Ask the Vet - Whelping

Our dog, Jenny, is going to have puppies soon. What do we need to know to prepare for the birth?

This is a bit of a tricky question because it depends on whether you have a toy poodle or a bullmastiff. However, there are some tips I can offer that will cover the vast majority of dogs.

First, you need to know the term “whelping.” This means giving birth in regard to dogs. We similarly use the word “queening” when a cat delivers kittens. It is extremely important to ask your veterinarian if your particular type of dog has any special problems when it comes to whelping. Most breeds of dogs do absolutely fine without human intervention, but there are a few that may have problems. Your veterinarian can let you know if you are in for any special circumstances with your particular pet.

The majority of dogs do quite well on their own when they whelp, and many times if we try to intervene, we can make things more difficult. So here are some guidelines to simplify the process.

Be sure there is a quiet place for your dog to have the puppies. Often times in the later stages of pregnancy, the dog will start to “nest,” or make a spot for herself. She may pick a closet, under a bed, the corner of a room, or her normal dog bed. Let her pick the place—don’t force her into a place that is uncomfortable.

Once she has picked a place, put a wooden barrier around the area so that after she has the puppies they won’t wander off by accident. Some simple plywood will do nicely. Be sure your dog can easily jump in and out of what we will now call the “whelping area” or “whelping box.”

Most dogs deliver their puppies right around 60 days (usually between 60 and 64 days). If you really want to be prepared for the event, when you have reached 60 days after the dog was bred, you can take her temperature in the morning and at night (you have to do this rectally; it is very easy, just ask your veterinarian to show you how). Once her rectal temperature has dropped below 100°F, you can be pretty assured she will deliver the puppies in the next 24 hours. And yes, it is true that more times than not the puppies are delivered at night.

Dogs that are ready to give birth like for things to be quiet and uneventful. My advice to pet owners once they believe their dog is close to giving birth:

• Leave her alone as much as possible.
• Allow her all the time she wants in her whelping area.
• When she begins giving birth, be very quiet. Watch from a distance and let nature do the work. If you want your children to observe, keep them from making too much of a noise or too much fuss.
• Keep the room lit, but a little dim. This will keep the dog soothed, as well as keep the children and adults in the room a bit calmer.

Once the puppies begin coming, keep your distance, but also keep an eye out for any problems. If you see a brown, black, or green discharge BEFORE any puppies have come out, call your veterinarian. Once the first puppy has been born, you can ignore the discharge. You will often see these dark liquids after and between puppies.

If the dog is actually pushing with no puppies coming out for a period of 1 hour, call your veterinarian. If she strains a little, then rests for an hour, then strains a little more with no success, don’t panic—this is normal. If you see her actively trying for an hour without success, call the veterinarian.

There are no rules for how much time there is between puppies. Each dog’s pattern will be different. If you do not see her straining as noted above, don’t worry about the time between the puppies. Hopefully, the mother will do the rest. Don’t worry about puppies wandering around the whelping box. They will find their way.

One last bit of advice: It is very important for the mom and the puppies to be seen by your veterinarian within 48 hours of whelping. This allows the veterinarian to be sure all the puppies are okay.