Hi all, haven't been here for a while... I have had a bitch whelp this evening and the one pup was dead (soft fontanelle and cleft palate sadly)... I've not had this happen before (where a bitch ends up with no pups), have been generally very fortunate but I am wondering how I should proceed with her this evening...

She is not pining for the pup and seems not too bad but is a little shivery... would you suggest other than food, water and love she requires anything else?  Should she be put on a course of a/b's as a precaution?  Poor little girl, feel bad for her :-(  any advice appreciated, thank you

I see no reason for antibiotics unless everything smelled awful.  I would keep her warm if she's shivering, but you will need to make sure that you get rid of her milk.  I don't like putting a bitch on drugs to dry up milk when it can be done naturally.  Cut right back on her food (to discourage her making more milk.)  And up her exercise.  Both of these actions will dry up her milk in a natural way.  It's such a natural thing to want to cuddle her and feel sorry for her, but it's the worst thing to do for her.

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated x

Forgot to add.  You mentioned that she seems a little shivery.  Don't forget that she will be in pain as her uterus contracts.

Please feel free to shout me down, but she is still (at present) making milk even though it won't be taken, so I am wondering if a calcium drop could still occur?

I know how devastating this is for you having lost a litter once at term . If it is any help, it took my girl only about 2 weeks before she was getting back to normal. She went onto have a successful 2nd litter.
I tried to treat her as normal and her milk dried up fairly quick.  did not do anything special for this.

Thanks so much all, it is v sad but these things happen, as long as she's okay, just want to do right by her... yes that was what I was wondering Ms Temeraire...??? :-)