Discharge in a dog after childbirth: norm or pathology

Discharge from the loop in dogs after childbirth makes inexperienced owners nervous. But this is a normal physiological process that accompanies postpartum activity. In order not to worry in vain and not to irritate the dog, the owner should know which discharge is the norm, and in which cases you should immediately seek medical help.

Normal postpartum discharge

Normally, mucous membranes, bloodsuckers or with an admixture of blood may be secreted from the birth canal in a congenital bitch for another 3-6 weeks, discharge - lochia. Gradually, their number should decrease and in the end stop completely. However, the process of natural cleansing of the uterus must be controlled so as not to miss the alarming symptoms of pathology. Normally, the detachable from the loop changes its texture and color. The first few days that have passed since the time of birth, normally Lochia can look like this:

grayish or light green discharge, of a dense consistency with interspersed - this is the remnants of the amniotic fluid and fragments of the placenta that leave the uterine cavity. The smell of discharge should not cause disgust;
Lochia of a dark, almost black color without a putrefactive smell is also considered the norm. The dark color of the mucus is given by clotted blood from the capillaries, which flows when the placenta exits;
dark mucus with a brownish or greenish tinge is a throat and traces of blood in the amniotic fluid and mucus.

If the lochia is not too plentiful, and have a normal consistency and smell, then you should not worry. Discharge from the loop can be accompanied by subfebrile body temperature and physiological diarrhea for the first few days, which usually ends in 1-2 days.

Owners can be alerted by the strange behavior of the dog - it starts to behave as if it were a few hours before the fights:

leaves the nest;
fussing;
digs a litter ;
breathing heavily and intermittently.

Some people confuse this behavior with symptoms of "milk fever" - eclampsia . But the cause is discomfort in the dog, which causes uterine contractions and irritation of the sensitive nipples when feeding puppies.

As a rule, this condition goes away on its own, but you can consult with your veterinarian for safety reasons. The dog is given a mild sedative and analgesic - No-shpu or Baralgin in a dosage depending on the size of the pet. Fears should arise if the lochia become more abundant or an unpleasant smell is felt.

See also: how to feed a dog after childbirth .

Postpartum discharge

The cause of abnormal discharge can be both the inflammatory process during infection and trauma of the reproductive organs, and the consequences of intrauterine death of puppies. Pathological discharge of the following composition is considered:

Excessive liquid discharge with an admixture of blood may indicate a completely abandoned child's place. If the contraction of the cervix has occurred too quickly, then the placenta remains in the uterine cavity, causing an inflammatory process. Subsequently, a secondary infection may join, and pus appears in the lochia. In this case, an urgent consultation with a veterinarian is required, which, with the help of drugs that stimulate uterine contractions, will help clear it of its contents.
Dark discharge with a putrid odor may indicate the decomposition of fragments of the placenta or the dead fetus. When intoxicated with decay products, the dog has febrile temperature, signs of fever, muscle weakness and refusal to eat. Urgent medical care consists in the operative removal of the organ or its cleaning, followed by drug therapy.
Abundant spotting of dark or bright scarlet color indicates uterine bleeding or rupture of the uterus. If measures are not taken in time, then profuse blood loss can lead to the death of the pet.

Any disturbing signs, changes in the behavior or condition of the animal require specialist advice. If the owner is not sure whether the discharge is normal, then it is worth inviting the veterinarian to the house to examine the dog. But even with the normal process of cleaning the uterus, measures should be taken to prevent the risk of postpartum infection.

Interesting:

Postpartum Precautions

In the periods between estrus and childbirth, the cervix is closed, which prevents infection from entering the uterine cavity. For several weeks, the cervix is ajar, which contributes to the free secretion of residues of amniotic fluid and placenta. During this period, the entry of pathogens is not limited, and therefore precautions should be observed:

immediately after birth, change the litter in the "nest" with traces of blood and amniotic fluid;
Do not prevent the dog from licking the loop. Its saliva contains enzymes that promote blood coagulation and have a disinfecting effect;
change the litter of the dog daily, avoiding contamination and wrinkling;
wash the animal not only after childbirth, but also after each urination and defecation;
to avoid congestion in the uterus, douching should be carried out once a week with a warm solution of synthomycin emulsion;
avoid overcooling or overheating of the animal;
food and water are placed near the "nest" so that the dog does not get nervous when leaving the litter;
Bringing the dog out for sparing needs - you must not allow it to move actively and walk for a long time.

Compliance with the listed rules of prevention in the postpartum period will reduce the risk of infection and postpartum complications.