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From the time that your female dog mates, it will display changes in behavior and will often become more affectionate. But other dogs can become rather irritable and may sometimes act aggressively while they’re pregnant. Being sensitive to your canine companion’s behavioral changes is vital to ensuring it gets the best care possible during this challenging time.
Here, we share all you need to know about breeding and pregnancy in dogs so you can help and support it in every way you can before and after their puppies are born.
Why Does My Dog Hide?
When a female dog reaches its last week of pregnancy, it will often look for someplace safe to start whelping. It’s a good idea to get your pet accustomed and comfortable with the place where she will feel comfortable to care for her puppies before she starts whelping. Just keep in mind that some dogs will insist on giving birth close to you, which could mean giving birth over your bed during the late hours of the morning.
What Can I Do if My Pooch Whelps in My Room
Sometimes, the mother dog will prefer their owners to be with her the entire time she’s in labor, but others will prefer to give birth in seclusion. Keeping your dog around its chosen place will be less stressful for all those involved, so make sure to place lots of old newspaper or bedding throughout the area. If possible, have all carpeted areas covered using plastic sheets or more newspapers since fetal fluids tend to come out with a green color.
Unfortunately, stains from these can be hard or near impossible to clean up. Some pets will insist on spending time with their owners and puppies, so if your pet does this, let her stay near you and support her. Providing her with a nesting or whelping box along a quiet corner of your room helps calm an anxious mother whenever she needs to leave her puppies.
When Will My Dog Start Giving Birth?
Some female dogs will stop eating on the last day of their pregnancy, but this doesn’t always happen. Most people prefer to look for a drop in their dog’s rectal temperature which may drop under 100ºF since this takes place in the final 24 hours of labor. Your dog will then find a quiet spot in the house and begin digging or scratching to make its bed; these signs can last as long as 24 hours and signal the first stage of labor.
The second stage of labor is the delivery process, where your pup will start straining. If your pooch continues to strain for over 30 minutes without its water breaking or delivering puppies, be sure to call your veterinarian. Luckily, most dogs won’t experience complications with the delivery but you should monitor a first-time mother and check on them consistently until all the puppies are born and the mother can rest comfortably.
Your previous visit with the vet would have given you information on the number of puppies to expect through the use of an x-ray which is usually performed between the 6th and 7th week of pregnancy.
Preparing for Your Dog’s Labor
Make sure to have plenty of clean sheets, towels, and newspapers on hand when your dog is expecting — pick a place where your dog and her puppies can stay and provide them with a suitable whelping box. A large cardboard packing case without a cover should be enough for smaller dogs but you may want to look for bigger options if you have a larger dog. If you’re unsure of how to get your mama dog settled, make sure to ask your veterinary healthcare team for more advice.
Don’t forget to line the bottom of your dog’s whelping box with plenty of newspapers since there will be lots of fluids once your pup starts whelping. You should be able to remove dirty layers without too much bother to your mama dog and her newborn puppies.
How Long Does Birthing Last for Dogs?
Delivery times will vary by breed; dogs with slender skulls such as Collies, Shelties, and Dobermans might be able to deliver all their puppies in as little as 2 to 3 hours. However, brachycephalic breeds and dogs with big round skulls such as Boston Terriers, Pekingese, and Bulldogs often experience difficult deliveries. Sometimes, these dogs will only produce 1 or 2 puppies quickly before resting for some time and giving birth again.
Be sure to contact your vet for immediate veterinary attention if your whelping dog has been straining for a few hours but hasn’t delivered a puppy.
How are Puppies Usually Born?
Puppies are often delivered headfirst with their forelegs extended, which is known as anterior presentation. But when a pup is delivered with its hindlegs and tail coming out first, it is referred to as a posterior presentation. On the other hand, a breech presentation occurs when the bottom and tail come out first with the puppy’s hind legs extended forward.
This may not result in normal delivery and may need veterinary assistance for a cesarean section delivery for the puppy. During a normal delivery, some contractions should be enough to push the puppy out; this will take around 10 to 15 minutes. When the puppy is delivered, the mother dog will chew and lick the puppy roughly but this is considered normal behavior and will help the puppy start breathing.
As the mother dog licks and chews, she will tear the birth sac open to expose the nose and mouth so the puppies can start breathing. Sometimes the afterbirth or placenta comes out right after the pup is born, which is attached through the umbilical cord. Mothers will typically chew on these and can be over-enthusiastic, licking and chewing their puppies to the point they’re injured so make sure to watch them especially if this is your dog’s first litter.
What to Do if Afterbirth is Attached to the Puppy
This can happen with first-time mothers, so make sure that your pup’s nostrils and mouth are clear. Every puppy is born with an enclosed sac that makes up the afterbirth or placenta, which is typically opened during the birthing process and passes through the birth canal after the delivery of each puppy. You might not see the placenta since it’s normal for mother dogs to eat them because the hormones inside can assist with milk production.
If your puppy is still inside the fluid-filled sac that it was born with, make sure to break it as soon as possible then clean your pup’s face and blow gently on its face to encourage breathing. If the placenta is still attached to the puppy, hold its umbilical cord between your thumb and forefinger while the puppy rests in your hand then use a pair of scissors to cut the cord. Apply pressure on the stump using your fingers to stop the bleeding or you can wrap it up with a clean thread.
What Should I Do if My Dog Can’t Deliver the Puppy?
Whether your puppy comes hind first or head first, get a clean cloth or a piece of clean tissue and softly grab its shoulders, legs, or hips but never the head. Start pulling downwards at a 45-degree angle between the mother’s hind legs and spine. Pull gently and constantly and not only when the mama dog strains; applying gentle traction on the puppy should stimulate uterine contractions.
If the mother seems to be in pain or you’re unable to move the puppy, get veterinary help as quickly as possible.
How Can I Keep My Puppies Warm?
Inside their mother’s womb, the puppies would live in temperatures of 101.5°F (38.5°C); this is considered to be warm by our standards. However, puppies have no control over their body temperatures immediately after birth and will need to depend on warmth from the outside. At the same time, newborn pups don’t have the strength to crawl and get away from heat sources so they can get overheated quickly.
If you’re using a heat lamp, make sure you monitor their temperature using a thermometer and keep the temperature inside their whelping box between 85ºF to 90ºF.
Breeding and Pregnancy in Dogs
When your dog is ready to give birth, you must constantly keep an eye on them and look for signs of a watery discharge to let you know when it’s time to deliver puppies. After the puppies are born, extreme care is needed to ensure that the mom and puppies are safe. Make sure to call your veterinarian right away if you sense any complications.
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