How to help your dog give birth
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Things you can do to assist and signs of complications
Sixty three days have passed since your dog has been bred and you think the big day has come. Your dam has reported the typical rectal temperature drop of 99.0 or lower. She has also lost her appetite, appears restless and has started the nesting behavior; basically looking for a good spot to give birth. You kindly remind her of the nice whelping box you have so carefully created for her comfort and the comfort of her babies.
Most births luckily are uneventful. Nature takes its course and your dam and puppies will likely be just fine. Many times no human intervention is necessary, however, staying besides your dam will be helpful. By staying near by you will be available there to assist her should she need help and you will be able to recognize promptly signs of something going wrong. Remember also to keep your vet's number handy should you need to ask any questions or alert your vet that you are bringing your dog in as an emergency.
SIGNS OF A NORMAL DELIVERY
The dam will have involuntary contractions that may last from 6 to 12 hours. These contractions may cause your dog to appear restless but this is a normal process. Later the contractions will be more forceful, your dog will appear anxious and may even pant and vomit. She may also repeatedly lick her vulva. But nothing worrisome, this is still considered normal.
The dam may then start straining or may lay down pushing. Shortly, you may see a bag showing out from her vagina. This is the water bag, in some cases this bag ruptures before the puppy is actually born. When this happens, a typical straw colored fluid will be secreted.
After the water bag breaks the puppy should follow. Most puppies are born in a diving position. Dark green fluid may be passed after the puppy exits the birth canal.
Mommy at this point will take care of cleaning up, she will remove the fetal membranes and the secretions from the puppy's nose and mouth allowing the pup to breath freely.
Finally, the umbilical cord is bitten off.
The dam may now expel the placenta. This takes place after each puppy is born. Some dams may ingest the placenta. This is an old instinct to remove any evidence of birth that may attract predators.
The next puppy should appear usually from 15 minutes to 2 hours later. You should see first signs of straining resume within 5-30 minutes after the precedent puppy.
Once done, the dam may exhibit a bloody or dark green discharge for the first few days following birth.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ASSIST:
-You can disinfect the umbilical cord with iodine, this will prevent infection. Should the umbilical cord be still bleeding you may want to clamp it or tie it with thread to stop the bleeding.
-You can help remove the amniotic sac from around a puppy should your dam be still busy with another pup. Simply tear the sac open and remove. Do this within 30 seconds after birth.
This will allow the puppy to breath.
-You may help remove the secretions from the nose and mouth with a cotton swab or with a special suction device or you may turn the puppy gently upside down supporting his head and allowing the secretions to drop out with gravity.
-You can rub the pup shortly after birth with a soft towel after the secretions are cleaned off. This mimics the mom's licking.
-You may want to remove some of the placentas if your dam is ingesting too many. In excess they may cause diarrhea.
-You may want to count the placentas after the birthing process is done. There should be one per pup. Should you miss and you know the dam has not eaten it you will need your vet to give an oxytocin injection to help her expel it.
-You may want to place the pups while the dam gives birth in a nice warm box, so they will stay warm and the dam avoids accidentally laying on them as she continues to give birth.
-You may place the pups near the nipples to start feeding during the interval between births.
- You may lubricate the birth canal with K-Y jelly should she seem like having difficulty delivering a puppy. The pup may be stuck in the birth canal.
-You may help deliver the puppy by gently gripping the puppy's skin behind his neck with a cloth. You may also rotate the pup one way and then the other to help the puppy be expelled.
SIGNS OF AN ABNORMAL DELIVERY
There are various signs that may indicate trouble. A physical blockage takes place when a puppy is too large or it is positioned incorrectly, such as rump first. A mom may also have a narrow birth canal, a tumor or a fractured pelvis that makes delivery difficult.
Straining actively for about 30-60 minutes without a puppy may indicate this sort of problem.
A veterinary may be needed to correct the position or perform a C section.
WHEN TO CALL THE VET
-Strain fr 30-60 minutes without producing a puppy suggesting an obstruction
- Refrain from producing puppies within an hour, yet you know she has more inside suggesting uterine inertia
-Expel a purulent or bloody vaginal discharge suggesting a hemorrhage or uterine rupture
-Expel a dark green fluid BEFORE the first puppy is born suggesting premature placental separation
-Exhibit muscle weakness, tremors, spasms, muscle rigidity or seizures suggesting eclampsia
-Exhibit signs of shock, pale gums, severe abdominal pain, drop in temperature suggesting uterine torsion
Most births go pretty smoothly. Many times an owner concerned about their dog having puppies for the the first time, will wake up in the morning only to find mommy with her new born puppies in the whelping box doing just fine.
Usually it is best not to intervene, so to allow the puppies and mom to bond together. However, in cases where mom appears to be struggling, a little help will not hurt.
Being prepared and knowing what suggests trouble, is almost like going half way through the process, the rest then is left to your dam and the miracle of birth provided by nature..
A shiba Inu giving birth to healthy puppies!
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Comments
Thanks kim so worriedim breeding my chi-weiner with a male chiwhuahua shes not pregent yet but i was just concerned of what would heppenso thanks so much for the info
you are welcome, best wishes!
i breed my staffiture-bull terrier in 2008,your info and vid was clear and very helpful and i can happiley say she had 5 big healthey boys.
Happy to hear that, congrats and best wishes to the new mom!
I think its very important to be present, especially with first-timers and small breeds. Have a hot water bottle, clean towels, small scissors and dental floss handy. A baby syringe is also a good call.
Even as I write, my pug, Melé, is whelping her second litter. She has taken 5 hours between the first and second pup, but was up for me "walking her around the house" in order to induce labor a bit more. Although she took the membranes off the first one by herself, she didn´t with the second: tearing open the sack, putting the puppy upside down so the secretions drained and rubbing vigorously with a towel to dry until the puppy cried worked perfectly. I lost the first one in the last litter because I didn´t get downstairs in time and swore "never again".
Again, with pugs, I find it necessary to help the puppy get on the nipple initially... All bitches and pups should be examined within 24 hours by a vet.
Good luck to everyone!
Very helpful tips, thank you!
Thank you very much this has helped me.. my boxer is getting ready for birth and this helped alot!
Very helpful thank you so much ......
I really enjoy your information. I sadly lost my female dacshund due to her becoming septic ( thats what the vet thought)and all three of her pups. I have since then gotten a female pom-chi who bred with my chihuahua. She is only a week into her pregnancy and I am scared. I called and set up for an abort but after reading this I think I might go ahead and allow her to have pups just this one time.
Please make sure you have homes for them, there are already too many over filled shelters! I generally am against breeding dogs unless done from reputable breeders. You can read more about this below:http://hubpages.com/hub/Things-First-Time-dog-Bree
Best wishes!
Another great informative article - I've seen lots of animals giving birth, but this really added some good facts! Thanks so much - now I'll know if my little Annie needs extra help in a month or so when she has her babies.
Well, the big day draws near! Annie is now dripping colostrum since this morning - I am not absolutely sure, but I am guessing this means puppies coming within the next 48 hours? I am ready! :) I came back to re-read this so I could make sure I would remember any of the trouble signs. Thanks very much for this article!
Hi tnx for the vid. Im so scared, i got a pug crossed with a miniature dobberman and she is about to give birth any day now, the thing that worries me is that i see no milk yet.. she has the stuff comming out the vagina and started pushing last nite, she doesnt have much of an appetite either and she is extremely hot, her water didnt brake as of yet... im scared
i have a question: as u know my dog is due any day now but doesnt have milk ... what should i do? i know i should hand feed them with the dog/puppy replacement milk but is there anything i can do to for her to produce milk herself?
Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to allow her to produce milk as this is a hormonal process. However, the good news is that not all dogs produce milk prior to birth. Some of them will only start producing milk right after giving birth. So I wold keep the milk replacement handy just in case, and use a wait and see approach.
Thanks! i will be sure to remember that. i guess i can get the milk replacement at a vet?
Milk replacement can be found at vet offices or large retail pet stores. Ebsilac is a popular one. I hope though that they will be able to get milk the natural way as colostrum is fundamental for a good headstart in life. You can read about the importance of colostrum here;
Thank u,i read the attached link and found it very interesting... I will go have a look at the vet or retail pet stores to get some of that milk replacement just in case my dog doesnt have milk after giving birth.... im just scared she gives birth before i have a chance to get the milk... i mean i cant give the pups normal cow milk as that will make them sick or even die right? and i propbably have to get a few baby bottles just in case right?
lol sorry i wanted to ask, is there a special type of bottle to get the pups or will a normal baby bottle be fine?
I found this on some website: ''Cow's milk is good, it's complete, it contains the same things as dog milk. It's not quite as good as dog's milk, however, because it's too dilute. Cow's milk is 1/2 as concentrated as dog milk. So, all we have to do is go to the store and buy evaporated milk. Nothing could be simpler; comes in a can, easy to store and have on hand, useful for other purposes. We use the evaporated cow's milk, in the slow flow nipple (no modifications to the nipple, we want it to go in slowly, and to require some exercise from the puppy to make it work). We add a dollop of Karo syrup for energy and palatability, warm slightly, and that's it; it's perfect.''
???????
Im proud to announce that i have an additional 8 members added to the family. My dog gave birth last nite, she had 3 pups within 20 min, the the rest just came after that. Im extremely tired as i was awake the whole night with the new puppies crying. :)
Sorry I got to this late. I was unable to check on the comments lately. Congratulations! I hope there was no need for the milk replacement. Wow 8 are a handful! They are in great hands! Best of wishes!
Oh here is a link about milk replacement just in case:
hi! thank u. im so happy that everything went well with the birth and these 8 are a handful. She got alot of milk now but 2 of the teet's are not ''working'' . I bought the milko-pup replacement at the vet yesterday just in case ... but they seem to be very happy. All of them looks exactly like pugs with the flat faces, there is 4 girls and 4 boys.
Wow! Some amazing footage you captured - thanks for sharing!
My pomeranian is about to have her first litter in a couple weeks. We have a vet appointment tomorrow just to make sure everything is okay. My biggest concern is that My husband and I both work during the day. I'm concerned that she may give birth while we are gone and may run into problems. Would it be wise to have her boarded or do you think she maybe okay at home?
I'm probably over reacting I have just heard horror stories about small breeds having issues with their first litter's. Is there any truth to that?
Any advise would be much appreciated! Thank you.
that was cute thanks
hi shannon, i have a pug crossed with a miniature dobberman which is a small breed as both a pug and miniature dobbermans are small breeds. My dog had 8 puppies, yes 8 and all of them is alive and healthy. they are 2 weeks old now. I was scared at first to as i thought she might have problems giving birth but everything went extremely well.
Some dogs may encounter problems at birth but i think the vet would be able to tell u the positions of the pups and whether or not it would be advisable to have a c-sec done if the dog has some kind of problem or anything like that.
I hope that everything goes well with her and the pups when the time comes.
Just about to stud our 5yr old chow chow and a bit nervous about it all, just one thing i noticed from above,,, was under the impression that cows milk was a big no no?
greg
My chihuahua Bella is having one litter, she is three years old she will be four in february, she is healthy and seems fine right now, their are four little puppies on Xray, the father is 5 pounds she is 8 pounds. we are not selling but giving them to very special people, the parents were special and we really wanted one litter from them and now we will fix them so they cannot have more after this but I am feeling so guilty. I have rescued animals my whole life and always spay and neuter and did this for my daughters and now i am freaking out because I am reading the mom could loose her life and i am so scared and feel so sad and guilty. I hope she will have a healthy birth, she is panting and she is due and her temperature is 97 degrees. We have all of the props suggested, rags , hot water and scissors and suction plug. She is in a big box with dry towels nesting like crazy right now and I am terrified please give some advice that is helpful.
Amy, while there are risks, the good news is that most births are uneventful. Worrying too much will only make your dog feel your apprehension and will get stressed. Something you do not want her to be on this very important day. Being anxious will not do any good.
It sounds like from your description that she is nearing birth, her temperature drop is typical. Watch some youtube videos of dog births so to know what to expect and keep your vet's number handy just in case. Very likely if trouble arises you will have some time to act if you know warning signs of trouble. Try to relax, but stay nearby in case of trouble.
Sending you virtual best wishes your way!
my mini pincher is pregnant but still no milk its her 60 days now and 100.04f..is she going to give birth now??
temperature is 100.04 degrees..is she going to give birth now??
Milk at times, will not be there until the dog has whelped, it is always a good idea to keep on hand some KMR, milk replacement just in case there is a shortage. Typically when the temperature drops under 100, more typically,below 99 degrees, the dog will give birth within 24 hours. However, just as in humans, each pregnancy may be different, so keep a watchful eye on her if she is nearing 60-65 days of pregnancy. Best wishes!
you shouldn't allow dogs to give birth on the couch, they can fall through the cushions and suffocate, no one else allow your dogs to give birth on the couch, it can be very dangerous, no matter how much your dog likes the couch!!!
thanks that really helps a lot because we don't know what to do with our new adoption that is pregnant. she is a pure breed beagle and we just got her like 2 days ago and we know she is pregnant but we don't know when is she going to give birth so it is really thankful of u sharing those video because i realy don't know what top do!
Hi we have a dog who is going to give birth anytime now and she started to leak milk everywere yesterday, all down her legs and through her bed and then today she has a clear vaginal discharge, I was just wondering what you could suggest as a time frame for birth to happen
I think the best way is to take her temperature, a rectal temperature drop of 99.0 or lower may often mean birth within 24 hours However, if what you see is a fluid resembling the white of eggs this is a sign of impending pregnancy because this is the mucus plug that used to fill the cervix. So puppies should follow very shortly, good luck!
My pug is due too have pups in 11 days she is very restless and is not eating much she also has greenish brown fluid coming out not to sure what it means but its got me very nervous I have never had this happen before
I have my daughters pom she is about 2yrs old and is going to have her second liter, however the first one was by c secion, I really feel like because she weights only 3 and 1/2 pds the vet just won'ted to do this.. the male is about 2pds. she is not as big this time and i asked the vet if she could have them granted he has not looked at her and he said it's not uncommon for dogs to have them after a c section.. will i be okay very nervious
Hi I have a 4.5 pound chihuahua x maltese and she is due to whelp in 4weeks. I have done some research and am taking the week off work that she is due so I can be there for her. The father is a chi x but he is very fine boned and quite skinny. This pregnancy was a mistake as she is only 10 months and I am totally freaking out. I have taken her to the vet to get checked and they say she is having two pups. Do you think that because she is young she may need help? I want to be there for her and I'm trying my best to find all the information I can but you seem like you know your stuff and I would really like some advise. Thanks heaps - sorry about going on, just want the best for my baby
Each pregnancy in dogs as in people can be quite different. The disadvantage of having a young dog have puppies is that sometimes they do not have sufficient maternal instinct as a more mature dog. But this varies from dog to dog. I would keep a close eye on her, and perhaps keep some milk replacement on hand in case she does not feel like nursing. The good thing is that you will be around just in case. Best of wishes!
Emi says:
13 months ago
thank you that really helped me. very clear