my bitch had 6 pups 2 days ago, has been well since, and pups are thriving. She has today though, been quite unsteady on her back end which she has fallen on a couple of times.
Apart from this she appears very well and is eating/drinking ok. I've never had a bitch do this to me before, and i have rang the vets for advice who say she is just probably tired.
Has anyone else had this happen after giving birth and could it be that she is just a little weaker through not moving around so much, or could there be something else wrong.
Any opinions/advice welcomed. Thanks.

Personally I would have her checked out just in CASE it turned out to be eclampsia. Always best to play safe. :)

My thoughts too, I'm amazed that a vet wouldn't want to see a lactating bitch showing these symptoms?

Hi, that was my thinking, thats why i rang the vets, but they didn't seem unduly concerned, but i am beginning to lose faith in them as they never seem to give me answers to anything. Once she's up and about she seems steadier, its mainly when she first tries to get up that she's finding it difficult. If she gets any worse or is still like this tomorrow then a trip to the vets will be in order, thanks.

Got to agree with the others it does sound like eclampsia.  Keep your eye on her and watch for what I can only describe as the "stare"  where they seem to look through you or stare into the distance.  Again contact your vet asap if she gets to that stage.

Have you got any 'Tums' or'Rennies' (Carbonate- fizzy tasting) antacid tablets? Let her chew one of these.
The base of these is a calcium compound which could just help in the interim period before seeing the vet.

Bitches with the first stages of Eclampsia often crave calcium carbonate and search for it by licking plasterwork.
Look out for dilated ( wide-open ) pupils and racing heart beat.

hi thanks for all the advice. Haven't got any tums or the like but will ring the vets again, and get something in the meantime to give to her. Apart from the wobbly back end she appears fine, but will keep an eye out for the other signs. It sounds like my vets can't be bothered at this stage as its out of hours, but maybe i'll have to keep pestering them, as i won't be able to sleep tonight in case she gets any worse, and definately don't want to leave it until the later stages. thank you all again.

sounds like she needs calcium do you have any calcuim tabs you can give her.

> I've never had a bitch do this to me before, and i have rang the vets for advice who say she is just probably tired.
>

No wonder you're losing faith in your vet!  I know it's a pain for them when it's out of hours, but that's what you pay for.  I guess you will soon be changing yor vet??

If I phoned at 2am and was worried about a bitch that had whelped that recently, I would be expecting them to say, whip her down to the hospital, just so we can rule out anything worrying.  I've never been refused a call out, and, at times where I've ben given advice that I'm sure I can cope with, they always say - but phone back if you need us!

the only thing i have now with any calcium in is rennie tablets, i've also got puppy replacement milk as we had to handfeed one of the litter. I've tried ringing the vet again(if only for some re-assurance) but couldn't get through. If i'm worried about her later or she developed any other signs, i will be ringing a different vet as mine seem to be truly hopeless!.
Thank you all x

If you have rennie let her have one of those, otherwise ice cream or cottage cheese are brilliant alternatives
for calcium intake! Good luch bh

i've given her a rennie tablet mixed in with her biscuits which she's eaten. As i watch her more closely, it does appear that the lameness seems to be more one sided, and she doesn't seem to be able to lift it into her box properly, so i'm wondering if she has any damage to that side of her pelvis/hip. She's just been out and doesn't seem to be able to squat to wee, although she is trying, so i'm wondering if theres any nerves damaged. She does tend to lie on that side most of the time in her box and very rarely gets up to move.
I'll have to monitor her closely, i have taken her temp which is also normal. She has my mind whiring!

How about trying to encourage her lie down on the other side and hope that she's just got a dumb b*m?? :)

we're trying that, we're also massaging her whole leg. Once she's up and about she doesn't seem to be too bad, a little unsteady when turning round.
I am hoping its just maybe something simple like a dead leg, but know in my mind that it shouldn't really be this bad, and should have cleared by now. If she gets any worse or is still like it first thing tomorrow, then a trip to the vets it is (a different vets to the one we normally use!)
thanks again

Hi Icemaiden... I read this and thought about it

If your girl is laying in the same position all the time, it does give her a 'dead' leg.. If possibly try and get her to chance sides when she lies down.. I had never had this before, until my last litter, and Tia, could not stand, I had to place a towel under her belly to hold her rear end off the ground to allow the blood flow.. and also massage her.. it was fine after 2 or 3 days.. but very worrying..

However.. 2 weeks later.. Tia suffered severe eclampsia and I nearly lost her.. I have no idea if these were related.. but worth mentioning just in case..

Just keep your eye on her (silly thing to say, because I know you will lol)

hi kayc, we have had her turn over and have sat massaging her leg for half an hour.
We then decided to get her walking about, took her into the back garden on her lead and just kept walking backwards and forwards.
When she came in and went to get into her box, she stepped into it no problem, so the plan is to get her out of her box regularly to exercise her legs in the yard then allow her in trying to make sure she alternates sides. (This bit is a bit difficult as she is rather big and heavy).
The problem with her is she naturally doesn't like leaving her puppies and has been in the box almost constantly for 3 days, never venturing out only when we walk her, and as she is a big heavy dog this has probably contributed to her (hopefully) dead leg.
Will still keep my eyes open for any other symptoms of eclampsia, but as i said she is extremely well otherwise.
Thank you all for your advice, hopefully she'll be feeling better soon.
xx

> The problem with her is she naturally doesn't like leaving her puppies

Yep - as you say - totally natural.  But fingers x'd you see no other signs of eclampsia.  I would be wanting another vet to look at her as well!  Especially with the experience you've been having.  Do let us know if you get a more professional approach with the new vet.  Wishing you much luck - Jean.

Will do. Apparantly i'm not the only person to have a loss of faith in this vet practice, so a hunting for a new one we will go for sure.
Fingers crossed she's gets better soon, she seems to be improving, we've had her out again since and she seems to be getting better already.
cheers everyone
xx

How are things?

hi perrodeagua, things are absolutely wonderful. Mum seems to be her usual jolly self, no problems with mobility at all, must have just been a very dead bum!.
I have however registered her with a different vet today, so hopefully next time some vet advice is needed, i might actually get my questions answered.
We kept taking her into the garden every hour to exercise her legs and this seemed to do the trick.
Thanks for enquiring
xx

Brilliant! It sounded like a dumb bum but it's difficult to say without seeing. :)

Aww so pleased that all's OK, was worried with not hearing anything.