A calm, step-by-step whelping guide for new breeders
Most dogs give birth without any help. Your job is to prepare well, watch quietly and know the few signs that mean trouble. This VerifiedStuds whelping guide covers the days before, the birth itself and the moments when you should phone the vet.
Set up the whelping box by about day 55, in a warm, quiet room away from other pets. She needs a week to accept it as her nest. The box should let her stretch out fully, with low rails inside so a puppy cannot be trapped against the wall.
Clean towels and puppy pads, in generous numbers.
A digital thermometer and a notebook for times and weights.
A heat source, such as a heat lamp or pad made for puppies, with a cooler area to move to.
Kitchen scales for weighing each puppy.
Unwaxed dental floss and blunt scissors, in case a cord needs tying.
Your vet's daytime and emergency numbers, written where everyone can see them.
Ask your vet for an x-ray in the last week. Then you will know how many puppies to expect. The dog pregnancy calculator gives the dates.
From day 57, take her temperature twice a day. A normal reading is about 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. When it drops below 100, labor usually begins within 12 to 24 hours.
Other signs follow. She may refuse food, pant, shiver, dig at her bedding and seem unable to settle. Some females want company, while others hide. Either way, stay near and keep the house quiet.
Stage
What happens
How long
1
The cervix opens; she pants, nests and is restless
Usually 6 to 12 hours, sometimes up to 24
2
Visible straining, and the puppies are born
Often 3 to 12 hours in total
3
The placentas pass, usually after each puppy
Minutes after each birth
In stage two, puppies usually arrive 30 to 60 minutes apart. However, a rest of up to two hours between puppies can be normal, as long as she is calm and not straining. About four puppies in ten are born tail first, which is not a problem.
Normally the mother tears the sac, bites the cord and licks the puppy until it cries. Let her do it. Step in only if she ignores a puppy for more than a minute or two.
In that case, tear the sac away from the face and rub the puppy firmly with a towel. Then tie the cord with floss about an inch from the belly, and cut on the far side. Finally, put the puppy at a nipple, because the first milk carries vital antibodies.
Count the placentas as well. There should be one for each puppy. Write down each birth time, and weigh every puppy once it is dry.
Phone the clinic at once if you see any of these:
Strong straining for 20 to 30 minutes with no puppy.
More than two hours between puppies when you know more are due.
Green or black discharge before the first puppy. After the first birth, some green discharge is normal.
Heavy bleeding, collapse, or signs of severe pain.
No labor within 24 hours of the temperature drop, or by day 68 from the first mating.
A puppy stuck in the birth canal that she cannot deliver.
Some breeds, such as Bulldogs and French Bulldogs, often need a planned cesarean. Therefore, discuss the birth plan with your vet weeks ahead.
Once she has finished, she will relax and settle with the litter. Offer water and a small meal, and take her out briefly. Keep the room at about 85 degrees Fahrenheit for the first few days, since newborn puppies cannot control their own temperature.
Weigh the puppies daily. They should gain steadily, and a puppy that loses weight needs help quickly. In addition, most vets like to check the mother and litter within a day or two.
Thinking about the next generation already? Read how many puppies a dog can have, then find a health-tested stud and compare prices in the stud fee guide. Stud owners can list their stud free.
What are the first signs a dog is going into labor?
A temperature drop below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then nesting, panting, restlessness and refusing food.
How long does dog labor last?
The first stage usually lasts 6 to 12 hours. After that, delivering the litter often takes 3 to 12 hours, depending on its size.
How long can a dog go between puppies?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes. Up to two hours can be normal if she is resting calmly. Beyond that, call the vet.
Should I cut the umbilical cord myself?
Only if the mother does not. Tie it about an inch from the puppy's belly, and cut on the far side of the tie.
When should the puppies and mother see the vet?
Most vets advise a check within 24 to 48 hours of the birth, and sooner if anything worries you.
Sources: American Kennel Club, whelping and labor, VCA Animal Hospitals, breeding for pet owners: whelping in dogs, Merck Veterinary Manual, labor, delivery and postpartum care. This page is general information, not veterinary advice.
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