Is it painful for dogs to give birth?

Whelping, which is what the canine birth process is called. If you ever find yourself having to supervise the delivery of a litter of puppies, here is what you need to know to help. This is a process that should be handled by experienced individuals.

Prepare the necessary kit when the time is near. Gestation is a process or period that develops inside the womb between conception and birth; it lasts approximately 64 days; look out for some of the following signs in your furball:

While some veterinarians disregard a drop in body temperature as a sign of impending labor, others do. While some experts believe there is a clear connection between a drop in body temperature between 38 and 39 Celcius and birth occurring within 12 hours, the above signs should take precedence over the body temperature.

You will need to assist your pup by keeping an eye out for any of the following to see if the mother dog experiences any difficulties while giving birth:

The following common necessities should be prepared in an emergency kit before a dog gives birth to its furry child:

Because it can be difficult to tell whether a puppy is breathing normally, if you suspect that it is, use the aspiration bulb to suction the puppy’s mouth, nose, and throat. It is used to open up the airways and encourage breathing in the puppies.

All puppy deliveries must include a whelping box so the mother can feel at ease prior to, during, and following whelping. You can use a cardboard box with the front cut out so the mother can easily enter and exit as well as purchase or make your own whelping boxes. Just enough height is required on the sides to keep drafts from reaching the puppies.

Start taking her temperature 10-14 before her expected due date. Get ready for fur babies when the temperature drops to 98 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 37 degrees Celsius)!

Newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature. Owners are advised to purchase heat lamps with clamps so they can secure the lamp to the edge of the whelping box. You should make sure that newborns can escape if it gets too hot because, as previously mentioned, they cannot regulate their body temperature.

Additionally, keep the numbers for your regular veterinarian and an animal emergency hospital accessible because most whelping takes place in the early morning.

You can make a whelping box for your furry friend out of a variety of materials. Here are the steps on how you should do it:

Measure and cut all the lengths that you need. Make an entrance on one of the sides; its size will depend on the mother’s breed. You’ll need to calculate how low it needs to be for her to enter and exit easily.

Use the 90-degree L-shaped trim to glue the sides together if you’re using plastic. Attach one side to each length of the trim by applying glue along the interior of the trim. If youre using wood, nail the sides together.

If you’re using wood, you can simply nail the sides to the base after attaching the base and gluing or tacking the trim to the inside or outside of the box.

Glue one side of the plastic trim to the side of the box about 4 inches from the base to attach the rail, if using plastic. If you’re using wood, attach the railing to the box’s sides with glue about 4 inches from the bottom.

The mother should deliver the first child within an hour of the sac appearing if there is a grayish sac that drops from the vulva. If not, it’s time to contact the veterinarian to discuss your options. Throughout the entire process, call the veterinarian to check in and let them know how things are going if you’re unsure of what to do.

The membrane will resemble plastic wrap and must be removed within six minutes, though it would be best if you could do so right away to prevent the pup from suffocating. Normally, the mother will do it by itself. If not, kindly assist her in breaking the membrane.

The stages of dog labour and delivery

Dog births are typically simple and don’t frequently involve complications in general. It’s still crucial to be present when your dog gives birth so that you can support her and intervene if there are any issues, even though you should try to minimize your involvement. Labour normally lasts 3-12 hours, and happens in three stages.

The cervix and uterus prepare for delivery with smaller contractions that may not be visible to you.

Your dog’s vulva will begin to swell in preparation for delivery.

During this stage of labour, dogs may be very restless and unsettled and mum may pant and shiver – this is all perfectly normal, so don’t worry.

The passing of puppies, which typically occurs between three and twelve hours but may take up to twenty-four hours, is the second stage.

Mums rectal temperature will return to normal as she gets ready to deliver her puppies.

You will see strong contractions, followed by a clear fluid from your dog’s vulva – a puppy should follow within the next 20-30 minutes.

Puppies are usually born within 20 minutes of each other, but it’s quite normal for mum to have a rest during delivery, and may not strain at all for up to two hours between pups. Watch your dog giving birth closely and contact your vet if she rests for longer than two hours.

It’s normal for some of the litter to be born tail-first, so don’t be alarmed if this happens. You may need to gently encourage mum to deliver puppies that are tail-first, but be very careful not to tug.

Mum should bite through the puppy’s sacs and umbilical cords before cleaning them herself. If you notice she is trying to chew the cords too close to the puppy, stop her and do it yourself. See our Helping during delivery section for more information.

If labour lasts a long time, mum may need to go to the toilet in between deliveries. Keep a close eye on her in case she starts giving birth to the next pup at the same time.

A greenish/brown discharge may suggest a placenta has separated. If you see this, a puppy should be born within the next 2-4 hours. If it isn’t then contact your vet, as there may be a complication with your dog giving birth.

The placentas should pass after each puppy has been born.

Try to check how many placentas have been passed (note if she eats any), so you will know if any are left inside mum. If you think this has happened, contact your vet as they may need to intervene.

During this stage of labour, dogs may be very restless and unsettled and mum may pantand shiver – this is all perfectly normal, so don’t worry.

Ideally, you won’t need to step in during your dog’s labor, but occasionally, mum might need a little assistance. There are a few situations where you may need to intervene.

One pup might need help whilst mum is in the middle of delivering another. In this case, clear the sac that the puppy is in, and quickly dry them against the grain of their fur with a clean cloth. This rubbing motion will also encourage the pup to take their first breath.

If mum hasn’t cleaned a puppy, they may have fluid in their airways. Pop your clean little finger inside their mouth to scoop anything out and wipe their nose. Rub them with a towel to encourage them to cry, as this will clear any fluid that they may have swallowed.

If mum is preoccupied delivering another puppy, you may have to help her cut the umbilical cord of an earlier born puppy. To do this, tie a knot using heavy thread approximately one inch from where the cord attaches to the pup’s body. Tie another knot a little further from the first, and use clean scissors to cut the cord between the two knots. Cutting too close to the pup’s body can risk its health, and leaving it too long could lead to it being chewed or swallowed by mum.

Knowing When Your Dog Is Ready to Give Birth

Within roughly 48 hours of the start of labor, a pregnant dog usually exhibits signs of nesting. Scratching at her bed and searching for a secure location to have her puppies are two examples of these symptoms. As her due date approaches, you should start taking your dog’s rectal temperature once or twice a day. Normal body temperature is about 100-102°F. Rectal temperature below 100 °F is a good indicator that labor will start in about 24 hours.

Your dog’s uterus will start to contract during the first stage of labor. She may also start pacing or digging. Many dogs will pant or shake. Some dogs even vomit. Until the cervix dilates and she is ready to deliver her pups, this is all considered normal behavior and typically lasts for six to twelve hours.

How to use the types of emergency supplies?

If the mother pup doesn’t chew each umbilical cord on her own and you need to cut the cord, a pair of sterile scissors will come in handy. When cutting an umbilical cord, you should start about an inch from the puppy’s belly and stop 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the puppy’s body.

Only if there is a wound will an antiseptic solution be applied, but when doing so, be gentle with the wound as it will hurt.

How to use:

To use the bulb syringe, squeeze the air out of the bulb. Keep the bulb squeezed.

Gently place the tip of the squeezed bulb into a nostril.

Release the bulb to let the air back into the bulb

Suction the other nostril the same way.

Watch the following video to learn how:

Video Credit: Marble Mountain Kennels

FAQ

Do dogs cry while giving birth?

During contractions, you might occasionally hear yelping or whining from your hardened abdomen. Your dog is about to give birth if her stomach feels different or particularly firm.

Is it hard for dogs to give birth?

Your dog won’t typically require assistance during labor, and while it’s crucial to keep an eye on her, it’s best to avoid checking her out or attempting to assist her in giving birth because too much interference can lead to complications after the baby is born. It is best to speak with your veterinarian if you are concerned that your dog is having issues while giving birth.

How do dogs feel after giving birth?

Physical changes. Your dog will be physically worn out after giving birth and exhibit some post-partum panting. This will continue for a few hours before slowing down as motherhood gradually sets in.