How long after a female dog gives birth is it safe to bathe her?

Owners should wait at least 2 to 5 days after the birth of the last puppy before giving the mother dog a bath, according to The Daily Puppy. Puppies bond with the mother's scent and bathing her too soon could wash it away and confuse the puppies.

Dogs that have just given birth do need to be cleaned. Bacteria from the afterbirth can cause illness in the puppies if it is not cleaned off the mother. The Nest recommends taking the mother outside to use the bathroom and wiping her down with a warm, damp cloth to get rid of the afterbirth and discharge.