These are guidelines only, if you have any concerns seek veterinary advice!!
Signs of impending labour:
- Restless, seeking seclusion or seeking excessive attention (anxiety/apprehension)
- Off food
- A decrease in rectal temperature in the last 24hours (to below 37degrees Celsius means whelping will start in the next 8-24hours)
there are 3 stages of labour:
STAGE 1: this is last 6-12 hours and is preparation stage.
- Contractions, but no abdominal straining.
- The cervix opens.
- The bitch may pant, rearrange her bedding and look at her sides.
STAGE 2: this lasts up to 3-12 hours and is the actual birthing stage.
- Some clear fluid may be expelled as the placentas break.
- There are strong frequent contractions with abdominal straining.
- Rectal temperature returns to normal.
Once pups start to emerge
- The first puppy usually takes the longest (usually delivered within 4hours)
- There is usually about 15-20mins between puppies
- The bitch may have a rest in the middle for up to approx. 2hours if there are lots of puppies.
Seek veterinary advice if . . .
- The first stage of whelping lasts for more than 12hours.
- There is a weak irregular straining for more than 2-4hours.
- There has been strong frequent straining with no signs of puppy produced for 30mins.
- Fluids were passed 2-3hours ago and nothing has happened since.
- There was a red-green discharge but no puppy born within 2-4hours.
- It has been 2-4hours since the last pup was born and there are still more pups remaining.
STAGE 3: this is the passing of the placenta.
- Usually follows shortly after the pup, however, sometimes 2-3 pups can be born before the placentas appear.
- Discourage the bitch from eating more than half the placentas (can cause vomitting or diarrhoea)
- A green discharge (lochia) may be seen for up to 3weeks post whelping.
Seek veterinary advice if . . .
- All placentas are not passed within 4hours.
- The lochia is foul smelling.
- There is continued bleeding from the back end.
- Rectal temperature is more than 39.5 degrees Celsius.
- If you are concerned about either the mother or the puppies.
