Following whelping (giving birth), dogs experience a natural process of uterine cleansing and healing that produces vaginal discharge. This discharge, medically termed lochia, is a necessary part of recovery as the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy state. While the sight of blood and fluid may initially cause concern, some bleeding is expected and signifies the body is successfully shedding tissue and completing the reproductive cycle. The characteristics of this discharge change significantly over time, making it important to know what the discharge should look like during each phase of recovery.
Understanding Normal Postpartum Discharge
The discharge immediately following the birth of the last puppy is called lochia and includes blood, fluids, and remnants of the uterine lining. The initial appearance can be dark green, blackish, or dark red. This dark color is often due to uteroverdin, a pigment released as the placentas separate from the uterine wall at the sites of fetal attachment.
Over the first 24 to 48 hours, the color typically transitions to a reddish-brown or brick-red hue as the shedding of the uterine lining continues. The consistency will generally be thin and watery, often appearing quite voluminous in the first few days. Normal lochia should not have a strong, foul smell, and the mother dog should otherwise appear healthy, attentive to her puppies, and maintain a good appetite.
The process of the uterus shrinking back to its original size is known as uterine involution. This involves the shedding of the tissue that connected the puppies to the mother. The discharge volume is typically heaviest during the first week, especially when the mother is active or nursing, but should gradually reduce over time.
Duration and Changes Over Time
The total duration of postpartum discharge in dogs has a wide expected range. After the heavy, dark-colored discharge of the first few days, the lochia should begin to lessen in quantity. During the first week to ten days, the discharge generally maintains a reddish-brown color before fading to lighter shades.
By the second and third weeks postpartum, the discharge volume should significantly decrease, and the color will continue to lighten. It typically transitions to a pinkish, light brown, or serosanguineous (yellowish-red) appearance. This change reflects that the healing process is progressing well.
The discharge may persist as a light, clear, or whitish mucus for several weeks. In most cases, lochia ceases entirely between four and six weeks after whelping. While some dogs may experience light discharge for up to eight weeks, the discharge should always be minimal and non-bloody by this point.
Identifying Warning Signs and Complications
While some bleeding is expected, certain signs indicate a serious complication that requires immediate veterinary intervention. A sudden increase in the volume of discharge after the first week, or the presence of excessive, bright red, frank hemorrhage, suggests abnormal bleeding.
One of the most serious complications is metritis, an infection of the uterus often caused by retained placental tissue or a retained fetus. The hallmark sign of metritis is a vaginal discharge with a foul, putrid, or malodorous smell, which may be red, brown, or purulent in nature. This condition is often accompanied by systemic signs of illness, such as a fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Another potential issue is Subinvolution of Placental Sites (SIPS), suspected if a bloody or serosanguineous discharge persists beyond the expected timeframe of six to eight weeks. With SIPS, the placental sites fail to heal properly, resulting in prolonged bleeding. Any discharge that continues past eight weeks, or any instance where the mother dog is shivering, neglecting her puppies, or showing signs of pain, warrants an urgent call to your veterinarian.