Get hold of your vet's out-of-hours phone number prior to your dog giving birth, as delivery often happens during the night. Let your vet know your dog's due date (if they don't know already), so they know when to be on stand-by.
Using our calculations, we can say that the average length of a dog's birth will be 6 to 8 hours. A healthy whelping may take less or more time, depending on a number of factors. We have already detailed the different stages of canine whelping, but the first stage can last up to 36 hours.
It's unusual to witness daytime births. Most monkeys and apes give birth at night, probably because it's adaptive for new mothers to have time to rest and recover from labor before having to keep up during group travel and, possibly, confront predators.
Dogs don't necessarily want to have baby showers or make their nursery, but they like to nest. They're going to want a quiet, dark place. Some dogs will even give birth in a dark room in a closet. Providing them with that space where they're comfortable and they feel safe will be really important.
So, is there a puppy season for dogs? Apparently not. Female dogs have bi-annual breeding cycles, and male dogs are willing to mate any time a female is in heat. This causes puppies to be born virtually at any time of the year.
Second Stage of Labor. Your dog will likely start panting heavily and appear highly alert at this stage. The contractions will be visible when she enters the second stage of labor. Usually, at this stage, a puppy should be delivered within fifteen minutes of active straining.
Many dogs will pant or shake. Some dogs even vomit. This is all considered normal behavior and typically lasts for six to twelve hours until the cervix dilates and she is ready to deliver her pups.
It is important to allow your dog to give birth to her puppies in a quiet area without being stressed by her surroundings. You should be observing your dog enough to know that she is safe and that her labour appears normal, without adding to her stress, as this may cause her labour to stop.
Your dog won't normally need help during her labour, and although it's important to monitor her, it's best not to examine her or attempt to help her give birth – interfering too much can cause problems after birth. If you're worried your dog is having problems while whelping, it's best to contact your vet.
The best way to determine if a dog still has puppies inside her is to x-ray her abdomen. Sometimes, it is possible to palpate and feel the presence of pups, but occasionally a pup may be within the birth canal and be missed using this method.
Less than 3 percent of babies were born each hour between midnight and 7 a.m. However, this number rose on Saturday and Sunday, when births were more likely to occur overnight.
If your labour starts at night, try to stay comfortable and relaxed. Sleep if you can. If your labour starts during the day, stay upright and gently active. This helps your baby move down into your pelvis and helps your cervix to dilate.
Keep puppies clean and dry.
After the pups are born, they're mostly going to be focused on eating and sleeping. Be sure to change out the bedding in the whelping area regularly, and give puppies a nice, cozy space to cuddle whenever they're feeling tired.
After the temperature drop, stage I labor begins, characterized by restlessness and anxiety. You may notice panting, pacing, refusal of food and maybe vomiting. Nesting behavior begins. This is the time to place her in the whelping box (hopefully she is already accustomed to the box).
Step 1: Grasp the puppy with a clean towel. Step 2: Applying steady traction, gently pull the puppy at a slight downward angle. Continue pulling gently and steadily until the pup is delivered. Step 3: If you are unable to remove the puppy, contact the veterinarian immediately.
During the first stage of labor, the cervix begins to dilate and uterine contractions begin. These contractions are painful and perplexing to a dog. She will probably appear quite uncomfortable and restless – pacing, shivering and panting. She most likely will not eat, and she may even vomit.
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.
In general, dogs and cats prefer to be in a small, quiet, dark room or closet that allows them privacy when they are ready to give birth. Mothers may prepare a nest prior to giving birth, using available paper, clothing, or other materials; this is a normal process.
Your Dog Should Not Go More Than 4 Hours Between Puppies
Normally we say that a dog that is having puppies should not go more than a few hours without passing the next puppy. If she goes more than 4 hours between puppies, then she has a problem and the last puppy may already be dead.
Uterine inertia occurs when the uterus is no longer able to contract and push the puppies through the vaginal canal. It can occur at any stage of labor and may be associated with uterine exhaustion.
Along with genital licking, your dog may also excessively lick her nipples in preparation for giving birth. Both behaviors are completely normal in the context of canine labor and are nothing to worry about.
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.
Many breeders encourage food intake by offering highly palatable products, such as ice cream, homemade mixtures (for example, mix one can of evaporated milk, one can of water, three egg yolks and one-quarter cup of Karo syrup; heat, then let cool), puppy-milk replacers or a growth-and-lactation commercial cat food.
Stage 1 of Canine Labor
Some dogs have a very noticeable opening stage, and with some it can go by with them mostly resting. During the first stage of labor, dogs may be very restless and unsettled and mum may pant, shiver, nest and dig – this is all perfectly normal and a part of preparing for the actual delivery.
It may be challenging to obtain an accurate count of the number of afterbirths since most dogs will eat them quickly. If the afterbirth is not passed, it usually disintegrates and passes out of the uterus within 24-48 hours. This usually happens when the dog defecates.