Items Needed To Whelp a Litter
There are many items that you will need to help your pregnant dog give birth. You will want to put together a whelping kit well in advance to be sure you are prepared for the big day.
Whelping box
About a week to 10 days before the due date set up the whelping box in a quiet area of your house. We always use our bedroom because puppies can be born in the middle of the night. You will need a nice size box with one lower side for mama to easily get in and out. Most whelping boxes will not have a bottom or floor but just 4 sides. For the floor we use washable waterproof pads. You will want more than one of these to not be without when washing one. We will line the waterproof pad with disposable pee pads the day of delivery for easier clean up.
Record mama dog’s temperature
Also starting about a week before the due date we will start taking and charting mama dog’s temperature. This will help us to know when the babies are coming. A dog’s temperature will fall about 3 degrees 24 hours before you can expect labor to start. A normal temperature for a dog is 101 to 102.5, so when the thermometer reads 98 to 99 degrees you know the time is near!
Labor starts
You will see mama dog displaying nesting behaviors sometimes starting a few days before and very noticeable the day of. She will seem restless and be panting a lot. When actual labor starts you will be able to see her contractions, be sure she is in her whelping box at this time. Depending on the dog, some will want comforted, others may just want too be left alone. Don’t go too far though because you may be needed! I am constantly right outside of the whelping box ready to help and comforting our dogs. I have often slept there on the floor, waiting for deliveries.
Calcium supplement
Once you are sure labor is started, it is a good idea to give a calcium supplement. This will help with contractions and milk supply. Do not give extra calcium to your pregnant dog until she is actually in labor because extra calcium at that time can cause her to develop a medical condition called eclampsia a few weeks after delivery.
Puppies are born
When a puppy is born don’t intervene too quickly, mama will usually know what to do. Be sure she opens the sac and cuts the umbilical cord and starts licking the baby to clean it and to stimulate it. If she doesn’t break the sac, you will have to do it for her. You will want to suction the puppy’s mouth and nose with the nasal aspirator to clear any fluids. If you need to cut the umbilical cord, use the forceps to clamp it close to the puppy then cut it on the opposite side. Alternatively you can use unwaxed dental floss to tie the cord before cutting it, but be sure to tie it just tight enough to stop the blood but not so tight as to cut through the cord. Also be sure not to cut cords too closely or pull on them because this could cause a hernia. After cutting the umbilical cord wipe it with an iodine prep pad to prevent infection. Have styptic powder on hand in case you cannot get the bleeding stopped. Clean any tools used with alcohol to have them ready for the next puppy.
Count the placentas
Each puppy will have a placenta and you will want to make sure that one is delivered for each puppy. Mama dog will usually want to eat the placentas, and although this is natural and healthy, try to limit her consumption to only 2 or 3 because too many can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Often the mother dog will eat it so quickly that you won’t even have time to see that it was delivered. If you count less placentas than puppies, you will want to watch the mother dog closely because retained placentas can cause serious infection.
Stimulation
If your mama dog doesn’t clean and stimulate the puppy you can rub it with a soft cloth like a receiving blanket and encourage mama to lick the baby. If she will not lick her puppy, you will need to take a soft, warm, wet washcloth or paper towel on its bottom to stimulate it to go to the bathroom. Make sure the puppy starts to nurse soon after assuring its safety and wellbeing and getting a birth weight. The nursing will stimulate more contractions for the next puppy to be born.
Birth records
Be sure to note the time of each puppy’s birth as well as any issues and describe the puppy’s identifiable features. We usually take a couple of pictures with a cell phone that will have the time and show the puppy’s markings to identify it. If you have a breed of dog that doesn’t have much variety, you may want to use little velcro collars to identify them. One thing about our puppies is they are each very unique in their markings.
Lunch break
If your dog is pregnant with a large litter and/or has been in labor for a long time, she may need a potty break in the middle and may even need some food for strength to go on. Cottage cheese is a good snack and she will benefit from the extra calcium, we also like to offer chicken breast in rice. You may be surprised at how much food she will need now to provide for her puppies. We use a special heating pad made for baby puppies (that doesn't get too hot) whenever they are not right next to mom, like when she is eating or taking a potty break or when delivering the next puppy.
Special needs
Hopefully everything goes smoothly and puppies are all strong and nursing as mama dog is resting. Unfortunately sometimes a puppy might need a little extra help. Be sure to have on hand, puppy formula, nursing bottles, corn syrup and an eye dropper. Contact your veterinarian for instructions.
Disclaimer
I am not a veterinarian and this is not to be considered medical advise. I am just simply sharing how I help my dogs to whelp their litters and what works for us.
Needed items in list form:
whelping box
whelping pad
pee pads
thermometer
ky gel
paper
pen
calcium tabs
gloves
nasal aspirators
forceps
scissors
unwaxed dental floss
iodine pads
alcohol wipes
styptic powder
disposable towels
wash cloths
receiving blankets
baby scale
camera/collars
puppy heating pad
cottage cheese
chicken and rice
nursing kit
puppy formula
dropper
light corn syrup
veterinarian’s phone number