Whelping Complications

Topic: How to deal with a pet emergency

Filed under Dogs

Tags: Puppies

 

Dogs have been having puppies for thousands of years without the help of people and thankfully most pregnancies will end in a positive birthing experience for the mother as well as the puppies and owners. In the event that troubles do arise during whelping it is important to understand what it is normal and what is not, as well as what to do in the event of a complication. It is also important to know if the breed has a known history of problems during the birth process. This information can be accessed online, in breed books or through your vet. Most breeds that have puppies with large heads such as the Mastiffs and Bulldogs are prone to whelping problems, but so are some of the toy dogs where the female is very small. In addition mixed breed dogs may also have problems if the male was larger than the female since the puppies are likely to be larger than average for the female's smaller breed size.

The first thing to do is to prepare for the whelping process. Have a whelping area that is in a quiet, out of the way area of the house and is some place that the mother dog wants to be. Often this will be in a closet or in a back room, start taking the female to the area several days before she is due to deliver her puppies, give her a few treats and pet her in the area, making it a positive place for her to be. A whelping box with shredded newspapers or old bedding can also be a great idea since she can "nest" or make a bed for herself. This is a very messy process and you will want to discard this material, make sure it is not your best linen or some special blanket that you use.

Most dogs will have a gestation period of approximately 63 days, usually between 58 and 68 days for all breeds. Each female will be slightly different in her gestation time so the first litter will give you a good indication of her pregnancy period. Start taking the females temperature twice a day on day 55 to establish a baseline or average temperature. When the body temperature drops two degrees she will start whelping within 24 hours under normal conditions. She may also nest, pant, whine, move about or need a lot of affection during this pre-whelping stage.

As the female moves into labor the contractions that push the puppies down the birth canal can often be felt along the abdomen. Some dogs will moan, whine or even bark and howl, this is normal providing that labor is progressing normally. Dogs may squat, walk about or lie down, don’t force them into one position but let her find her own position to deliver the litter.

Each puppy is born in an amniotic sac with an umbilical cord that connects the puppy to the mother. In most cases the puppy will be born head first, but hind legs first or breech births are not uncommon and are not a cause for concern unless the puppy becomes lodged in the birth canal. A placenta will normally be expelled after each puppy born and there is no need to assist with the birth unless there is a problem. If the puppy appears to be lodged in the birth canal and you can see the head, lubricate your fingers and gently hook the front legs and pull with a steady tension. Do not jerk on the puppy or pull on the head or neck, this is very likely to cause spinal and neck injuries. It may take up to one to two hours between puppies, as long as the mother is not showing any signs of anxiety allow the birth to occur naturally.

The female may not initially tear open the amniotic sac surrounding the puppy which is not a problem as long as the umbilical cord is still connected. The female will crush or bite the cord and this is the best option. If the female does not open the sac tear it open with your fingers if the puppy seems to be distressed or if the cord has been severed. Remove mucus and liquid from the mouth and nose with your fingers and a small, clean and soft towel or cloth. Allow the mother to care for the puppy by licking as long as she is interested. If the female does not crush or bite the umbilical cord, tie it off with thread about a half an inch from the puppy, then cut on the side closest to the mother. Dip the umbilical cord of the puppy into a diluted iodine solution to prevent infection.

If the puppy is not breathing and there is fluid in the nose or mouth wrap the puppy in a towel and hold it, supported in both hands with the puppies head cradled in your fingers and the rest of the body held by your hands and forearms. Extend your arms straight out from your chest and, securing the puppy in your hands, swing your arms down to your knees. This will force the air out of the lungs and mouth. If the puppy still is not breathing give CPR very gently and blow air into the mouth.

Puppies may continue to be born for several hours or they can all come very quickly. As long as the birthing is normal, there is no need to panic if the process seems to be lengthy. If the female becomes anxious or distressed or if she stops pushing or strains for more than one hour without delivering a puppy, contact your vet and get instructions on what to do.

Females may or may not want to eat the placentas, but it is important to keep count. If there are more puppies than placentas you will need to contact your vet to prevent serious uterine infections in the mother. The female may not immediately nurse the puppies until some or most of the litter is born but it is important to make sure all puppies get the first milk or colostrum from the female if at all possible. If puppies nurse between deliveries that is fine too and may actually increase contractions. Have newborn puppy formula on hand in case the female doesn't or cannot nurse.

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