Dr Caroline Romeo has been with AREC since 2014. Her interests lie in diagnostic imaging, and she has completed extensive coursework in both radiology and ultrasound. We love her gentle and thorough approach to animal care. She outlines what to look out for when a dog is giving birth below.
Despite the fact that giving birth is a natural process, it is common for dogs to experience labor issues. Knowing what is regarded as a typical dog birthing process and some guidelines for when veterinary assistance may be necessary are useful for dog owners. Of course, these are only suggestions; if you have any worries about your dog during her labor, contact a veterinarian. The best course of action for both the mother dog and the puppies is to seek veterinary help as soon as possible if your dog is having difficulties giving birth.
What does a typical dog labor look like? The body is preparing to begin delivering puppies during the first stage of labor. Although you can’t see it, your dog’s uterus will be contracting and causing some discomfort. The first stage usually lasts for 6-12 hours. Your dog may appear agitated, pant, shiver, pace, nest, or want to go somewhere quiet. In the initial stage, some dogs don’t exhibit any behavioral changes. Puppy birth is the exciting part of the second stage of labor, which typically lasts 3 to 12 hours. In this stage abdominal contractions can be seen. If your dog’s waters break, clear fluid will be visible. Before giving birth to her first puppy, your dog may display weak and infrequent straining for up to 2 hours (or at most 4 hours). Typically, the mother will tear the membrane covering the puppy while it is still inside, lick it all over, and chew through the umbilical cord. To allow the puppy to breathe, the mother may occasionally need assistance. The subsequent puppies are typically delivered every 30 to 60 minutes, but it is normal to wait up to 3 hours between deliveries. Once the first puppy has been delivered, a green-black discharge is typical. The third stage of labour involves passing of the placentas. This frequently happens during the second stage, and each puppy’s placenta typically dies within 15 minutes of delivery. It’s crucial to let your dog give birth to her puppies in a calm setting free from environmental stress. Without increasing her stress, which could cause her labor to end, you should be keeping an eye on your dog to ensure that she is safe and that her labor appears to be normal.
My dog is in labour. I think she might be having problems. Does she need to see a vet?.
There are numerous causes for why issues can arise during childbirth. These include puppies that are too large to pass out of the mother’s pelvis and uteruses that are not contracting sufficiently to allow for the delivery of the puppies. After the first few puppies are delivered, issues could arise, and more puppies would still need to be delivered. Consult a veterinarian as soon as you can if your dog is having labor issues or if you are unsure of how things are developing normally.
Depending on why your dog is unable to deliver all of her puppies naturally, different causes of birth problems have different ideal treatments. The patient’s physical examination, blood tests, ultrasounds, and x-rays can all be used to determine the best course of action for each patient. In some cases, giving your dog medications to speed up labor may be sufficient to allow her to continue giving birth to puppies. In order for labor to proceed normally, it is occasionally possible to remove a puppy that is stuck in the birth canal. In other instances, attempting medical treatment puts both the mother and the puppies at risk, necessitating a Caesarean Section operation. In some cases, it may be safe to wait until medical intervention is ineffective before performing a Caesarian procedure to see if medical intervention is sufficient to allow labor to continue normally. Bring any recently born puppies with you if you need to take your dog to the vet, and make sure they are kept very warm since they are unable to regulate their own body heat as newborns.
Yes, in order to get all the information you need on how to care for your dog during and after pregnancy, it is crucial to consult with your regular veterinarian as soon as you learn that your dog is pregnant. There is a lot you can do to support your dog’s healthy pregnancy and labor with the right advice.
The best thing you can do to maintain the health and happiness of both mum and pups is to be prepared, understand what is normal and what is abnormal, and seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect your dog may be having issues.
Second Stage of Dog Labor: Stronger Contractions and Birth
Stronger, more regular uterine contractions start the second stage of labor, which eventually results in the birth of a puppy. Puppies typically arrive every 30 to 60 minutes, after a grueling 10-15 minute labor. Due to the fact that this is not unusual for dogs, expect some puppies to be born tail first.
Taking a break during the whelping process is normal for the mother, but it’s important to know when to be concerned and call your veterinarian.
Signs for concern include:
Failure of delivery of all puppies in a timely fashion
Delivery should take place within an hour of visible abdominal efforts during active parturition or 4-6 hours after intermittent parturition. Call your vet for advice if there is:
Concerns for the remaining puppies in the litter that have not yet been born must be expressed if stillborn puppies are delivered. Slow heart rates in the developing puppies, which your veterinarian can detect, may also be a sign of distress.
If the mother is sick before giving birth, the puppies are also in danger. If they can be delivered and cared for outside the womb when they are almost full term, they may have a better chance of surviving. When a pregnant bitch experiences green or excessive vulval discharge and/or bleeding, she needs to see a veterinarian right away. Dystocia can be brought on by issues with the mother, the puppy’s size or position, or both. [/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Causes and treatment of dystocia” tab_id=”1534229647657-a6561f3e-7806″][vc_column_text]
Poor uterine muscle contraction, abnormalities related to fetal or maternal fluids, or uterine twisting or rupture are some of these. Sometimes the uterine muscles fail to properly contract, necessitating a Caesarean section to deliver the puppies.
In other instances, labor may progress normally but be prolonged, exhausting the uterus’ muscles before all the puppies are born. Although intravenous glucose and medication solutions may aid in triggering uterine contractions, a Caesarean section may still be required.
The birth canal may become restricted due to pelvic injury from the past, such as healed fractures. Some chums have unusually small vulvar openings or birth canal anomalies, which may necessitate a partial episiotomy (surgical incision) in order to deliver puppies vaginally.
includes puppies that are too big or have unusual posture, positioning, or presentation. Puppy oversize is a common cause of dystocia and can occur with prolonged pregnancy in abnormally small litters.
The foetal backbone should be lying along the top of the womb in the normal position of a puppy before delivery. They may experience a mild dystocia if they are lying backwards. Puppies can typically be delivered anteriorly (head first) or posteriorly (back feet first) depending on the breed. Only a transverse (sideways) presentation, which is uncommon, is linked to dystocia. Deformed puppies may also become stuck in the birth canal.
Due to the bitch’s tiny birth canal, it is difficult to reposition a puppy if it is not in the proper position with the use of forceps or traction. The majority of the time, a Caesarean section is required when a puppy gets stuck in the birth canal.
How long can a dog go in between having puppies?
Up to 48 hours is within the normal range. Nevertheless, there are tales of puppies being born at even greater distances. This frequently happens because the owner is blissfully unaware that not all of the puppies have been born by the mother. The other puppies are delivered safely, and nature is allowed to take its course.
If the mother doesn’t deliver all the puppies, metritis is a potential risk. A retained puppy or fetal membrane may infect the uterus and lead to pregnancy complications.
A red, foul discharge will come from the mother’s vulva. She will be depressed, fatigued, and have little appetite. If not treated, metritis can be fatal and requires veterinary care.
You should worry if the mother is in distress. She may have a problem if she isn’t taking care of the puppies that have already been born or if she is in a lot of pain.
You must watch her closely if she stops having contractions but continues to be anorexic. She could simply be busy caring for her puppies. However, if it continues, she may need care. You must contact the veterinarian if she displays extreme fatigue or a lack of interest in the litter.
Remember she was born to do this. Most of the time, her body knows what to do and no help is required. Still, emergencies do happen. It’s better to be safe than sorry if you have any concerns.
FAQ
How long can a dog go in between puppies?
Eventually, a puppy will be born as a result of these contractions. 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.
How far apart should a dog get pregnant?
The majority of specialists in the field believe that three matings is the ideal number. Mating every other day for six days straight after the female begins to accept the male will probably result in pregnancy.
How far apart can dogs have litters?
Maximum Number of Litters for Female Dogs A female dog may have up to three litters annually. Female dogs do not experience menopause; they can go into heat between the ages of six and twelve months. A dog could have up to 30 litters, assuming they live to an average age of 11.
How long should you wait between dog litters?
First off, a dog’s reproductive, nursing, and healing cycles are roughly comparable to a human having a baby every two years or so.