How to Deliver Puppies

By eHow Pets Editor

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The moment has come and your furry friend is about to give birth. Whelping (delivering) puppies may only require you to observe and be available in case of emergencies. Have supplies ready and keep a watchful eye. Here are a few steps to help deliver puppies.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Contact your veterinarian to schedule a pre-whelping exam and consultation. Your veterinarian can offer last-minute advice and will be familiar with your dog should she need assistance during delivery.
Step2
Provide a whelping box of sturdy material that the puppies can't chew through and that's big enough for the mother dog to lie in and stretch out with her puppies. The sides of the box should be at least 6 inches high'high enough to prevent 4- to 6-week-old pups from escaping, but low enough to allow the mother to get in and out easily.
Step3
Present the whelping box to your dog one to two weeks before delivery and place it in semiprivate, familiar surroundings. Put soft, clean towels in the box.
Step4
Check the temperature of the mother-to-be daily after day 50 of pregnancy. When her temperature drops to 99 degrees F, labor will begin in 10 to 24 hours.
Step5
Look for signs that the dog is ready to give birth, such as her licking the genital area, or the appearance of an amber fluid or a bulge (the amniotic sac) protruding from the birth canal. This indicates that a puppy should be delivered within a few minutes.
Step6
During labor, avoid upsetting the dog. Remain calm when she is restless, nervous, anorectic (not eating), vomiting, pacing, shivering or panting. These can be normal behaviors for dogs in labor.
Step7
If the mother has not removed the amniotic membrane from her pup within 1 minute after delivery, intervene. Gently grasp the puppy in a clean towel and pull away the slimy material. Make sure that the nose and mouth are free from fluid and tissue.
Step8
Don't panic if the mother delivers a puppy without expelling the placenta. Sometimes the placenta of the previous birth will be expelled with the following birth.
Step9
Cut the umbilical cord about 2 inches from the puppy's body, using sharp, sterilized scissors. (Use isopropyl alcohol to sterilize scissors.)
Step10
Consult a veterinarian if your dog is in active labor for more than 30 minutes but has not yet delivered a puppy. If you notice that a puppy seems to be stuck, gently grasp it and pull it from the birth canal, twisting slightly if necessary.
Step11
Make sure all puppies are safe and warm and are not getting stepped on as the mother is delivering the other puppies. Multiple births followed by resting is common, but a delay of more than 1 hour between births warrants a call to the veterinarian.
Step12
Make sure each puppy nurses soon after delivery. It's essential that puppies nurse within the first 24 hours to acquire vital antibodies supplied by their mother's milk.
Step13
Be prepared to give the puppies commercially prepared milk replacer in case the mother doesn't have enough milk or some other emergency arises. This is available wherever pet supplies are sold.
Step14
Take the mother and her puppies'in the whelping box, with a blanket for warmth'to the veterinarian for an exam. Do this within 24 hours after the last puppy is born.

Tips & Warnings

  • Labor lasts 6 to 12 hours. Stage one of labor begins with uterine contractions and ends with the full dilation of the cervix. This is not externally visible. Stage two of labor begins with full dilation of the cervix and ends with full delivery of the first puppy. Stage three begins after delivery of the first puppy and ends with the expulsion of the placenta. The length of the second and third stages is variable'anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
  • If you suspect a puppy is not breathing, rub it with a towel along the shoulders and back to stimulate breathing. A healthy cry or whimper indicates an unobstructed airway.
  • Prepare yourself and your children for the possibility of a stillbirth. Should this happen, bury the puppy yourself or take it to the veterinarian.

Comments

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doxiemom3

doxiemom3 said

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on 8/28/2008 RainyDayzBaby: Dixie should be just fine with milk unless your vet has told you she may have a problem. If you would like peace of mind purchase some puppy formula and have it handy in case it is needed. Also make sure you have the smallest plastic eyedropper you can find because Dixie's pups will be tiny and the bottles they give you are never small enough. You will know if the pups are not getting enough milk if you see them try to nurse and are either not latching on for some reason or if after they've been latched on they start crying soon after instead of going to sleep. Also, they should gain weight everyday so weigh them once a day about the same time, keeping a chart and you will see which pups are not getting fed. If you need any other advice just let me know.

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on 8/20/2008 I have a toy apricot poodle, named Dixie, who got nailed by a mini American Eskimo by accident - she is about to give birth and I am really fearful something bad might happen, so I've been hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. She has been biting at the blankets alot, not sure why. Otherwise, she has remained pretty calm. Never birthed pups before, scared to death. I guess I am most worried about pups not getting enough milk or that Dixie's little nipples might get clogged or infected. Any advice on this? Thanks!

Sandie71

Sandie71 said

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on 4/13/2008 My Dixie is going to give birth in a few weeks and I'm reading anything to help me Just in case She needs some help. This information here has been the best. Ty so much. I'll let you know how it goes.

ildavip

ildavip said

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on 1/9/2008 my toy poodle gave a birth four puppies, she is a good mother but i noticed that she still digging why she is doing that?

Rubykate

Rubykate said

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on 1/25/2007 New Mother- I was glad I insisted on being with my girl when she had her first litter. After she literally screamed with the first birth, she then growled and snapped at the puppy. I quickly removed it after drying and put it in the whelping box on a heating pad. I had to do the same with all seven. She didn't seem to know what they were. In fact, I made her lie down and nurse the babies, setting my alarm for every three hours for several days, removing her from the box and crating her for their safety afterwards. This all changed as they grew, and she then willingly took over....just glad I helped her through the initial traumatic period as she might have killed the babies.

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eHow Article: How to Deliver Puppies

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

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