A green or dark discharge is seen coming from the bitch's vulva prior to whelping, or if a discharge is present 12 hours after giving birth.
Is my dog going into labour? The signs of imminent birth are restlessness, frequent need to urinate, panting and digging in her "nest". Usually there will be a dark green discharge from the vagina. This means the placenta has detached and the mother is ready to give birth.
She will begin to have vaginal discharge approximately one month into the pregnancy and also swelling of the teats. Depending on the species and size of the pregnant dog, the abdomen may be a good sign of pregnancy.
The first fetus should be delivered within 2 to 3 hours after the beginning of the start of hard labor. As long as the bitch's vaginal discharge is clear and she is not in hard labor, she should not be disturbed. Puppies can live in the uterus for up to 24 hours after labor starts.
It usually looks like a whitish fluid. Veterinarian Dan Rice, in the book The Complete Book of Dog Breeding, describes a dog's mucus plug as a clear, odorless discharge that can be stringy and resemble egg whites.
It is normal for the mother to have dark green discharge during labor. This is a pigment formed around each puppy while it in the uterus.
Notice the dried-up mucus plug. This plug can shed, or shed a little daily for up to a week before delivery; four to five days prior is very common. Dam's vulva at day 59—The day or two before whelping you will notice the area around the vulva swelling up and becoming two to three times more puffy.
The first stage is when the uterus begins to contract and cause the cervix to dilate. Stage one can last 6 to 12 hours in the dog. Signs that you may see in the female are restlessness, panting, pacing, or "nesting" type behavior.
This stage of labor typically lasts 6 to 12 hours. At the end of stage I, the cervix is completely dilated. If your dog has not started whelping within 24 hours after beginning stage I labor, veterinary assistance is recommended.
During early labor, this mucus plug releases from the cervix, so it is common to see pregnant dogs discharge during labor. This mucus is often white or clear, but may turn red with blood just before the first puppy comes.
You might notice an increase in vaginal discharge that's clear, pink or slightly bloody. This might happen several days before labor begins or at the start of labor. However, if you have vaginal bleeding that is as heavy as a typical menstrual period, contact your health care provider immediately.
Puppies are usually born every 30-60 minutes, with 10-15 minutes of hard straining. Expect some puppies to be born tail first, as this is not abnormal for dogs. It is normal for the mother to take a break during the whelping process, but it is important to know when to be concerned and call your vet.
When your dog is getting ready to give birth it is normal for her to refuse food. However, you should try to get her to keep drinking water. She will need the water so that she doesn't become dehydrated during the birthing process. Additionally, staying hydrated is crucial to her milk coming in right after birthing.
Preterm delivery in dogs is defined by a birth that occurs before the ideal 60 days of gestation. Generally, puppies born at 58 days of gestation, or later, have a high chance for survival.
Your dog's waters may break, which will be seen as clear fluid. In normal labour, your dog may show weak and infrequent straining for up to 2 hours (or at the most 4 hours) before giving birth to her first puppy.
When everything appears to be in place for a normal healthy birth, he may inject her with a dose of oxytocin. Dosages range from 2 to 20 units, which the vet can administer in 30-minute intervals. This drug will help to speed up and increase the strength of her contractions to facilitate the birthing process.
Vaginal discharge is usually thin and light yellow or white in color. Discharge from the mucus plug is thicker, more jelly-like and there is more of it. It can also be tinged with red, brown or pink blood.
During birth of a litter, many placentas are separating so there will be plenty of green discharge. Where this becomes important is on the very first puppy as when the first placenta separates, its' associated puppy will need oxygen very soon so a live puppy should appear within 30 minutes of seeing green discharge.
During labor it is normal to see the green discharge, as long as puppies are also coming out! A small amount of brown discharge during labor may be seen and is not a cause for concern if the delivery is going well.
The mother will continue to have a vaginal discharge for about three weeks. Initially it will be blackish-green but will become cloudy for a few days then clear with occasional flecks of blood. The amount of the discharge should steadily decrease over the three week period.
Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation.
The whelping mother will then go through occasional minor contractions for several hours before active labor with intense contractions. You will notice your dog panting rapidly, moving restlessly, whining and sleeping deeply during the first stage of labor.
How long after a bloody show will labor start? Every pregnancy is different, so it's difficult to say when labor will start after the bloody show happens. The bloody show means your cervix is dilating in preparation for labor. Labor can come within the next few hours, or it could still be days away.