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Having Puppies
You have successfully bred your dog, it has been confirmed by your
veterinarian, and
now you want to know what to do to prepare for having the puppies.
This is a bit of a tricky question because it depends on whether
you have a Toy Poodle or a Bull Mastiff. However, there are some
tips I can offer that will cover the vast majority of
dogs.
First, you need to know the term "whelping". This means
giving birth in the canine dictionary. We similarly use the word
"queening" when a cat delivers kittens. It is extremely
important to ask your veterinarian if your particular type of dog
has any special problems when it comes to whelping. Most breeds
of dogs do absolutely fine without human intervention, but there
are a few that have real problems. Boston Terriers and
Bulldogs instantly come to
mind. These breeds, because of their physical characteristics, often
have a very difficult time delivering puppies and more often then
not, a Cesarean section is needed. Most breeders of these dogs will
even schedule a C-section with their veterinarian rather than wait
for problems to occur. So ask your veterinarian or contact
me here about your particular pet and we can let you know if
you are in for any special circumstances.
The majority of "bitches" (female dogs) really do quite well on
their own when they whelp, and many times if we try to intervene
we can make things more difficult. So here are some guidelines to
simplify the process:
1) Be sure there is a quiet place for her to have the puppies.
Often times in the later stage of pregnancy the bitch will start
to "nest", or make a spot for herself. She may pick a closet, under
a bed, the corner of a room, or her normal dog bed. Let her pick
the place, don't force her into a place that is uncomfortable.
2) Once she has picked a place, it is nice to try and put a wooden
barrier around the area so that after she has the puppies they won't
wander off by accident. Just some simple plywood 1" by 12" or something
similar will do nicely. Be sure the mom can easily jump in and out
of what we will now call the "whelping area," or "whelping
box".
3) Most dogs deliver their puppies right around 60 days, usually
between 60 and 64 days. If you really want to be prepared for the
event, when you have reached 60 days after the dog was bred, you
can take her temperature in the morning and at night (you have to
do this rectally; it is very easy, just ask your veterinarian to
show you how). Once her rectal temperature has dropped below 100
degrees Fahrenheit, you can be pretty assured she will deliver the
puppies in the next 24 hours. And yes, it is true that more times
than not the puppies are delivered at night.
4) There is a theme developing here; the bitches like to make their
nests in small, quiet areas and they like to have their puppies
at night. They like for things to be quiet and uneventful. My advice
to people once they believe the dog is close to giving birth is
the following:
- Leave them alone as much as possible.
- Allow them all the time they want in their whelping area
- When they do start have some puppies just be very quiet. Watch
from a distance and let nature do the work. If you want your children
to observe, keep them from making too much of a noise or too much
fuss.
- Keep the room lit, but a little dim. This will keep the dog soothed,
as well as keep the children and adults in the room a bit calmer.
Delivery of Puppies: What
to Look for & How to Help
Enjoy your new little friends,
Dr. Larry
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