Birth (whelping) in Dogs

What supplies should I have on hand?

• Whelping box. This can either be a sturdy cardboard box or a commercially available whelping box.

• Several pairs of sterile surgical gloves.

• Eyedropper or syringe to aspirate the mouth & nose secretions.

• Dental floss or cotton thread for ties.

• Antiseptic to apply to the umbilical stumps.

• Scissors.

• Clean towels.

• Your vet's phone number.

• An emergency vet's phone number.

• Puppy milk replacer.

How do I know my dog is going into labour?

Below are some indicators that labour is imminent.

• The mammary glands increase in size during the last week of gestation.

• Around two days before the bitch gives birth she will start producing milk.

• She may start nesting.

• A day or two before birth, her temperature drops to 99F.

• Change in behavior. During the last week or so your bitch may become either reclusive & seek out a secluded place or she may become more affectionate, especially if she is particularly bonded to one carer.

• Restlessness & pacing.

• Frequent trips to the nest.

• Licking at the genitalia frequently.

What happens during labour?

During the last week of pregnancy, the puppying box should be placed in a warm, quiet, draft free room which is off limit to children & other pets. She should be encouraged to sleep in this box.

Obviously, food, water & a litter tray also need to be placed in this room.

The whelping box can be lined with old newspapers which can easily be changed or an old blanket. Make sure that the blanket isn't going to snag the puppy's claws. The bedding should be changed regularly.

The dog's uterus (womb) has two horns which come together with a central uterine cavity. The cervix is at the end of the uterine cavity & during pregnancy is closed.

Developing puppies lie within the horns, and are attached to the mother via the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is attached to the placenta, which joins mother & puppy together. The role of the placenta is to transport  nourishment from the mother & and takes away waste from the fetus (unborn puppy).

Labour is divided into three stages;

First stage labour:

Birth begins with the onset of uterine contractions. During this stage the cervix begins to dilate (open). A clear, odourless discharge from the vagina is usually apparent. This discharge is known as the mucus plug & was in the cervix during pregnancy sealing the uterus from the vagina. As the first stage progresses, contractions will become closer & closer together.

Second stage labour:

Contractions become stronger & closer together & the cervix is fully dilated. The bitch is ready to give birth. The puppy moves down the birth canal. Pressure   on the cervix initiates an urge to push from the mother. You may see her visibly straining to push the puppy out.  The puppy's water bag (or bubble) is normally seen at the vulva, these burst & some fluid will be cleaned up by the bitch. It takes around three pushes for the puppy to be delivered.

The bitch will tear & lick the membranes from the face & body which will stimulate breathing.

Second stage usually takes around 5 minutes to 1 hour. If a hasn't been born after an hour it is time to call your veterinarian.

Third stage labour:

Immediately following the puppy's birth, the placenta is normally delivered. Once the bitch has cleaned the puppy & breathing has commenced normally the bitch will chew the umbilical cord in two & quite often will eat the placenta.

Note: When the puppy has been delivered it is important that you pay attention to the delivery of the placenta. Even have a pen & paper close so you can make a note of how many placentas have been delivered, if you feel you may lose track due to the excitement of the birth. This is important because a retained placenta will lead to infection which is life threatening.

Resumption of labour:

Once the puppy is cleaned up, the bitch will push it towards a nipple. Contractions will resume & delivery of the next puppy will usually happen between ten minutes up to an hour after delivery of the previous puppy.

All in all, it may take up to 6 hours to deliver a litter of puppys.

When should I call a veterinarian?

There are many possible problems your bitch may encounter during birth, which are too numerous to cover in this article. A week or so prior to the birth you should take your cat to the veterinarian for a final check up & discuss the birth & potential problems with him or her. They will be able to advise what is 'normal' and what requires veterinary attention. Some problems you should be watchful of include;

• Gestation lasting longer than 70 days
• Stage 1 labour lasting longer than 24 hours
• 20 minutes of intense labour without birth.
• Straining for 10 minutes if a fetus or a fluid filled bubble is  visible in the birth canal
• Acute depression
• Fever (above 103°F)
• Sudden discharge from the vagina of bright red blood  lasting longer than 10 minutes
• Thick, black, foul smelling discharge from the vagina.

How involved should you be?

The majority of cats are quite capable of giving birth without assistance, therefore it is your role to take a backseat & not to interfere in the birthing process unless a problem is encountered.

Too much involvement can be stressful to the bitch. Allow her to give birth to her puppys & care for them as newborns as undisturbed as possible.

Further resources:

Pregnancy in dogs

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets. 

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.