My bitch had a litter 4 days ago and all puppies seem to be doing well but I'm worried about mum.
She's reluctant to eat anything and seems to only want to drink milk but she's not too keen on that now, even though she's panting.
I'm worried the milk - which is puppy milk lactole as I was told cow milk could have a laxative effect, could be hindering her digestion as the only faeces she's produced have been very loose.
She's often very calm and seems like a great mum. Is this just normail behaviour I'm over reacting to?
It's mine and her first litter and I'd be very grateful for any advice.
Thanks

Hi
Have you taken your bitch to the vet for a checkup? Are you sure that all the afterbirths were expelled? When you say she is panting, is that just when she's feeding the pups? Sorry for so many questions, my first thought was that she may have an infection. My breed doesn't have a great appetite for a few days after whelping - seem to wait until all their "bits" are back in the right place again. They usually have runny poos (or even full blown Dire Rear) for a few day, up to week after, depending how many of the placentas they have managed to swallow!
If you are at all worried, I'd get her seen by the vet. Good Luck

Thanks for replying so quickly.
Yes we had her checked up about 12 hours after the birth. She seemed fine and the vet gave her a jab incase there were any leftover afterbirths. She's a healthy dog and we had her checked before mating and during her pregnancy.
I hope she may be off her food because of the heat.

My bitch had a litter three weeks ago and was not interested in food for about 5-6 days afterwards. I could only get her to have whelpi milk during that time and she panted for days after giving birth. My vet told me not to worry about the panting, it would be caused by all the hormones racing round her body.

Thank you so much, that's really reassuring. I had been expecting her to regain her apetite in a huge way about 24 hours after the birth so I was a little worried.
Thanks again for all your help

Not all bitches will eat in the first few days after giving birth and those that do often have to have their meals in bed as they will not leave the pups.  If you imagine a wild dog she would stay with her pups, not eating, until hunger drives her out to hunt.  Panting is normal after whelping but if you are used to taking her temperature then I would check this to make sure it is not too high.

What are you using as a heat source for the pups - are they spreading out all over the box, laying flat out or all curled up together.  If they are laying flat out and apart you can decrease it slightly which may make her more comfortable but if the pups are all together then leave it on.