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My dog just gave birth. Why is she panting fast with diarrhea?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | unspayed | 4 years and 4 months old | 10 lbs

My dog gave birth Wednesday, she is panting occasionally still, breathing rapidly, and has had diharrea since the birth. I'm concerned and don't know what to do

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Britni Miller, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 16th, 2017

With the symptoms you are describing, I would recommend taking Zoey to her veterinarian. I am concerned she could either have a retained puppy or low calcium and both are serious conditions that require medical treatment. They can also evaluate her physical condition to make sure is as healthy as possible for her puppies.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist
Published on April 10th, 2018
Some loose stools are considered normal, but the extreme diarrhea is not. The
Panting could be due to abdominal cramping because of the diarrhea. Is she still having discharge from her vulva? I would highly encourage you to consider having her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. If she is not absorbing nutrients well , plus she is lactating she could become very sick quickly, as well as it could be detrimental to the pups. Please take a fresh poop sample with you to your appointment as well as
A list of foods and treats she has been eating. Best of luck and I hope you find an answer and a resolution soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Health & Wellness

My dog just had puppies, why is she panting and acting strange?

Please have Storm seen by a vet right away. She may be dealing with an infection or an electrolyte imbalance that can occur in dogs who have recently given birth that could be causing her pain or leading to a feeling of weakness (hence the panting). Both of these conditions can be very dangerous, and need to be treated right away. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog is panting hard two days after giving birth. Is she okay?

If the panting is non stop then it is not normal but panting after giving birth is considered normal in the first 24 hours after birth. one of the reasons could be exhaustion but it could also be due to milk fever which is a condition caused by lack of calcium due to milk production. in such a case i would recommend a vet visit to check her calcium level and rectify it accordingly (usually by injection and oral calcium).

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My dog just had puppies, still panting, no afterbirth. Is this normal?

If you have not had a veterinarian take x-rays to determine how many puppies are left you should take her to your veterinarian or an emergency hospital to make sure all puppies are out. She could still be in labor. Low calcium would be another possibility. This could also be a behavioral change. I would not be too concerned about no afterbirth or placentas - it is fairly rare for them to cause a problem when retained.

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My dog just gave birth yesterday, why is she panting and bleeding?

Yes, I would be somewhat worried. It is possible there is a retained piece of placenta or puppy (likely non-viable) still inside her. Panting is usually indicative of pain/discomfort. I suggest you take Luna to the vet for an exam. If you take her in, be sure to take the puppies with you.

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My dog just had puppies, why is she panting and not drinking water?

The panting should gradually settle after labour has finished . Unless it is just happening on and off which could be normal, if mum Is separated from puppies to go to the toilet for example. If it does persist she could be running a temperature or she could have more puppies in her tummy. This might not be the case, and it might just be normal for her but just to give you different scenarios so that if she continues to be unsettled you take her to see a vet. With regards to her water intake, always leave plenty of fresh water available and if you are worried about not drinking as she normally does add some water in her food. Hope everything continues to go well !

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Why is my nursing dog panting, pacing, and weak after birth?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Little Bit. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Nursing dogs can develop a condition known as eclampsia. This is when the calcium level in the blood drops too low due to the demands of nursing the pups. It is most common in small breed dogs several weeks after giving birth. If this is the case, it can be very serious and requires treatment. I hope this information helps!

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My dog is breathing heavily after birth. Is it normal or a vet emergency?

Heavy breathing is quite common in lactating females but it could also be a sign of milk fever which is a condition caused by lack of calcium in lactating new moms. if you also see lack of appetite, trembling and lethargy i would strongly recommend taking her to the vet urgently to get it treated.

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