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. Dogs in labor for 3 hours without delivery of the first pup should be examined for evidence of complications.
If your pet insists on being near you with her puppies, allow her. A whelping or nesting box in a quiet corner of the living room is preferable to an anxious mother constantly leaving her puppies. Some dogs like the owner to be with them the whole time they are in labor.
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.
She May Want You Around Less
However, it's also possible that your dog may not want to be around anyone once she goes into labor. This completely depends on your dog's preference. Some dogs like to go to a secluded area with no one around when they give birth. Some dogs feel safer this way.
In the first stage of labour the body is getting ready to start passing out puppies. Your dog's uterus will be causing some discomfort by contracting although you won't be able to see it. The first stage usually lasts for 6-12 hours.
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.
You will not have to train your dog to sense when you are going into labor. Your dog will be able to sense this based on their biological instincts. Think of their noses as a second brain. They use their nose to sense changes in smell, which then alert them to react.
Steady strong contractions have continued for over 1 hour without producing a pup. Prolonged resting phase continues over 4 hours when there are more pups to be delivered. There is a foul smelling vaginal discharge. Mother-to-be has excessive vomiting or is extremely lethargic.
Shivering
Shivering can be a sign your dog is in pain and the labour has started. This is normal and you should do your best to comfort the pet during this time.
It's a quiet, dark, and comfortable spot—preferably one that the dog is comfortable with because they don't want to have puppies in the middle of your living room floor. You might want them to because, "Oh, look how neat. There's one, there's two." She doesn't want to be around all that.
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.
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.
The whelping box should have a consistent temperature around 85 degrees, as puppies are not able to generate their own body heat until they are 2 ½ weeks of age. “Excessively high temperatures and high humidity can cause respiratory difficulties and dehydration in puppies.
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.
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.
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.
There can be an appearance of water breaking at the beginning of whelping for two reason: If a sac breaks before the puppy is born, the fluid will come out and that is the dam's water breaking. The dam may have a gush of lubricating fluid before the first puppy appears or the sac may break for the first puppy appears.
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.
Cut the Umbilical Cord
If the momma pup doesn't chew through each umbilical cord on her own, you will have to cut the cord. If you do, be sure to use sterilized scissors, cut about an inch from the pup's belly, and tie the cord off with the thread or dental floss 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the puppy's body.
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.
If the mother is still trying to care for any dead pups after a few days, be sure to remove them even if it causes the mother distress. Parasites from the decaying carcasses can be passed on to the mother and the remaining pups. If the mother or surviving pups seem ill in any way, remove the dead puppies immediately.
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.
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. Puppies are born in a sac.
Not all have the instinct to nose the puppies to the center of the whelping box for safety. Smothering, crushing, and laying down on the puppies can be prevented by installing railings that help prevent the dog from accidentally lying on a puppy that may have slipped behind her.