Pregnant dogs have a natural instinct that helps them manage childbirth when it comes time to deliver puppies. The owner needs to know how to help her so that both she and the puppies are safe and healthy.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Preparing for Childbirth
Step 1. Take the dog to the vet for a checkup
Make an appointment so that the doctor can check the health of the expectant mother. He will be able to confirm if she is pregnant and will check her for any complications.
Step 2. Set up an area where the dog can give birth
At least one week before the due date, provide her with a suitable place where she can give birth to the puppies. Make sure you give her all the space she needs by setting up a kennel or box with towels or blankets for her comfort.
Choose an isolated and quiet place, such as a separate room, so that it can have all the privacy and tranquility it needs
Step 3. Keep some food and water in the area you have set up for the birth of the puppies
Make sure the mom-to-be has easy access to both of the resources you make available to her. This also avoids the risk that she may abandon her puppies to go in search of food.
Step 4. Feed her puppy food
When pregnant, your dog should eat high quality puppy food as it is high in protein and calcium. In this way it prepares the body to produce large quantities of milk.
Give her this type of food until the puppies are weaned
Part 2 of 4: Controlling the Dog During and After Calving
Step 1. Keep an eye on the dog while she is giving birth
If your presence doesn't make her anxious or agitates her, stay with her and monitor her while the puppies are born. You don't need to keep hanging around it. Be prepared for the fact that he will be severely uncomfortable during contractions, just like a woman is. This is part of the process.
In many cases, puppies are born in the middle of the night while you sleep. Get in the habit of checking her as soon as you wake up as your due date approaches
Step 2. Make sure the mother cleans her kittens right away
It is a natural instinct of the mother to clean them as soon as they are born. Wait a few minutes for her to remove the amniotic sac and then she should start washing and licking her young right away. If you see that your dog is stalling further, you can intervene by freeing the puppies from the bag and starting to rub them vigorously to dry them by stimulating their breathing.
If necessary, you can very carefully tie the umbilical cord about 2.5 cm from the puppy and cut it with clean scissors
Step 3. Make sure the puppies are being fed
It is important that infants start breastfeeding within 1-3 hours of birth. It may be necessary to place the puppy in front of a nipple and gently squeeze a little milk so that the baby gets an idea and understands that it is his food.
- If he cannot drink milk or the mother does not allow him to eat, the baby probably has some problems, such as a cleft palate. Open his mouth and check his upper palate. It should be a solid surface with no holes in the sinuses. Contact your vet if you notice any particular problems.
- He may need to be fed a tube or bottle and infant formula if he is unable to suckle milk from his mother but is still in good health.
Step 4. Count the puppies
Once the birth process is complete, count the new babies so you know exactly how many there are. This will help you keep them in check.
Step 5. Do not remove the placenta immediately
Mom often wants to eat it, as it is not harmful. Don't feel like you have to take it off immediately. If you see that the new mom isn't eating it, then you can throw it in the trash.
- In some cases, eating the placenta can cause vomiting.
- Remember that each puppy has its own placenta.
Step 6. Keep the area where the puppies were born warm
Newborns are not yet able to regulate their body temperature well and must be kept warm. In the first few days after birth, be sure to maintain a temperature of around 29.5 ° C. Then you can start reducing it down to 24-26.5 ° C.
Provide extra warmth by installing a heat lamp in a corner of the area where they were born. If a puppy gets cold, he doesn't move anymore. Always make sure the area is warm and the puppies are close to each other and their mom
Step 7. Take both mum and babies to the vet for routine checkups
Schedule a visit to the doctor so that he can analyze the health of the new arrivals. The vet will ensure that the mother recovers properly and that the puppies grow well.
Step 8. Keep any other dogs away from their mothers and babies
If you also own the father of babies, make sure you keep him in a separate area. The other dogs in the house should also not disturb the new mother and her babies. There is a risk that adult dogs may collide with each other, thus endangering the safety of the puppies. The female may become aggressive to protect them. This is normal and you don't have to punish her for this instinct.
To protect the offspring, the mother could also show aggression towards humans, so avoid annoying the puppies
Step 9. Don't bathe mom right away after giving birth
Unless it is really very dirty, wait a few weeks before washing it; however, use a mild oatmeal based shampoo specifically for dogs. Make sure you wash her well to avoid any residue that puppies may come into contact with while breastfeeding.
Part 3 of 4: Taking Care of the New Mom
Step 1. Feed the new mum some puppy food
During the lactation period, the dog needs to eat high quality puppy food, which is rich in protein and calcium. This allows it to produce large quantities of milk. She should follow this type of feeding until the puppies are weaned.
- Let her eat as much as she wants, sometimes she even gets to eat four times her normal portion when she's not pregnant. She certainly doesn't overfeed during this time, as breastfeeding puppies requires a lot of calories.
- However, be aware that in the first 24 to 48 hours after giving birth, she will likely not eat at all or very little.
Step 2. Don't give her calcium supplements
Don't add extra calcium to your diet without first talking to your vet. If you take too much, you may develop milk fever later on.
- This disorder is caused by a significant drop in blood calcium levels and generally occurs 2-3 weeks from the start of breastfeeding. The muscles begin to stiffen and the animal may have tremors. This can lead to seizures, due to the low calcium levels.
- If you are concerned that the new mother may have this problem, see your vet immediately.
Step 3. Let the dog free to organize her schedule as she sees fit
During the first 2-4 weeks, she will be very busy monitoring and caring for her puppies. He will never stray from them for too long. It is important for her to keep them close to warm, feeding and cleaning them. When you take her out to allow her to perform her bodily functions, don't hold her for more than 5-10 minutes.
Step 4. Trim the fur if it is a longhaired breed
If she has long fur, make a "sanitary cut" around her tail, hind legs and mammary glands to keep these areas clean once the puppies are born.
This procedure can be done by the groomer or veterinarian if you are having trouble doing it yourself or don't have the proper equipment
Step 5. Check her mammary glands every day
An infection (mastitis) can occur which develops very rapidly. If you see the mammary glands becoming very red (or purple), hard, hot, or sore, there is a problem. In some cases, mastitis can also kill a nursing dog.
If you suspect she may be suffering from this disease, take her to the vet right away. Even if you have to take her to an emergency veterinary hospital, you need to move promptly
Step 6. Expect to see vaginal discharge
It is normal for them to occur for a few weeks (up to 8 weeks) after birth. These are leaks that can appear red and stringy. Occasionally you can also smell a faint smell.
If you see yellow, green, or gray material, or the dog smells really bad, take her to the vet. He may have a uterus infection
Part 4 of 4: Caring for Newborn Puppies
Step 1. Check that the mother is taking proper care of the puppies
Make sure babies are breastfed every few hours for the first few weeks. At a minimum they should eat every 2-4 hours. To grow well they must sleep adequately; if they cry often, they are probably not eating enough. Check if they have a round belly and clean fur, in this case it means that they are well groomed.
- Try weighing them on a digital scale to make sure they are gaining weight every day. In the first week they should double it.
- Don't neglect a puppy who looks leaner or less active than the others. Take him to the vet right away. This may indicate the need to feed him more or find other forms of help.
Step 2. Check if the puppies have any abnormalities
If, after the first few days, you notice that almost all of them are growing well but one still remains small and thin, this may be a sign of insufficient nutrition or another problem. Take him to the vet immediately for a thorough examination. Newborn puppies, as well as infants of humans, can get sick and dehydrated quickly.
Step 3. Keep the box you used for the birth of the puppies clean
As the little ones grow up and begin to move a little, the area, already quite limited, will become more and more disordered. It will need to be cleaned at least 2-3 times a day to keep it hygienic.
Step 4. Start handling them so they start socializing
Puppies need to get to know their new world in a healthy way, including getting to know people. Pick up the puppies several times a day, so they will get used to being touched all over their body and won't find it strange when they grow up.
Step 5. Wait until they are 8 weeks old before taking them away from their mother
If you plan to sell them or otherwise give them away, wait at least 2 months before giving them to the new owners. Among other things, in some states, such as California for example, it is illegal to sell or give puppies before they have reached 8 weeks of age.
- Puppies need to be fully weaned and learn to eat dog food on their own before moving away from their mother.
- It is often wise to treat them with a dewormer and set up a vaccination schedule before the puppies go to a new home. Consult your vet and follow his recommendations.
