If you’re a breeder of hunting dogs, you’ve probably seen a dog whelp the puppies and expel her placenta with no problems. And with some rest and care, she can be back to her healthy, normal self. Although this is true when the mother dog is usually healthy and strong, there can be unforeseen complications, so postpartum care is something that all dog breeders should know and understand.

Once mom has successfully given birth it’s usually a good idea to take her to the vet just to verify that everything is fine. You should try to do this within a day of birthing and you might want to check with your vet to see if they think it’s a good idea to check out the puppies at the same time. For mom, you want to verify that she has no puppies remaining in her womb and that she has fully expelled the placenta. If mom isn’t checked out thoroughly and a baby or a part of the placenta is left in the womb mom could get a serious infection and if left unchecked she could become ill enough to succumb to infection. Often your vet will recommend a shot that will help make sure the uterus is clear and will also help mom let her milk down.

For the pups, temperature checks and physical checks can ensure that the babies are all in good health and that there are no immediate problems. For mom, make sure you watch for fever, lack of appetite and diarrhea after birth as these could be signs of a bacterial infection. Any symptoms should be immediately discussed with your veterinarian so that an antibiotic can be prescribed if needed.

Watch mother carefully for the first few days to be sure nothing unusual is happening. If she is to get sick after whelping, it will be during the first week after the puppies have come.

For your part, if all is going well, you will still need to concern yourself with your portion of the puppy’s and mother’s care. Keep their bedding area clean, replacing bedding daily and wiping up all messes as quickly as they occur. Keep everything as clean as possible, but be careful not to overuse cleaning products (especially bleach and similar) as these can cause eye and nose irritation in the newborns.

You should also watch out for eclampsia in the mother dog, which is a condition in which the body cannot produce the calcium needed for lactation. She will need to see the vet right away. Symptoms can include pain and discomfort, fever, sttiffness, and seizures. Also known as milk fever, this condition can happen around week three of lactating and can cause a serious threat. However, if you catch it early enough, you can add supplements to her food to make up for the lack of calcium.

Mammary gland infections, particularly the teats, are a common problem so you should them frequently. As her puppies get older and teeth grow in, these infections can occur. Mastisis can set in within a day of birth; watch for purple spots around the glands and check for fever. These and other infections are common and is easily treated with topical creams.

Agalactia is another problem in which bitches will produce too little milk (or none at all). A vet, on the first examination, can usually tell if this is a problem and will take measures immediately.

Although the conditions and problems above are serious, you’ll find that whelping is a very natural and healthy process, with little care required from you. Most dogs produce healthy puppies and will be fine after birth.