There are several maladies which can affect the dog after she has given birth to her puppies. Some of the problems are more physical in nature, while others may be associated with emotional upsets/psychological blocks which can result in the bitch neglecting, even abandoning, her pups. The conditions of sickness usually centre on the womb, the breast and the mother’s general metabolism (‘metabolism’ is the process in the animal’s body by which nutritive material (food) is broken down and then transformed into living matter).
The infection of the womb (uterus) is called metritis; and the infection of the breasts is called mastitis. The disturbance in the chemical processes within the lactating mother dog usually results in an upset in the calcium regulatory mechanism. This ailment is called milk fever (quite a misnomer, because the condition is not immediately associated with a fever). Today we’ll deal with womb infection which follows the delivery of her offspring. It is scientifically named acute metritis.
Acute metritis (infected uterus)
Acute metritis is an infection which spreads upwards through the birth canal during delivery or immediately afterwards. It affects the lining of the uterus. It is most likely to occur when there is a retention of part of the placenta (the special tissue which surrounds each