a. ONSET OF LABOR: Within 6 to 24 hours of the onset of labor, the mother will become extremely nervous and restless (whining, crying, panting, shivering, wants in and out, refuses food, etc.). This is normal.
Giving birth can be a frightening, confusing and painful experience for both the dog and the owner. Knowing and understanding normal labor and delivery, as well as proper pregnancy care, can help make the process go more smoothly and help you know what is normal and when it is time to get the veterinarian involved.
You may see: restlessness, shivering, not eating, fast breathing, and maybe vomiting or diarrhea. These signs are related to the uterine contractions and hormonal changes occurring, but you should not see the mother straining at all. If this phase lasts longer than 24 hours, contact your vet immediately.
Pregnant dogs can be more lethargic than usual, but you will notice a drop in their energy levels close to the time they will get into labour.
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.
Delivery process can take anywhere between an hour to 24 hours. If labor lasts for four hours with no puppies or between puppies call your veterinarian. Traditionally, a pup is born within 45 to 60 minutes.
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.
Some breeders report their dogs' mucus plug being expelled up to a week before labor starts, with an average of about four to five days, but others report birth taking place within a few hours after they notice a mucus plug released all at once in a big clump, or the presence of a "blood show." The blood, in this case, ...
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.
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.
Many dogs will vomit during labor, and may also have diarrhea. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh drinking water to prevent her from becoming dehydrated during this crucial part of her pregnancy and delivery.
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.
Secondary uterine inertia occurs when the mother dog has strong contractions that decrease in strength or disappear. Both types are a form of dystocia, or difficult birth. Several factors can cause stalled labor and delivery problems, including your dog's genetics and environment.
A whelping box. An absorbent material for the whelping box, such as newspapers (but these may become sodden quickly and often stay wet and cold), puppy pads, incontinence pads or vetbeds. Clean towels or paper towels to help clean up during labour. Towels for drying and cleaning up the puppies.
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.
First Stage of Labor
Some dams will regurgitate their earlier meal and act lethargic, often sleeping more than usual. The whelping mother will then go through occasional minor contractions for several hours before active labor with intense contractions.
ONSET OF LABOR: Within 6 to 24 hours of the onset of labor, the mother will become extremely nervous and restless (whining, crying, panting, shivering, wants in and out, refuses food, etc.). This is normal.
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 a dog is feeling tense, his eyes may appear rounder than normal, or they may show a lot of white around the outside (sometimes known as a "whale eye".) Dilated pupils can also be a sign of fear or arousal—these can make the eyes look "glassy," indicating that a dog is feeling threatened, stressed or frightened.
Puppies' position.
If the puppy is sideways or bottom first, they become stuck. Developmental defects that result in enlargement of certain body parts can make birth difficult.
Some pet owners try to avoid these costs by using natural home remedies such as rubbing the mother's nipples which may help stimulate the production of hormones known to induce labor. Others believe walking the dog in short intervals can help along with massaging stomach muscles.
Stage 2 begins when the "water breaks".
The fetuses move through the cervix and birth canal to be born. You may see some of this water and later fetal membranes at the vulva. We would expect the first pup to be born within 4 hours of the time the "water breaks".
If the puppy doesn't come out within an hour, you need to see a vet asap. Seeing the sac or a puppy part (leg, head, tail, etc) and no puppy comes within an hour, that indicates either a stuck puppy or uterine inertia and is a possible emergency.
Most women will go into labor within 12 hours of their water breaking, but this can happen much sooner. Once labor begins, it can take between 10 to 24 hours (or more) to progress through the three stages of labor before your baby is born.