I have heard different opinions on this subject and would just like to know what all of you reccomend and your reason for that recommendation. Do you let your bitches eat their placentas or take some or all away? I know the nutritional value of the placenta, but others said that she will get the nutrition she needs from her food so take it away cause it makes them get loose poo. Also others say she needs it to stimulate milk let down. So whats the truth or is it all correct and just a matter of personal preference?!

Thank you for responses!
QT

Hi QT,

I genrally let mine have 1 or 2 of the placenta to stimulate milk and for the nutritional value but no more than 2...it does give them a little 'loose poo' but I hve only experienced this once and was only the first poo that was loose.

Donna

All my bitches have always had all the placentas and membranes, mainly because it would have been practicaly impossible to prevent it. They usually staret cleaning up the puppy beore or the instant is born, and are very quick and eficient about it.

I have never had them have diarhoe, though the first toilet after is a disgusting green colour and rather treacle like. After that they have normal toilet with reducing amounts of green colour.

They have had between 3 and 9 pups!

My bitches too love eating them and they usually eat as many as they want, one of them will only eat a couple but as a rule they eat them as they come out before paying any attention to the pups!!!!!!!!

Hi QT
I don't have much choice in the matter, the placenta is the first thing my female starts on then decides to check out her new born.Never had a problem with it, pooh is a bit sloppy afterwards but what the heck, it does the female the world of good so I can cope with that.And sometimes a female doesn't want to eat a great deal after she has whelped so I think it's a good store for them till they feel a bit more like eating. :)

I only let mine eat 1 or 2, and threw the rest away. This way I could count it and make sure all was there ( even though some pups can share a placenta). The poo is a bit sloppy after but back to normal in a couple of days.

Thank you all so much for the replies. I was planning on letting mine eat all she wants but wanted to make sure it was recommended... I dont care if I have to mop up after her, as long as she is healthy. There was something else that came up that I wanted to ask about however. Is it essential to count the placentas. I have read that if the vet comes out to check on mama and pups within a few days he/she could make sure all was well. Sorry to ask so many questions, just wanting to do all right by my bitch and her future (hopefully;)) litters.
Thank you!
QT

Hi QT , Yes if possible do a count, but sometimes it just isnt possible to be sure that all placentas have been accounted for. If that is the case, the vet can give mum an injection that will make her pass any that may be retained. However, you want this injection done the next day, NOT a few days later, otherwise an infection could have started building up by then.