Assisting Pickles through the smooth delivery of her Pups
The stages of dog birth usually require little human participation. Dogs instinctively knows what to do to deliver puppies. However, it is important I monitor Pickles as she is whelping.
Prepared supplies and area for delivery:
I’m prepared to assist or seek veterinary care if trouble occurs. have all the essentials to hand, just in case. These are:
- Vet's off-hours #
- Small scissors – sterilized
- Clamps - sterilized
- Suction bulb – sterilized
- Heavy thread/dental floss
- Crate
- Polysporin. alcohol wipes
- Blankets
- Towels
- Clean food and water bowl
- Plastic shopping bags
- Papertowel
Prepared supplies and area for delivery:
I’m prepared to assist or seek veterinary care if trouble occurs. have all the essentials to hand, just in case. These are:
- Vet's off-hours #
- Small scissors – sterilized
- Clamps - sterilized
- Suction bulb – sterilized
- Heavy thread/dental floss
- Crate
- Polysporin. alcohol wipes
- Blankets
- Towels
- Clean food and water bowl
- Plastic shopping bags
- Papertowel
Watch 100 youtube videos of puppy births so nothing phases me.
Done.
In the final week of pregnancy Take Pickles’ Temperature:
I began taking Pickles’ temperature, rectally, twice a day. The first noticeable sign of labour is a drop in mum's temperature from 38.5ºC to 37ºC (although normal body temperature can vary slightly from dog to dog). This usually occurs 12 to 24 hours before birth.
Signs that Delivery is Imminent
Most dogs deliver their puppies around 63 days after conception. Monitoring Pickles’ temperature is the best way to determine if she is ready to deliver. When a dog's temperature dips about 10 degrees, the whelping process will occur within a day.
Shortly before whelping, a dog will enter a nesting stage:
They tear things up and try to create a nest for puppies. I already made this area for Pickles.In addition, most dogs show a definitely lack of interest in food. In the final stages, Pickles will go off their food, may possibly vomit, whine and whimper and will probably scrabble at her bedding to prepare a nest for the arrival of the puppies.
Shortly before whelping, a dog will enter a nesting stage:
They tear things up and try to create a nest for puppies. I already made this area for Pickles.In addition, most dogs show a definitely lack of interest in food. In the final stages, Pickles will go off their food, may possibly vomit, whine and whimper and will probably scrabble at her bedding to prepare a nest for the arrival of the puppies.
First Stage: Passive labour
Contractions to soften the cervix begin:
She will tense and relax as they pass. I can also expect mum to become very restless and unsettled and even pant and shiver. These contractions are painful and last up to 18 hours. I’ll make sure Pickles is comfortable, in a quiet environment where she will not be disturbed. Comforting words help ease Pickles through this stage as will one-on-one attention. :
She will tense and relax as they pass. I can also expect mum to become very restless and unsettled and even pant and shiver. These contractions are painful and last up to 18 hours. I’ll make sure Pickles is comfortable, in a quiet environment where she will not be disturbed. Comforting words help ease Pickles through this stage as will one-on-one attention. :
Second Stage: Active labour
Contractions increase:
(As puppies pushes towards the birth canal).
Discharge exits from the vagina:
The final sign is a discharge from the vagina. This will often start out clear, change to a pale green and then to a dark green. This dark green means the placenta has become detached and the puppies are imminent. If Pickles has not had a puppy within an hour of this discharge, I’ll contact my vet for assistance.
Placenta exits vagina:
Each puppy has developed in an individual amniotic sac. I'll see fluid come out shortly before a puppy is birthed. Occasionally, the placenta of another puppy will come out with a preceding puppy. As a puppy exits Pickles will lick the puppy clean and eat the placenta and sac. This is normal and an integral part of the bonding process.
Birth happens:
Puppies are usually born within 20 minutes - 1 hour of each other. However, it is quite normal for dogs to 'take a rest' through delivery, so she may not strain at all for up to 2 hours between pups.
Breach Births are normal:
Some puppies (probably half) are born tail-first. Mum will deal with them, licking each puppy to ensure the sac is cleaned from the face so they can breathe, and bite through the umbilical cord.
(As puppies pushes towards the birth canal).
Discharge exits from the vagina:
The final sign is a discharge from the vagina. This will often start out clear, change to a pale green and then to a dark green. This dark green means the placenta has become detached and the puppies are imminent. If Pickles has not had a puppy within an hour of this discharge, I’ll contact my vet for assistance.
Placenta exits vagina:
Each puppy has developed in an individual amniotic sac. I'll see fluid come out shortly before a puppy is birthed. Occasionally, the placenta of another puppy will come out with a preceding puppy. As a puppy exits Pickles will lick the puppy clean and eat the placenta and sac. This is normal and an integral part of the bonding process.
Birth happens:
Puppies are usually born within 20 minutes - 1 hour of each other. However, it is quite normal for dogs to 'take a rest' through delivery, so she may not strain at all for up to 2 hours between pups.
Breach Births are normal:
Some puppies (probably half) are born tail-first. Mum will deal with them, licking each puppy to ensure the sac is cleaned from the face so they can breathe, and bite through the umbilical cord.
What I can do during a normal birth
Pickles may need a little extra help and reassurance, so be ready to offer some soothing words. Occasionally, mother will be in the middle of delivering the next puppy when the one she's just given birth to needs help. If this happens, I’ll do the following:
Observe Bathroom Breaks:
If labour lasts a long time, Pickles may need to go to the toilet before or between deliveries. I’ll make sure I watch carefully in case she starts giving birth to the next pup at the same time.
Observe Bathroom Breaks:
If labour lasts a long time, Pickles may need to go to the toilet before or between deliveries. I’ll make sure I watch carefully in case she starts giving birth to the next pup at the same time.
If I need to assist in a vaginal delivery
If the puppy has been in birth canal for more than 1 hour and legs are visible:
I’ll pull the puppy gently downward as you pull it out in an arcing motion to prevent breaking the puppy's back or legs.
If Pickles refuses to tend to her puppy following delivery:
I’ll have to:
- Remove the amniotic membrane from around the puppy
- Crying clears all the fluid from the puppy's airway with a suction bulb.
- Rub puppy against grain of hair with clean cloth to dry, warm and stimulate breathing
- Take floss, tie a knot approx 1” from where umbilical cord attaches to body
then tie another knot a little further from the first, cut cord between knots
I’ll pull the puppy gently downward as you pull it out in an arcing motion to prevent breaking the puppy's back or legs.
If Pickles refuses to tend to her puppy following delivery:
I’ll have to:
- Remove the amniotic membrane from around the puppy
- Crying clears all the fluid from the puppy's airway with a suction bulb.
- Rub puppy against grain of hair with clean cloth to dry, warm and stimulate breathing
- Take floss, tie a knot approx 1” from where umbilical cord attaches to body
then tie another knot a little further from the first, cut cord between knots
When to Call my Vet for Help
In most cases, a dog birth goes smoothly and needs no Vet intervention.
However, I’ll take her if:
- I see Pickles straining hard, appearing unsettled and restless for over an hour,
or taking longer than a four-hour break, I’ll consult the vet.
- I suspect Pickles has been pregnant for more than 69 days and the labor process
has not begun. I may have miscalculated dates, or Pickles may need a C-section if the
puppies are alive.
- If Pickles develops a fever higher than 102.8, an infection may be present.
If an infection is present, I may see or smell foul vaginal discharge resembling pus.
- If Pickles seems disinterested in her puppies following a dog birth. Problems like milk
fever, hypoglycemia and mastitis occur after birth causing discomfort to mother dogs.
However, I’ll take her if:
- I see Pickles straining hard, appearing unsettled and restless for over an hour,
or taking longer than a four-hour break, I’ll consult the vet.
- I suspect Pickles has been pregnant for more than 69 days and the labor process
has not begun. I may have miscalculated dates, or Pickles may need a C-section if the
puppies are alive.
- If Pickles develops a fever higher than 102.8, an infection may be present.
If an infection is present, I may see or smell foul vaginal discharge resembling pus.
- If Pickles seems disinterested in her puppies following a dog birth. Problems like milk
fever, hypoglycemia and mastitis occur after birth causing discomfort to mother dogs.