How to Help a Dog Give Birth

When it’s time to “go into labor,” their maternal instincts take over — you barely have to step in. However, if your dog is pregnant, you need to know what to expect during childbirth and how to provide support when needed. Certain purebred breeds may experience more problems during childbirth. For example, if you have a bulldog or bulldog, preparation is very important. As with any dog breed, you must talk to your veterinarian and take the pregnant mother dog for a health check.

Table of Contents

Prepare

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Take your dog to the doctor. If you expect your dog to become pregnant, you should bring it to your veterinarian for a check-up prior to breeding. Then, bring your dog in for another checkup around day 30 of pregnancy. ^{[1] X Source of Research} If your dog has an unplanned pregnancy, take her to the vet as soon as she finds out.

If you are planning to breed a dog, we recommend that you wait until the bitch is 24 months old or older. Only then, the dog is mature enough for the associated diseases to become apparent.
Certain breeds of dogs are prone to genetic diseases such as dental problems, dislocated kneecaps, hip dysplasia, spinal deformities, allergies, cardiovascular problems and/or medical conditions. other. You must consider these important health conditions before proceeding to breed your dog.

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Use caution in giving medications or vaccines to a pregnant dog. Unless directed by your veterinarian, you should not give your dog medications that are not safe for pregnancy. You also should not arbitrarily vaccinate your dog. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Your dog needs to be vaccinated before becoming pregnant so that the antibodies can be passed on to the puppy. Otherwise, do not vaccinate your dog during pregnancy as some vaccines may not be good for the developing embryo.
If you use flea control measures, make sure you use a product that is safe for pregnant dogs.
Make sure your dog is dewormed regularly. The mother dog that has not been dewormed can transmit roundworms, hookworms or parasites living in the heart/blood vessels to the puppies.

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Understanding the normal cycle of pregnancy. The average gestation period in dogs is between 58 and 68 days. Try to pinpoint the exact time of conception so you can predict when your dog will give birth.

On day 45 of pregnancy, your veterinarian can use x-rays to measure the number of puppies in the litter.
In addition, you may notice the mother dog’s nesting behavior and tendency to hide or hide; This is normal and to be expected.

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Talk to your veterinarian about nutrition. Most mother dogs that do not gain weight during pregnancy will need to be fed puppy food throughout the third to the second half of the pregnancy.

Dog food often contains more calories than adult dog food, this is the nutritional content that the mother dog needs to metabolize the embryo.
Do not give additional calcium to the mother dog unless directed by your veterinarian. Milk fever (eclampsia) is a common symptom in small dogs a few weeks after birth. This condition is more likely to occur if the mother dog consumes an excessive amount of calcium during pregnancy.

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Ask your vet to take an X-ray to see the puppy. The doctor will count the number of puppies in the litter when taking X-rays from the 45th day of pregnancy onwards.

If your dog is a German Shepherd or Labrador, a litter of approximately 10 puppies is normal.
If your dog is a small breed like a Chihuahua or a Shih Tzu, 3 or 4 puppies in a litter is considered a lot.
If the vet sees only one or two puppies, there could be a birth problem. Fewer puppies mean the dog will grow larger and may become too large to pass through the birth canal normally. In these cases, a cesarean section is the most appropriate option.
Although a cesarean section may be more expensive, it is still cheaper than an emergency cesarean. So be prepared in advance.

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Arrange the dog’s nest. About a week before your dog’s birth, you need to prepare a litter box in a quiet, private area where the dog can enter and give birth.

Help the mother dog feel comfortable by placing the warm box in a place away from other pets.
A baby bath box or tub lined with clean old towels or blankets would be great.

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Arrange a place to live for the puppies. As soon as you find out that your dog is pregnant, whether planned or unexpected, you still have to prepare a new family for the puppies that are about to be born.

If you can’t find a new home for all the puppies, be prepared to keep them until you find a home for them. Thousands of dogs have to huddle together to take refuge in the “orphanage” of dogs and cats because the owners carelessly breed their dogs without supporting the puppies to have new families. Don’t contribute to that situation.
Be prepared to live with the puppies for at least 8 weeks before letting them move to a new home. In certain areas such as California in the US, it is illegal to abandon a puppy younger than 8 weeks old.
To ensure a good future for your dog, you should conduct a selection process and ask questions about the concerns of the adopters. It is a good idea to receive a moderate amount for each dog. This is to make sure the families’ interest is serious and that they will commit to adopting the puppy.

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Buy ready-made puppy milk powder. Newborn puppies need to be fed every 2-4 hours. Have baby formula ready in case the puppy can’t suckle.

You can buy powdered dog formula at most pet stores.

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Isolate the mother dog for a period of three weeks before the expected birth date. To protect the mother dog and her pups from disease or disease (eg Herpes, which causes dysplasia in dogs), you should keep the mother dog separate from other dogs during the last three weeks of pregnancy. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Another very consideration is to keep the mother dog away from other dogs for the next three weeks postpartum.

Support when the dog is “in labor”

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Watch closely for signs that your dog is about to give birth. There are several signs that can help you predict an impending birth; Therefore, you need to take precautions so that you can be in a ready position when your dog is about to give birth.

Your dog’s nipples will become larger as the due date approaches due to the arrival of milk. This sign can appear a few days before birth or as soon as labor begins, so watch it closely.
The dog’s vulva will begin to expand a few days before birth.
Your dog’s temperature will also drop a few degrees around 24 hours before birth. Take the mother dog’s body temperature every morning during the last week or two of pregnancy to know her normal body temperature. To take a dog’s temperature, lubricate the rectal thermometer and insert the tip of the thermometer about 1 cm deep into the rectum. Let stand for three minutes to get accurate readings. The normal temperature of the mother dog will be between 38.3 and 39.2 degrees Celsius. If the dog’s body temperature drops a few degrees, this is a sign that the dog will give birth in the next 24 hours or less.
When the dog is about to give birth, the dog may pant, whine, walk around as if annoyed, or hide. Dogs may also refuse to eat and drink, but make sure you provide enough water for him.

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Wait for uterine contractions. You can easily tell when your dog is in labor: contractions will appear as ripples on the dog’s belly.

If you notice contractions and have a premonition that your dog is about to give birth, lead the dog into the litter area and monitor it from a distance. Many dogs will give birth at night for absolute quiet. You don’t have to intervene, but you should start paying attention to the timing of contractions and the birth of your puppy.

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Monitoring the birth process. As a reminder, you should observe from a moderate distance and do not engage unless necessary.

You should see her contractions become more frequent and/or more pronounced around the time of birth. Maybe the dog will get up, which is fine, don’t force him to lie down.

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Pay attention to each birth. When your dog starts to give birth, you need to closely observe each birth and watch out for signs if there is a problem.

Puppies may put their head or tail out first; Both positions are normal.
The mother dog will yawn and whine when the puppies are born, which is to be expected. But if the mother dog begins to exhibit excessive or unusual pain, call your veterinarian right away.
Usually, one pup will appear thirty minutes or so apart after about 10 to 30 minutes of intense contractions, (although even the time the mother gives birth to the puppies can be up to 4 hours apart). Call the vet if no dog shows up within 30-60 minutes of strong contractions. In addition, you should also contact your doctor if it has been more than four hours since the mother dog last gave birth to a puppy and you know there are still puppies that have not yet come out.

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Monitor each puppy that is born. While it’s not necessary to intervene, keep an eye on each puppy born and watch out for signs of problems.

When the mother dog gives birth, the puppies will lie in an amniotic sac; The mother dog will tear the water wrap, chew the umbilical cord, and then lick the puppy. It’s best to let the mother dog do her job without getting involved, as this is part of the mother-puppy bonding experience.
However, if the mother dog does not tear the amniotic sac within two to four minutes, you need to gently open the amniotic sac with clean hands. Clear the fluid from the puppy’s nose and mouth, then gently rub the dog vigorously to stimulate breathing.
Make sure the puppy’s temperature is warm, but again, don’t interfere unless you notice a problem. Neonatal mortality (such as stillbirth or puppies that live only a few hours or days) is a common phenomenon associated with most mammals that give birth, so be prepared for this possibility. If you see a newborn puppy that is not breathing, try to clear its mouth and stimulate by rubbing the viewer to see if the dog is breathing.

Postpartum care for dogs

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Continue to feed your dog a high-calorie food. Provide the mother dog with a high-calorie diet (e.g. puppy food) to help her stay healthy enough to take care of her pups. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

It is important to provide adequate nutrition for both mother and puppies. Thus, the mother dog can recover and help the puppies develop.

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Monitor the mother dog for several weeks after birth. Bitches are very susceptible to a number of diseases and postpartum complications, such as: ^{[5] X Research source}

Watch for signs of uterine inflammation (inflammation of the uterus), including fever, foul-smelling discharge, fatigue, loss of appetite, decreased milk production, and decreased interest in puppies.
Watch for signs of eclampsia, including temper tantrums, restlessness, decreased interest in puppies, and stiff, difficult walking. If left untreated, eclampsia can develop into muscle spasms, inability to stand, fever, and seizures.
Watch for signs of mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland), including red, hard, and painful mammary glands. The mother dog may try to prevent her from nursing, but you should urge her to breastfeed as this can help push the infection out without harming the puppy.

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Expect good things, but also prepare for bad situations. Check to make sure the mother dog is still taking good care of the puppies and that there are no signs of disease in the postpartum period. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If there is a problem, call your veterinarian and bring the dog in for an examination as needed.

Things you need

Latex examination gloves (available at drugstores)
Clean towels and old blankets
A hard box
Have your veterinarian’s phone number (including an emergency number) ready in speed dial
Powdered milk for puppies (in case the puppy cannot suckle)

Warning

Unneutered bitches are at risk of developing an infection of the uterus, known as pyelonephritis, following the heat cycle. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt treatment. Monitor the mother dog after each heat cycle to ensure that she does not show signs of illness such as vomiting, loss of appetite or unusual thirst. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Advice

Make sure your dog has enough space to give birth.
Make a note of your veterinarian’s number as well as the pet hospital’s emergency number and keep it with you in the days leading up to the birth.
If you have small children in the house, you need to keep them away from the mother dog and the puppies. The mother dog may be protective of her pup and become aggressive, which is normal for some dogs. Do not allow children near newborn puppies as they can injure fragile dogs. When the mother dog is about to give birth, try to bring her to a safe room and away from children and other pets to create a sense of security for her. Help if the mother dog starts to show anxiety or stress. When necessary, pat or soothe the mother dog with gentle words.
Most dogs give birth on their own without serious problems; Therefore, it is best to observe the process remotely and only intervene when necessary. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Steps