we've just been to view a lovely puppy but the dam's fur was really thin especially around her eyes and on her tummy.i know they lose fur a bit when feeding pups but is this normal?the pups were lovely and healthy looking with really thick fur.my first thought was mange, but then i thought it could be a hormone deficiency as the breeder said it happened soon after she whelped.any ideas??

my bitch's fur went very thin after whelping, although it was about four months after as the hormones worked their way out of her system...

i don't know if that helps or not actually!! :)

Chloe

My bitch had her pups 6 weeks ago and is almost bald ! Thankfully her coat is coming back in again. I think it could be depending on the breed, but any bitches I have bred always end up looking very moth eaten a few weekd after giving birth, but a lovely coat does come back in. Don't know if this is true or not but I was told the bitches coat should be back to full bloom 6 weeks after she has stopped feeding her pups. I am 2 weeks down the line so I will see what she looks like in 4 weeks time - should be interesting !

What was the skin on the bitch like ? Was it red and sore looking ? A bit scabby and flaky ? Or did it look normal ?

Margaret

Come to think of it - I lost a lot of hair a few weeks after giving birth - I looked moth eaten aswell!

i know they loose hair but it was the bit around the eyes that looked weird.i stroked her and her skin seemed ok though.i also lost a lot of hair after my daughter was born!!thanks everyone for your help!!I felt very sorry for her as she only has two pups to feed, two died at birth, and her teats look very sore.i didn't want to antagonise the breeder by pointing it out though.luckily both pups are really thriving, huge for their age with lovely fur and coats.

A vet told me once that if the hairloss seems to be symetrical ie both ears or both back legs etc then it is more than likely hormonal. We asked this as our one staffie bitch went bald on her ears, they were like leather - no scurf though. Sure enough about a week later she came in season.
Our Bordeaux bitch also after she had the pups lost loads of fur and weight and she did not even have to feed them. Again we think it was hormonal, fit and fertile soon had her right though.

thanks for that staffie, and many congrats on the new pups, it is you isn't it?i suspected it to be hormones but it's such a shame that two of the pups died at birth, she looks so sad now, but my pup is huge and really thriving so i'm not too worried.enjoy your pups they will soon be gone, nd you will miss them, HONEST!!

Yes it is me that has had the litter.
Glad your pup looks big and healthy.

When my dog had pups she was just the same. I felt really bad when people came to look at the pups and found myself explaining to everyone.
Honestly if the pups are as lovely as you say I wouldn't worry.
It took her a long while to get back to her full healthy look.

thanks everyone, i think she's a run down bitch like me-lol.i'm still getting the pup though 2 weeks today, i'll have four labs then, and no house/garden left.yep i am crazy but i love them all to death!!they're all totally spoilt but adorable, and baby is going to be huge i can just tell!!