Giving birth is a magical process for dogs that leads to cute puppies, and looking for a way how to get your dog back in shape after having puppies is a necessasity. However, your dog has to bear all the pain and discomfort throughout her pregnancy and nursing period, which can take a toll on her body. You will notice some visible signs like weight loss, saggy teats, and belly in dogs after they give birth.
You can get your dog back in shape after having puppies by giving her proper meals with added nutrition to gain back the lost strength and weight. You also need to keep her well hydrated and indulge her in physical exercise to tighten the loose muscles. Apart from that, you need to maintain good hygiene and keep her in a quiet, comfortable, and stress-free environment. You also need to look out for signs of infection in her teats and other medical problems like milk fever.
After giving birth to a litter of puppies, your dog will be slack and out of shape. Exercise is important to keep her in shape and help her shed her old, saggy skin. Make sure you get your pet a checkup from the vet during the whelping period to make sure she is safe and healthy.
If your dog has recently given birth, follow this guide. We will show you how to care for her and get her back in shape.
How To Get Your Dog Back In Shape After Having Puppies
It is common for dogs to lose weight and for their skin to become saggy after giving birth. However, by following these tips, you can help them get back in shape.
- Exercise
One of the first things you can do for your female dog after she has given birth is to exercise her. It will help you tighten her sagging and loose muscles. Walking is the best exercise for her, as it encourages muscle tone. However, you should be careful not to overexert her. It is better to give her short brisk walks.
You should start exercising your female dog after 24 to 48 hours of her delivery. The muscles will be able to repair themselves with proper exercise. If she is not willing to leave her puppies, you can play fetch with her on the lawn. Most bitches don’t want to leave their puppies for several days after giving birth, so don’t worry if she refuses. She’ll soon get back to her old self and will follow the exercise routine.
- Nutritional Diet
The proper diet for your dog will ensure that she has enough nutrients to nurse the puppies. She needs to eat more than usual, and it is essential to provide her with lots of water. Feed her more than the usual amount, and make sure she has easy access to fresh water. She should also be fed calcium to prevent milk fever. This will help her build milk naturally.
After delivery, your pregnant dog will start to eat less but gradually increase her food intake. You should give her food that has no bones, and it should be high in protein and carbs. This will help her gain weight. You should combine rice with other foods to make a complete meal.
You should also give her doggy multivitamins for proper nutrition. However, if your dog has gained weight after giving birth, you need to cut down the calorie intake. Give her low calories food like lean meat and vegetable to help her with weight loss.
- Maintain Hygiene
It is essential to maintain hygiene after your dog gives birth to help her get back in shape. First, make sure the delivery area is completely clean. It is essential to limit the number of visitors and disinfect the area frequently. Then, wash your hands thoroughly to avoid spreading germs and parasites. You also need to clean the whelping box frequently.
You need to give her a sanitary cut after having puppies. Cut the excess hair around her tail, hind legs, and mammary glands. You also need to change the whelping mats and get diapers for your dog to keep the box clean from bodily fluids.
- Watch Your Dog’s Teat
After giving birth, it is important to watch your dog’s teat. It is a vital part of her reproductive system. If she is not getting the right amount of milk from the breasts, she may experience a condition known as galactostasis.
This condition is a buildup of milk at the site of the teat without any effect on the mammary glands. Symptoms of this problem include pain, inflammation, and heat. When the nipples are red, discolored, or cracking, it means that your dog is not expressing milk properly. If you notice these signs, take her to the vet.
If you notice your dog’s teat has lost shape, consider keeping an eye on it to see if there’s an infection. Keeping a close watch on your dog’s teat can help your dog bounce back quickly.
- House the Dog in a Stress-Free Environment
After a dog has given birth, it is important to keep it in a quiet, stress-free environment. It is important to provide a quiet, calm environment for the mother and her new pups. She should not have a lot of visitors, as it can lead to infection.
Once the puppy is born, a quiet, stress-free environment is necessary to prevent the mother from becoming anxious and leaving her puppies in a busy environment. A puppy will be more comfortable if the mother stays close to her.
- Look for Signs of Milk Fever
Milk fever in dogs is not uncommon and can be deadly if left untreated. The symptoms of milk fever in dogs are mild at first but can become more severe within 30-60 minutes. You need to look out for symptoms like anxiety, muscle tremors, dilated pupils, panting, elevated temperature, etc. If you see any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Although milk fever in dogs is often mistaken as a high-risk pregnancy complication, this condition is actually caused by a calcium deficiency in the mother dog’s body. A dog’s body requires adequate calcium to function normally. If the mother dog does not get adequate calcium, the muscles will become hyperactive.
How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Get Back to Normal After Giving Birth?
It will generally take about weeks for a dog to get back in normal shape after giving birth. However, the exact time depends on various factors. Every dog is different, so the recovery time also differs. Some dogs take weeks to get back in shape, whereas others take months. There are some dogs who never get back in shape.
The amount of time your dog will take to tighten up depends on factors like,
- Size of litter
- Age
- Care after birth
- Breed
- Number of pregnancy
Conclusion
Losing shape after giving birth is common in dogs. However, you can follow the tips given in the article to help them bounce back. Proper exercise, diet, hygiene, and after-birth care can help your dog gain back strength as well as get back in shape in no time.
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