Care of the mother dog/cat immediately after whelping/cat birthing

So, now mom has delivered her litter of energetic, squirming, squealing (when they are awake) puppies/ kittens. She just can’t be left on her own to fend against the possible dangers associated with child-birth; sorry, puppy/kitten birth. You, the caretaker, must intervene in an auxiliary sense. But do not go overboard with your affection and sympathy. No fondling/handling of the new arrivals. Do not love her and her offspring to death, especially not with cats. Cats would often just pick up their kittens and disappear.
As usual, my advice is, first of all, to observe if the mother is in any discomfort. Let us look at a few problems that could arise:

1. No milk let-down
Occasionally, the milk does not flow as it should immediately after the birth of pups/kittens. This means that the newborn puppies/ kittens would be deprived of food. This ‘first milk’, the colostrum, produced within 48 hours after parturition, is of maximum importance to the puppy/kitten immediately and for its future health. Not only is the colostrum of a special consistency needed by the newborn, but it also contains a range of immunoglobulins, antibodies and growth factors which would protect the newborn against possible diseases and support overall wellness. A newborn’s growth commences within an hour of its birth. As the puppy/kitten grows older (by the hour) there is a decrease in the content of these specific nutrients and immunity-containing substances in the mother’s milk. This means that if the newborn does not get that ‘first milk’ quickly, it would be more vulnerable to ailments later on in life.
You can ascertain whether the milk is flowing by gently pulling at the nipple (with clean fingers, of course). Do not be perturbed if the milk is not white. Colostrum has higher concentration of proteins and is thicker than normal milk, and is slightly yellow in colour. For me, the best test as to whether the milk is flowing is to place the puppy on to the nipple. If the puppy is exhibiting a swallowing reflex and seems contented, then you can be reasonably sure that the milk is flowing.
If it is not, then your veterinarian must administer an injection to stimulate the milk flow. Obviously, this should be done within hours ‘post-partum’ (after birth).

2. Fever develops
Every home that has a companion animal must have a thermometer. (This is my old swan song). During that week after giving birth, it is always advisable to monitor the temperature of the mother. Place the bulb of the mercury thermometer into the rectum – and not under her tongue or in her armpit. If one is using a digital thermometer, place the tip in the ear. For me, anything 39.5°C and above is an indication that all is not well. Call your vet. Fever soon after birth is an emergency!
Do not panic if you see a greenish slime emanating from the vagina during the first 24 hours. Even if the discharge is tinged with blood (reddish colour), there is no cause for alarm. Sometimes this ‘bleeding’ could go on for a fortnight. I usually prescribe calcium tablets and low doses of Vitamin C on such occasions. Of course, any foul-smelling discharge (yellowish brown) must be taken seriously, and corrected by your vet. We shall deal with this problem in more detail next week.

3. Mom rejects pup/kitten
This phenomenon occurs more often with first-time mothers, or when surgery (Caesarian section) was necessary for delivery, thus precluding the actual birth process via the vagina. On occasion, I have noticed that dogs who think they are humans (strong owner-pet relationship) neglect their brood. These bitches have become ‘anthropomorphised’ – I love that word! (I swear social scientists and not veterinarians invented it). If there is no milk flow right after birth (see 1. above), or if there are disease or physiological problems (eg, Mastitis, Milk Fever, etc.), then the mother might not wish to nurse her litter.
Correcting the problem requires that you ascertain the reasons for rejecting the puppies/kittens. Seek your vet’s guidance and action accordingly. Sometimes, it may become necessary for you to hand-rear the newborn puppies/kittens, since mom will have nothing to do with them – in spite of all of your efforts. We will advise on the hand-rearing and caring of the newborn litter later on in the series.