Why is my dog tired, limping, and rejecting her newborn puppies?

I don’t think she is depressed. I think she is probably sick. I worry about a uterine infection called a pyometra. It is a pus filled uterus. It doesn’t happen often just after pregnancy, but it can. If this is her problem it is life threatening without surgery. I would encourage you to take her to your local humane society or city shelter as often they will provide low cost or even free spay and neuter. Here is another link with ideas to help you financially. http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ I hope she does not have a pyometra, but if she does it is really improving to get her spayed as soon as possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

I would take her to the vet for an examination because she sounds very unwell and there coukd be a medical reason why she isnt bonding with the pups. You shouldnt force her to feed them whilst you dont know what is wrong as it could make her sicker. Common problems in bitches after whelping are mastitis in the teats, metritis in the womb, hypocalcemia or electrolyte imbalances. I would get her to a vet as soon as you can.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lulu. Nursing puppies is tiring, but she should not be really tired. I'm concerned this can be a sign of a postpartum problem. I would take her and her puppies into a vet immediately to get checked out. I hope this helps!

Poor Pearl! If she had a dead puppy inside her all this time, it's likely that she has a serious uterine infection - this could definitely be causing her to act sick and not tend to the pups. I'm afraid she really needs to see a vet right away, as this may be a life-threatening problem. If you have financial limitations, let the vet know that up front - most vets will do their best to work within your budget. At the very least, it sounds like she will probably need prescription antibiotics to treat her infection. She may even need surgery to remove the infected uterus, depending on the severity of the problem.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding ICE. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. I worry that nursing the pups has placed a huge toll on her body. If this is the case, eclampsia or low blood calcium can result. This can be very serious and requires prompt care. Her veterinarian will be able to diagnose this with a blood sample. I hope this information helps!

This does not sound like eclampsia. That typically presents as an emergency with symptoms of collapse, severe trembling and weakness. This sounds like more of a slow process and there can be many causes ranging from an infection in her uterus, mammary glands, a gastrointestinal issue, or other generalized infection. I would recommend an exam by her veterinarian to try to pinpoint which system is affected and what is going on.

It is normal for them to clean and eat the placentas but she should have an appetite and be feeling fine. She may need to be checked to see if there are any retained membranes or a uterine infection which can make her feel bad. You can try to give her boiled chicken and rice to help her stool and her appetite. If she seems too weak you may to bottle feed the puppies to let her rest since nursing burns alot of calories.