My dog just had puppies. Is heavy bleeding, raw mouth, and bad breath normal?

Both panting and clots of blood are normal, this can continue for another couple weeks. You are seeing the clots coming out when the puppies are feeding because it stimulates the uterus to contract, it's a normal mechanism to get rid of all the placenta and other uterine tissue that is related to the pregnancy.

Make sure she has water close by and see if she'll eat a biscuit. Often new mothers take a day or two to get their appetite back. Give her another day or so then if she still won't eat or drink then take her in. As far as the discharge goes it can be there for up to a week or so. If she stops nursing or the discharge has a foul odor then again I would bring her in for an exam. They may take an X-ray to make sure there are no more puppies and perhaps give her medication to contract the uterus to get rid of any fluid or afterbirth. I'm not overly concerned and think she just may need another day to improve. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Eris.

My main recommendation is to check her temperature to make sure she does not have a fever (over 102.5). While it is normal for the temperature to rise for the first 24 hours after whelping, by now it should return to normal. If she does have a fever or the vaginal discharge has a foul smell, is increasing in volume, or she seems to be feeling any worse, then take her to the veterinarian. If you have a house call veterinarian in your area, that would be even better. Infection of the uterus, or metritis, is possible and should be taken seriously. At two days post-whelping, a reddish brown discharge is normal. If she has no fever and seems to be feeling better, then just make sure she has plenty to eat and lots of fresh water. Here is a link to a good article on nutrition. http://www.akc.org/content/dog-breeding/articles/the-care-and-feeding-of-the-breeding-bitch-part-two/ Thanks for using PetCoach.

After the delivery, your dog may leak fluids and discharge for several weeks. This discharge is called lochia, and its color may be a shade of red. Lochia should be odorless -- if it has an unpleasant smell, contact your vet, as an odor indicates infection. Otherwise, general intermittent bleeding around the vulva may continue for weeks or, in some cases, months. If you notice that your dog is actually still bleeding a few days after birth, contact your vet. While it may be normal, you need to rule out complications like postpartum hemorrhage, which can result from poor blood clotting.

With these symptoms I worry that your dog may have a pyometra instead of being pregnant. Pyometras typically develop around 3-6 weeks after they go into heat and present as bloody discharge, lethargy, abdominal swelling, etc. I would recommend that she is seen by a veterinarian who can perform an ultrasound to make sure she isn't suffering from an infection.

A certain amount of bloody discharge is normal after delivery. This can last days to weeks. If it is frank blood, Diamond should be examined by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER today. Check the color of her gums. They should be pink. If they appear pale, take her to the veterinarian immediately. Keep her warm and as stress free as possible until she sees the vet.

Excessive water consumption, weight loss despite still eating can signal diabetes. If she is nursing puppies, that is the most likely cause for her weight loss. The blood is concerning, it could be anything from parasites, to a viral or bacterial infection, just to name a couple of possibilities. I recommend getting her in to see your vet right away for an exam and labwork. Also, while she is nursing puppies, she should have access to lots of fresh water and as much high calorie puppy food as she wants at all times.