Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 6/29/2008

Question
My dog had a litter of puppies that are about 4wks old now-- she had 10 and they were alla healthy... but now she looks to be losing weight and  has been having diarrhea that past week..whaat can be wrong????

Answer
Master -

There are several reasons why a nursing dog would be losing weight.  Are you feeding food that is rich in nutrients?  You should be feeding her a premium puppy food with adequate water available.  If she is feeding ten puppies then she will surely need twice her normal food and water intake.  

Have her examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause of the diarrhea.  Do not wait too long as her nursing ten babies and experiencing diarrhea will cause her to become dehydrated.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM