It has been completed, an exciting event awaits you - your pet is preparing to become the mother of charming puppies. In dogs, the pregnancy lasts an average of 58-68 days. Starting from the 55th day the dog should not be left alone for long at home, because the birth can begin at any time. Therefore, take time off at work, arrange with a veterinarian, to whom you can apply in an emergency, and be patient.
The first signs of the onset of labor in dogs:
- dog behavior: she begins to worry, rush about the apartment, breathe heavily, dig her litter;
- body temperature: on average, normal body temperature in dogs 38-39 ° C, 24 hours before delivery, it usually decreases by 1-2 ° C;
- 4-5 days before the birth, the dog sagging stomach and on the sides there are so-called "hungry" dimples (but if the dog first birth, this may not happen).
What to do when a dog gives birth?
First of all, no matter how trite it may sound, you need to calm down and not panic. Your condition is passed on to your pet, and now it's hard for her. Then you need to prepare everything you need:
- a blanket, an oilcloth and a sheet lay in a comfortable warm place without drafts - this is the place where the birth will take place;
- clean cloths, diapers;
- heating pad (or plastic bottles of 1.5-2 liters);
- a box in which you need to lay a blanket and clean diapers - there you put newborn puppies;
- a small (children's) syringe;
- medical alcohol or vodka;
- sharp scissors;
- ointment levomekol.
The process of birth begins with the departure of the "plug" (thick whitish or grayish discharge), then the loop (the place the dog pisses) softens, there is a chill, a shiver, a periodically rapid breathing. Congratulations, your girl in childbirth! This period can last from 3 hours to a day. If the contractions do not begin within 24 hours after the departure of the "cork" - you need to urgently contact the veterinarian.
Further to the intensifying fights are added attempts. Dogs can give birth in different poses: lying, standing, or standing on hind legs and leaning forward on the table or chair. The main thing is, do not let her sit down to avoid injuring the puppy.
Immediately before the appearance of the babies, the water leaves the dog. If three hours after this, the first puppy was not born, you also need to urgently consult a specialist. As soon as you see that something like a head or a puppy's foot appears from the loop, lubricate your fingers (preferably cut the nails short) with a left-handed needle, gently take the puppy and (this is important!) In a tug, help the dog to push it out. After the puppy must go out later, watch this, because if something stays inside, the dog may begin to have inflammation.
Care for newborn puppies
Only the born puppy must be freed from the amniotic fluid, cleansed with a syringe mouth and gently shaken to make the baby take the first breath. As soon as the newborn puppy sips or at least grinds, you need to cut off the cord at a distance of 2-3 cm from the tummy, first squeezing everything out of it towards the baby. Now you can gently wipe the puppy with a diaper and bring it to your mother. The dog will begin to lick the newborn, then attach the puppy to the nipple, it should at least slightly suck.
All, congratulations, you managed, and the firstborn of your pet appeared. After the newborn puppy is poured, put it in the box, place there also a heating pad or plastic bottles filled with hot water. It is better to keep the box in sight of the dog so that it does not bother.
At first, after the birth, the dog has a very strong maternal instinct: she will carefully lick the babies and will not want to leave them even for a short time. You can only observe and process the umbilical cord of newborn puppies 1-2 times a day. Also, if one of the puppies is weakened and can not suck up enough milk itself, you will have to apply it more often and keep it longer at the nipple.
Perhaps you will be forced to think about how to raise a newborn puppy. To do this, you will need a syringe or a baby bottle and a substitute for canine milk. The first days should be fed to 0.5-1 ml every two hours, gradually increasing the amount of milk eaten by the puppy.
Complications after childbirth in dogs
One of the most dangerous complications is eclampsia, the cause of which is a lack of calcium in the dog's body. If your
Childbirth for the dog is a lot of stress, her body is weakened and most susceptible to infections, so in the first couple of weeks, you need to carefully monitor the dog and guard against loads and drafts. Also, special attention should be paid to the nutrition of the dog: it should contain more nutrients and vitamins. It is better to feed the dog a little, but 5-6 times a day.