start to pant heavily. A drop in rectal temperature usually precedes delivery by about 8-to-24 hours from a normal temperature (100-to-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit) to 99 degrees or even lower. Many bitches ready to whelp may not eat or eat very little. Abdominal contractions may begin slowly and gain strength and frequency – sometimes they’re strongest for the first delivery accompanied by straining and moaning. You may see the water sac come out when there’s a puppy in the birth canal, and within one hour the first puppy should be delivered. Each puppy is born enclosed in its placental membrane and in each case, the mother licks the puppy vigorously and tears this membrane off, sometimes eating it. If she does not remove it, you will have to do it, as puppies cannot survive for more than a few minutes before their supply of oxygen runs out. You may need to rub the puppy with a clean towel until you hear him cry. The bitch should also sever the umbilical cord as she cleans her pups. If she does not, it is up to you to snip the cord and tie it off about one inch from the belly with some unwaxed dental floss. You should wipe the abdomen of all of the puppies with iodine to prevent infection. Some dogs deliver their puppies one right after another, but others may deliver a few puppies, and then rest before delivering more. If there’s a break of more than a two hours, you’ll want to call your veterinarian. You must also keep track of the number of placentas. A retained placenta can cause problems for the mother. Generally, the entire duration in hours of a normal whelping is about equal to the number of puppies in utero. So, a litter of 6 should normally take about 6 hours total. Don’t forget to offer the mother water to drink and to take her outside to relieve herself if she is in the middle of having a large litter. She’ll often need to urinate. Bring along extra towels and don’t leave her unsupervised as sometimes they can
pass a puppy while they are outside! During this time, the puppies should be kept warm in their whelping box with a light towel over them to prevent them from becoming chilled. All of the puppies should be placed along the mother’s belly, and you should watch to be sure she lets them all nurse within a few hours. Keep an eye on the pups to make sure they are all breathing normally and nursing.
wrong. If you experience any of these signs, call your veterinarian:
• Your dog’s rectal temperature dropped more than 24 hours ago and labor isn’t starting. • The mother is exhibiting symptoms of severe discomfort, or if she doesn’t deliver the first puppy 2 hours after contractions begin especially if she has passed green discharge. • More than 2 hours pass in between the delivery of puppies, or your dog experiences strong contractions for an hour without a birth or if the mother seems exhausted. • Trembling, collapsing, or shivering are warning signs of serious complications that could put both the bitch and the puppies at risk. • It’s normal for dogs to deliver a dark green or bloody fluid after the first puppy, but if this happens before the first puppy, call the vet. • Your dog shows no signs of whelping 64 days after her last mating. • All of the placentas aren’t delivered. • Puppies aren’t nursing. Pregnancy can be a stressful time for dogs and owners, but it doesn’t have to be. The more you know about dog pregnancy ahead of time, the better prepared you will be to care for your dog. For more information about dog pregnancy, consult your veterinarian. And remember, your responsibilities have only just begun. Raising newborn puppies – ensuring they are healthy, well socialized, and placed in loving forever homes – is a big, important job. Article gathered from https://www. akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/ dog-pregnancy-care-prep/
Whelping Supply Checklist: • Lots of newspaper to line the whelping box during delivery for easy cleanup and garbage bags • Non-skid bath mats for bedding after whelping is done • Dry, clean towels to clean the puppies • Paper towels to help with clean up • Thermometer to check your dog’s temperature before whelping • Clean, sterilized scissors to cut the umbilical cords • Unwaxed dental floss to tie off the umbilical cords • Iodine to clean the puppies’ abdomens after the cord is cut and dab on the end of the cut umbilical cord • Heat lamp set high above the box on one corner only to allow the puppies to crawl to a cooler spot in a box or hot water bottle to keep the puppies warm (be careful it isn’t too hot). • Bulb syringe to clean puppies’ nose and mouth
• A baby scale in ounces • Honey or light corn syrup
• Veterinarian’s phone number and the number of a nearby emergency clinic
Possible Dog Labor Complications Sometimes during delivery, things go
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 32
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