My dog just had puppies and won't stop panting or drinking water. Is she okay?

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 !

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!

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).

Hi and thanks for your request. These signs may be compatible with a uterine infection, which often causes increased drinking levels. The infection can cause accumulation of pus inside the uterus which may not be visible in the initial stages of this problem. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Yes, this normal. Nursing causes the release of oxytocin, which in turn causes uterine contractions. Lyla is panting due to the uterine contractions. This can occur for up to two weeks. Keep in mind as well that this can be a sign of a post-partum problem, so make sure her temperature is normal (101-102.5F). If she has a fever, then she will need to see a vet immediately. I hope this helps!

The only way to know for sure is to have an x-ray taken by your vet. If she is still panting and having contractions, then this is a sign that she isn't finished delivering pups yet - so if she's doing this and hasn't had any pups in the past hour, I would recommend taking her to an emergency vet for x-rays. Normally, when labor is finished, the mother will settle down and lick her puppies (or puppy, in this case) and allow them to nurse. If she still seems distressed and panting, or is still having visible contractions, then I would be concerned that there may be one or more puppies still inside her.

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.