My bitch gave birth to a healthy litter of puppies on the 11th of January and all have now left to homes bar one we are keeping. To prevent Bella passing anything on from other dogs to the puppies we were advised to keep her on the lead and for short walks only to avoid meeting other dogs until all puppies were gone or vaccinated. Her puppy Bramble whom we kept received her 10 week vaccine only yesterday so today we decided to let Bella off in the field behind our house. Bella took advantage of this and decided to not come back for 5 hours. When I came back from a long search for her I found her collapsed on the doorstep next to a large pile of vomit (and she has since thrown up 5 more times) so we phoned the vet and they said she could have possibly eating something rotten so to starve her for 24 hours and not let her drink too much and so to not bother bringing her in. Her symptoms have been irritated skin around the nose, mouth and eyes which have turned a very dark colour compared to her usual pale skin, heavy breathing, shaking and a lot of vomiting. I'd be very grateful if anyone could help me on what might be the cause of this.

I am very surprised that your vet dealt with this only over the phone. Those symptoms are worrying and I would want her seen immediately.

I’d take her to another vet and if she’s still in this condition then I’d take her now. Also hopefully when she’s better you’ll probably need to start her recall again, I’d suspect she was so happy to be off the lead as it had been so long she was more interested in the ‘fun’ she’d miss (also omi as long as your girl is in good health then I’d say she would’ve been fine carrying on going offlead for short walks whilst she had the pups, and given a wash down with diluted disenfectant when she returned home,)
I hope your girl improves, but please go to a vets!

I know it's  ooh but she needs to be seen by a vet now .

Forgot phone call now other than to say you are bringing her in. With what you have said i wouldn't be leaving this until the morning.
Let us know how you get on

> would’ve been fine carrying on going offlead for short walks whilst she had the pups, and given a wash down with diluted disenfectant when she returned home,

This is what we did, even if mum didn't go off our property - they don't need to meet other dogs to walk infection in to nursing puppies! 

I'd be SEEING a vet rather than be diagnosed over the phone, for sure.  With what she's produced, dehydration could well happen.  'Not to bother bringing her in' - Really?

To me these symptoms (espescially the irritation around nose and mouth) seem to indicate some kind of chemical poisoning.  Please let us know how she is.

Has there been crop spraying near where she has been?

I too would suspect poisoning and would be rushing her to the vet.

No way would I have accepted what the vet said, I would have argued - and won - and had vet attention immediately.  Is she still alive?

Vaild point given how things progressed but omg I hope so jean

She could also have found some rat poison somewhere...

Any update? Those symptoms were extremely worrying and I'm amazed that a vet didn't say to bring her in.

I do wish people would update on threads like this!

Me too. Everyone gets anxious, and now I fear the worst.