Accompanying the birth of your own female dog is something beautiful, but it can also be very stressful and demanding, especially when complications arise. To ensure that this special day of birth is as pleasant and stress-free as possible for you, your dog, and the newborn puppies, we have put together some tips for a successful dog birth.

Dog Birth Checklist: Preparation for the Birth of the Puppies

Birth needs to be well-prepared. While you cannot take the act of giving birth away from your dog, you can ensure that she has it as easy as possible. To achieve this, take care of the following things in the last days and weeks before the birth:

Inform the veterinarian

Your veterinarian should definitely know when the happy hour is approaching. Although dog births usually take place at your home, you may need to consult your veterinarian with questions or, in the worst case, encounter difficulties during delivery. In such cases, always have a veterinary emergency number on hand and, of course, a way to quickly get to the veterinarian or animal clinic in case of an emergency.

Set up a birthing area

The most important thing you can do for your female dog in the time leading up to the birth is to prepare a comfortable, cozy birthing area. You should start this about two weeks before the estimated due date. A large box can serve as the base for the whelping area. This can be equipped with blankets, sheets, bed covers, or towels that make the stay as comfortable as possible for your female dog and the newborn puppies.

The bedding should also be easily replaceable and washable. For the puppies, you can also provide a separate whelping box if they need some peace away from their mother or if the mother needs a break. It is important to acclimate your female dog to the birthing area beforehand, feed her there, and spend time with her. Set it up in a comfortably air-conditioned room that your female dog associates with safety and positive experiences and is familiar with.

Hygiene

Not only the birthing area but also the general environment and, of course, your female dog should be in good hygienic condition. This may also include a preparatory deworming, in consultation with your veterinarian, to prevent parasites from transferring to the offspring or weakening the expectant mother. Ideally, this should be done just before the start of pregnancy.

Stability

Even if you are excited and everything is suddenly not so ordinary, you should not let your dog notice this, and especially not make unnecessary changes to your daily routine. Your female dog will already be stressed enough, and familiar routines and rituals will give her the desired sense of security.

Monitoring the Condition

Especially in the last week before the presumed due date, pay close attention to your female dog’s behavior and physical changes. Among other things, regularly measure her temperature (rectally), monitor milk production, and keep an eye on the genital area. If anything seems unusual, it’s best to consult your veterinarian for advice.

If the birth of the dog puppies is still a bit away, or if you are concerned about a possible pregnancy, our tips for a dog’s heat cycle and for the pregnant female dog may help.

Signs of Impending Birth in Dogs

It is crucial to recognize when the time for giving birth is approaching. There are various signs indicating the imminent birth of puppies, such as:

Typically, you should notice such signs shortly before the end of the gestation period, usually around 63 days. In some cases, delivery may occur after 68 days or even a bit later. However, we recommend consulting the veterinarian on the 65th day if there are no signs of labor to examine the condition of your dog.

Phases of Dog Birth

Dog birth can be roughly divided into three different stages: the preparatory phase, the opening phase, and the expulsion phase. As a prospective “dog grandma” or “dog grandpa,” it is essential to be aware of these phases to distinguish a normal process from complications.

Preparatory Phase

The preparatory phase shows initial signs of the approaching birth. These include specific behaviors such as restlessness, refusal of food, licking of the vulva, and increased panting. Additionally, there is a slight drop in body temperature. The duration and onset of this phase cannot be precisely predicted, as they vary in each dog, and not every dog needs to exhibit the mentioned symptoms.

Opening Phase – When Dog Labor Begins

The duration of this stage is quite individual, ranging from about 6 to 36 hours, depending on the dog. The opening contractions, not always externally visible, begin, and the cervix opens – hence the name opening phase. The mucus plug sealing the cervix liquefies and comes out. Furthermore, amniotic fluid is released, and the previously lowered body temperature normalizes.

Expulsion Phase – The Puppies Arrive

Now it gets serious, and the actual birth of the puppies is initiated. This crucial stage lasts approximately 3 to 12 hours and is characterized by strong contractions after the outer amniotic sac bursts, allowing clear fluid to flow from your dog’s vagina, and finally, the first puppy sees the light of day. About 15 minutes after a puppy’s birth, the mother delivers the placenta, also known in this context as “afterbirth.” Often, the mother eats it to gain nutrients.

Between each puppy, the mother rests for about 20 to 30 minutes. The exact duration of these “breathing pauses” can vary from dog to dog and may be shorter or longer. If these breaks last longer, it is advisable to contact your veterinarian to rule out complications. The same applies if this entire expulsion phase lasts more than 12 hours or if the last afterbirth has not come out two hours after the birth of the last puppy. In a normal birth process, your dog will clean her puppies, remove them from the so-called “egg membrane,” and bite through the umbilical cord.

Assistance and Complications During Birth

Usually, human intervention in a dog birth is unnecessary and can even be harmful. As long as everything goes as usual, you should do nothing more than calmly observe, take care of hygiene measures, warmth, and dry towels, and be prepared for emergencies.

In about 16% of all dog births, human assistance is required. This occurs in cases of dystocia, a birthing disorder where the puppies cannot be delivered. There may also be unusually long pauses between births, or the mother may not attend to cleaning her puppies.

Necessary Support during Dog Birth: Understanding and Responding to Complications

In less severe cases, you may provide assistance yourself, but it is essential to do so under the telephonic guidance of a veterinarian or seek direct assistance from a vet during childbirth. Measures that might become necessary in emergencies include:

When assisting in promoting contractions in dogs during labor: do home remedies help?

If you are eagerly anticipating the birth, empathizing with your dog in labor, and the puppies simply won’t come into the world, it’s understandable that you would want to intervene. However, you should never use the labor-inducing home remedies circulating on the internet, such as coffee, black tea, or cinnamon infusions. These substances can be harmful to your dog’s organism. Instead, call your veterinarian for advice. After all, you don’t want to weaken or poison your dog in the critical phase of childbirth.

When should I call a veterinarian?

In cases of any birthing complications, veterinary assistance is required. Signs indicating the need for veterinary help include:

Generally, you should call the veterinarian for any suspected complication. There are cases where veterinary assistance throughout the entire birthing process is essential. This includes situations where a dog is ill or obese during birth, has a narrow birth canal, or belongs to a breed with a large head (e.g., Pug or Bulldog). Also, if only one puppy is in the womb (“monofructality”), difficulties during childbirth can occur. In case you need veterinary assistance during dog birth, consider getting dog health insurance. It costs much less than you think and protects you from high veterinary costs.

After Birth

Now that it’s finally done, the proud mother deserves some rest and care. As a responsible dog owner, you should nourish your brave dog after birth with high-energy but easily digestible food and fresh water. This will help her regain strength and replenish her reserves, especially since she is now starting to nurse and care for her puppies. If the puppies are not latching onto the nipples or can’t find them, try to encourage them and place them on the nipples. If that doesn’t work, inform your veterinarian. The same applies if your dog shows no interest in her puppies.

If everything is going smoothly, it’s time to provide fresh towels or blankets. The whelping area should be regularly cleaned even after birth. Your dog needs a lot of rest, recovery, and time with her puppies after the exhausting birth. Of course, you should take your dog for a walk after giving birth. However, avoid too much activity and long walks initially.

Over the hours following birth, the vagina discharge cleans the uterus of afterbirth remnants. Additionally, the cervix should close, and the uterus should gradually contract. The discharge typically changes from greenish to cloudy red and finally to clear mucus.

The newly born puppies should now slowly gain weight (it’s best to weigh them regularly). A daily weight gain of approximately ten percent of their body weight is normal. This is also the right time to discuss deworming and the first vaccination with your veterinarian. Most importantly, you should enjoy the sweet, clumsy offspring together with your dog.