How do you know if all puppies are delivered?

Puppy purchases are one of the most exciting experiences for many pet lovers. From the moment you begin researching the many different breeds and finding the perfect fit for your family, the anticipation of meeting your four-legged friend can be overwhelming. But how do you know that your puppy was delivered safely and responsibly? It is essential to understand how to assess the health and wellbeing of your puppy when it arrives, as well as the seller’s delivery practices. In this blog post, we will explore the key considerations when determining if all puppies are delivered safely and responsibly. We will look at the importance of obtaining a health certificate, the value of reputable breeders, and the policies surrounding online puppy delivery services. By the end of this post, you will be equipped with the knowledge and resources to ensure that all puppies are delivered safely and responsibly.

Warning signs for dog labour problems

Luckily, most dog labours are not as dramatic as ours. Although your dog should have no trouble giving birth on her own, complications can occasionally happen. Contact your vet if:

Mum fails to go into labour within 24 hours of her temperature dropping. The lowered dog labour temperature is usually a sign that the puppies are on their way, so if they don’t come, something might be wrong.

Despite strong contractions for 20-30 minutes, your bitch has failed to produce a puppy. Contact your vet, and be prepared to take any puppies already born with you if you go to the surgery.

No puppy is born within four hours of your bitch passing a green or red/brown vaginal discharge (after two hours, be prepared to call the vet).

More than two hours pass with your bitch resting or having only weak contractions between pups, and you know there are more inside.

You can see a puppy at the vulval entrance but although your bitch is straining, it fails to deliver.

Your dog has been in second stage labour for more than 12 hours (second stage is when puppies are being born).

Preparing your dog for the birth

Build a “nest” in the final two weeks of your dog’s pregnancy because mom will want a private space in your house where she can unwind and give birth to the puppies in peace.

A sizable cardboard box lined with puppy pads (in case of accidents) and filled with clean blankets, sheets, or towels makes the perfect nest for dogs giving birth. Make sure the box is spacious enough to accommodate both the mother and the litter, and give the mother some room if your dog requests it. Additionally, you must ensure that the box is tall enough to prevent any intrepid puppies from escaping!

Place the nest in a peaceful area at room temperature so the birds can stay cozy and unbothered. If the bedding or toys are clean, adding them to the nest will encourage your dog to use it and will help the expectant mother feel at home before giving birth.

Although your dog should give birth without incident, it’s a good idea to have assistance on hand to keep them calm and in case anything goes wrong.

Prior to your dog giving birth, find out the after-hours phone number for your veterinarian because deliveries frequently take place at night. If your veterinarian doesn’t already know, let them know so they can prepare to be on standby. Make sure you have access to transportation because you might need to take the puppies to the veterinarian if mum has difficulties giving birth.

Have several clean, dry towels and nail scissors close by during the birth in case mum needs assistance. You might also require an additional basket if the litter is sizable to ensure there is enough room for the newborn puppies.

If you do take the puppies away from their mother, you’ll have to take care of keeping them warm. Instead of using a hot water bottle because of their potentially piercing teeth and claws, we advise using a microwave-safe beanie bag.

A few days after your dog has given birth

She has a fever, is unwell with a loss of appetite, is listless or lacks interest in the puppies. Any of these could indicate an infection within her uterus.

Her mammary glands are red, firm and painful, or discharge from her nipples is smelly, brown or bloody.

Your bitch is unwell in any other way, not eating, depressed, has diarrhoea or is losing weight.

She has a foul-smelling or very bloody vaginal discharge (blackish/reddish discharge is normal for the first few weeks after birth).

FAQ

How do you know if there is still a puppy inside?

However, the right time to count puppies is when an x-ray is taken during the last week of the mother’s pregnancy, when all of the puppies’ bones have developed and will be visible on the x-ray. The best way to determine how many puppies to expect is to count all of the tiny skeletons.

How can you tell how many puppies you have left?

Another recommendation is to have your dog get a checkup from a vet near the end of the pregnancy. How many puppies you can expect can be determined by a thorough physical examination, ultrasound, or X-rays. By doing so, you will be aware when she has finished giving birth rather than just being in a resting stage between pups.

How do I know if my dog has more puppies to deliver?

Although there is a lot of variation, typically, there shouldn’t be more than 1-2 hours between puppies. An entire litter of puppies can take between one and twenty-four hours to deliver.