or that goes on for longer than three weeks, could also be the sign of an infection, such as metritis.

Can Vomiting Be A Sign Of An Infection In My Dog After Giving Birth?

Yes, vomiting can be a sign of your dog developing an infection after giving birth. Vomiting on its own might not be that much to worry about, but if there are other symptoms, such as diarrhoea, lethargy, discharge, or a fast heart rate, this could mean there is an infection.

Are There Any Home Remedies To Help Ease My Dog’s Vomiting After Having Puppies?

There are a number of home remedies you can give your dog. These include: pepto-bismol, electrolytes (as long as they don’t contain xylitol), probiotics, and ginger. You can also try giving her a massage, as long as you don’t press too hard on the stomach.

How Can I Help The Puppies If The Mother Is Vomiting?

If the mother is vomiting and isn’t in a place where she can feed them, it may be best for you to take on this role yourself. If weaning isn’t a viable option there, it may be best to just bottle feed them for the time being until their mother can look after them properly.

When Should I Introduce The Puppies To Solid Food If Their Mother Is Vomiting?

Even if the mother is vomiting, you shouldn’t even attempt to wean any puppies until they are at least four weeks old. The weaning process should be gradual as if you give them solid food straight away, their system won’t be able to handle it.

How Can I  Give My Dog Enough Nutrition If She’s Vomiting After Having Puppies?

Try and give them any food they can possibly stomach. Your best bet is to give her a diet of boiled rice and chicken as this food is quite bland but still has nutrients she’ll need in it and is something she should actually be able to keep down as opposed to other foods.

How Can I Keep The Puppies Safe If The Mother Is Vomiting (Keep The Puppies Away From Her)?

You shouldn’t need to keep the puppies away from their mother, even if she’s vomiting, because this could lead to the mother rejecting the puppies at another point. Just keep an eye on how things are going and ask a vet if there is anything concerning you.

 

References

Evans, J. M., & White, K. (2011). The Book of the Bitch: A Complete Guide to Understanding and Caring for Bitches. Interpet Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Book-Bitch-Complete-Understanding-Caring/dp/1860540236

England, G. C. W., & von Heimendahl, A. (2012). BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Reproduction and Neonatology. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Retrieved from https://www.bsava.com/shop/bsava-manual-of-canine-and-feline-reproduction-and-neonatology