A lady i know has had a litter of 7 . she asked me today if her bitches behaviour is normal . The bitch is panting still after a week of giving birth , is not eating to well . So i offered her my book of the bitch ,when i went round to give it her i went in to see the pup's and mum ..I noticed that the bitch had a bit of dark colouring (blackish green )round her vulva area and that her teats were very red and looked chapped but also the lady told me that not all her teats had filled up , she said the top two were just flat ...is this ok . i did say to her best to get her to the vets if she is worried .. but also said i would ask on here for her too , to see if it is just normal post whelp behavior or whether she should be worried ....Must add that these are just heinz 57 pup's not pedigree , but would hate for her to lose her bitch and pup's ....thanks

hi ive only bred my girl twice and shes never had this before not a week after anyway, my girl got 8 teats and they all fill up with milk she had 3 on 1st litter and 4 on 2nd litter, shes better off giving her vets a ring to see what they recommend she should do sorry its not much helpshe should really be eating too specially with a litter of 7

I thought that too , have told her in my most diplomatic voice to see the vet but , i can't force her . and would not want her to think i am telling her what to do , but feel for the dog here and the pup's ...Thanks by the way ...

I find it perfecly normal for some bitches to never get milk in the top set of teats.  And red nipples are not unusual.  As to the dark colour staining around the vulva, it does depend on the care that the bitch has had.  I don't shampoo bum/vulva on my girls until around 3 days after whelping (simply because they get so distraught at being away from pups.)  If she hasn't been "freshened up" to make her more comfortable, is this just mucky as opposed to something wrong.  I would want to know if the vulva has smelly discharge.

why does she not want to go to the vet??

the black/green staining could just be from not getting cleaned properly after the birth (and god does that stuff stain!) and chapped nipples are not totally out there from 7 pups but i'd be concerned about the not eating- our girl ate like several horses! (same size litter) and still lost a ton of weight and condition.

Not sure if she does not want to go to the vets , just assumed she was not going as if it was my bitch i would have gone or rung them as soon as i was concerned .I have given her the book of the bitch so she can read up on it . will try and get her to go to the vets , but i am not that close to her to say get your but down there, if you know what i mean ...