Hi, our girl whelped 9 pups two weeks ago and all was going fine till end of the week when she started having diarrhoea. She vomited too so took her to the vet at night to check her out. Vet couldn't find anything wrong but she continues to have diarrhoea 3 days later and vomitted once again. We have been gradually increasing her food further since whelping and she's being fed four times a day now and we can't figure out what's wrong. She's on a good quality dried kibble only and we were supplementing with very very watered down puppy milk with each meal. That's been stopped and she just drinks her water which available to her at all times. She doesn't seem her usual self and doesn't wolf down her food like she usually does. However, she's taking care of her pups really well. Has anyone seen this before? I'm wondering whether she can't handle the shear volume of food perhaps but I am really worried. The diarrhoea is completely watery but normal poop colour and no signs of blood. She goes around four times a day.

Thanks for any help/advice.

Kris

I have had this when I fed puppy or high protein heavy work food.  By going back to maintenance diet things improved.

Short term a pot a day of the large onken biopot set natural yogurt helped within the day.

Thanks for your prompt response. Will try the biopot yogurt tomorrow as you suggested. Will split it between meals I guess. She's on her usual food (Orijen Adult) but is obviously getting a lot more than maintenance amount as she's at peak lactation. Thanks again.

Yes I meant maintenance food not quantity.  Mine are usually on 4 times their normal rations fed 4 times a day,  or ad lib when away from the other dogs.

I'd try feeding smaller meals but more of them.

Thanks for all the advice. The diarrhoea resolved. Bit of a stupid question but need to ask. As she's had a big litter lactation has taken its toll and she's quite skinny. Puppies are being weaned now so she's only feeding them a couple of times a day. However she is still thin even though the milk should be drying up. My question is: if I keep her on the increased amount of food (as she's so thin) would that actually encourage more milk production and hence work against her in terms of putting back on the weight? It seems counterintuitive to reduce her food when her ribs show and can feel her spine. Her mammary glands seem smaller and a bit stiffer now. Thanks for any advice.

It is possible that even with 9 puppies, she's just not able to take in all the food she's getting.   And as usual most dogs will need to have a BM for as many meals they have, BUT the stools should be normal.   However having said that, even if this is 2 weeks on now, if she took in a lot of the placenta, this is very rich and can upset the dig.system.   Bitches in the wild eat this, as they can't go hunting for some time, to sustain them.  

Also have you wormed her yet because by 2 weeks, the puppies should be getting their first worming, and her at the same time.     Just realised this latest post is a few weeks on from the first

Natural yogurt should help clear up uncomplicated tummy upsets for sure - and if you can source goats yogurt, so much the better.    Giving her milk could cause a digestive upset too.

In general, it's the suckling that stimulates lactation.   So increased food alone shouldn't.    I have to say that despite my best efforts, some of my bitches would give their ALL to their puppies and end up, just at the time when people come to see the litter, looking like two boards clapped together.   And their coats can drop too.    Don't panic.   And don't be persuaded to pile in an abnormal amount of food either.    As she starts to get out on her normal exercise, and eating up better, her condition should come back fast.

Yes the diarrhoea had resolved so not a problem now. I'm just wondering whether to start reducing her food given that she's not feeding them as often now (they're being weaned) or whether I should keep her on the same amount she was having at peak lactation given that she's so thin and not putting in the weight. Usually one would reduce food gradually to get her back to maintenances diet but she's so skinny and seems to need the extra food.

I realise and know how hard it is to look at a mum who has gone rail thin at the end of nursing a litter but to avoid upsetting her digestive system, I'd suggest you just have to take it slow re getting back the condition or risk further poor stool production.   As long as the puppies are taking to being weaned and needing her contribution less and less, right now she should be drying up, milk-wise.   So for the next few weeks, piling in the food isn't needed.  I assuming you did worm her when the pups were around 2 weeks - it might be worth having a stool sample checked, to make sure some of this isn't to do with a worm load?  Unlikely but.   

I think you just have to go day to day with her condition, as long as she's otherwise okay.   Lively.

yes she has been wormed. Thanks for your help, will adjust her food gradually. All the best!

> Thanks for your help, will adjust her food gradually. All the best!

You are quite welcome!   Happy Christmas.