Whelping - will eating afterbirths give my dog diarrhea?

Question

My dog had puppies on Saturday. I read that I should take the afterbirths away as the puppies are born, so my dog won't eat them because it causes diarrhea. I wasn't home when she went into labor and she ate 5 afterbirths. Everything went fine with the births and we have 6 healthy puppies, but I'm just kind of waiting for her to get diarrhea. Its monday afternoon and all she's had is a lot of gas (she's eating and drinking normally and going outside to go to the bathroom, but not unusually often). Does anyone have experience with their dogs eating afterbirths? Did it give them diarrhea?

Answer 1

The dogs are supposed to eat it since it gives them some of the nutrients that they may have lost during pregnancy. She's going to be fine!

Answer 2

It is perfectly natural for the new mother to eat the afterbirth. It is actually good for her. It is an excellent source of protein and it stimulates further contractions and lactation. Diarrhea is normal after whelping since the mother is usually disinterested in food for about 24-48 hours before whelping. The lowered fiber and increased water intake is what causes the diarrhea, not eating the afterbirth. We just had another litter of five sibes and mama ate all of the placentas. She never even had problems with it.

Your dog may not even start having runny poops. Good luck with your new babies!

Answer 3

Congratulations on 6 healthy pups, a happy and healthy mom. Mom would most likely at this point, not be getting ill if it hasn't happened by now.
Hopefully she passed the last placenta with the last puppy. If not, you need to watch for her not consuming food and having a very bad smell. She will have a temperature too. Get to the Vet immediately
Wish you would have told us the breed. The puppies dewclaws should be removed today. If the tails need docked that also would be done at the same time.
Remember she will eat and drink a lot more as the puppies continue to grow.
Hope this helps,
Good Luck!!

Answer 4

It can cause diarrhea but it might be ok, make sure she gets plenty to drink. congratulations on your new arrivals. my dog had 11 puppies on the 8th. she ate 3 of the afterbirths then vomited them up. i took them all away from her after that but she still had diarrhea after the birth from cleaning the pups, the vet said this was all ok and to be expected so dont worry too much if she does have diarrhea for a couple of days. oh and it is not recomended to allow your dog to eat the placentas as they have nothing to do with helping the mother produce her first milk, the mother automatically produces colostrum in the first 48 hours regardless of if they eat the placentas.they olny really have the instinct to eat it to disguise the scent of the new litter from predators so it really isnt nessecary for them to eat it.

Answer 5

I have indeed heard that eating the afterbirth will cause a new mommy dog to have diarrhea. If she has gas, that's a symptom that something isn't working right in her digestive system. You may soon find that the diarrhea has started after all.

Answer 6

Sometimes it gives them diarrhea, sometimes it doesn't. The afterbirth is full of nutrients that aid in labor.

You should be bringing the mother and pups into the vet today for a checkup.

Answer 7

I don't know anything about birthing puppies but it makes sense that eating the afterbirths would cause a soft stool. I know that women who have just given birth are given a stool softener to ease going number 2. Maybe it's just natural and serves a purpose.

Answer 8

its normal for a dog to eat the afterbirth diarrhea i dont think so. dogs eat things that would kill a human and know diarrhea

Answer 9

Eating the after birth is good for her if she was going to get diarrhea she should have by now so as long as everything is OK try not to worry and enjoy your new pups

Answer 10

the "afterbirth" gives the antibodies needed for the pups. should not give the runs . If she's eating and drinking normal, no problem. Good Luck w/pups.