My pregnant dog has anxiety. Will she hurt her puppies after birth?

Hi. We don't have access to your previously asked questions. Any time a dog is ill, there is a risk of pregnancy loss. The best way to try to prevent it is to provide good supportive care and help the patient recover as quick as possible. If Cookie is ill, it may be hard to tell when she is going into labor. Ideally, the puppies would have their heartrates monitored several times daily by ultrasound to watch for any signs that they are dropping due to distress. She should also be monitored regularly for temperature drops or contractions.

I would allow some freedom to Charlotte outside of her whelping box. She may be feeling anxious and need to move around or use the bathroom. It is ok for her to be away from the puppies for short periods of time. Watch the the pups closely and make sure she is still allowing them to nurse. If she is not, she may be painful from a mammary gland infection or she may just be a disinterested mother. If you find that she is not allowing the pups to nurse at all then you will need to bottle feed them every 2-3 hours with puppy milk replacer. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck with your new litter!

Some new moms tend to be nervous and overattentive to the puppies, especially if this is Lacey's first litter. Some overzealous bitches will end up injuring the puppies, or lick/clean them so often they don't have adequate time to nurse. This behavior often improves after the first several days. I would recommend having someone monitor Lacey and the puppies at all times if there is any sign that she may be too rough. You could also try a pheromone like Adaptil or a supplement like Zylkene (safe for lactating bitches). If Lacey seems to be panting frequently, having trouble breathing, or shaking you should have her seen by your vet - these signs along with anxiety can be seen with low calcium.

Is the pup nursing well? Does it seem as strong as the others? I would try to keep a close eye and make sure that the pup is thriving. I would also watch closely that Mom doesn’t injure the pup. This is her first time and they don’t always know right away what to do. If you have any concerns about the pup or Mom then I would encourage you to have them evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

I would recommend perhaps having her in a crate or maybe the laundry room/ bathroom at night? I would also consider using DAP, Or dog appeasing pheromones to help decrease her anxiety. This can be purchased at most all pet stores. I would also recommend an examination with your veterinarian to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical problem. I’m sorry Lani is so anxious, and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some dogs are just not great mothers. A lot of times this behavior is repetitive with subsequent litters so I would consider spaying her after the puppies are weaned. She could start to improve in her habits but she may not. Sadly you will have to do more work if she won't cleaning them, etc. Hopefully she is at least letting them nurse. You can encourage her to lay in the whelping box with them more. It is ok for her to leave them for periods of time. Be sure Loki is eating high quality puppy food and that all of her mammary glands feel normal. Also be sure the puppies are having normal stool. I hope this helps and I wish Loki and her pups the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bella! I think you need to bring her in to your vet again and have her rechecked. I specifically would ask them to check her calcium levels. Low calcium can manifest as very bizarre behavior and can be life threatening if not treated. If it isn't low calcium and she isn't better, it is still best to have her looked at again. Sometimes it can take some time for first time Mother's to accept their babies. Just keep putting her in the whelping box and allow the baby to nurse. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!