WHELPING

WHELPING:

Whelp:  The young of various carnivorous mammals especially of the dog.

Dam   :  A female parent.  Used for a four legged animal

Over ninety percent of all dogs deliver their puppies without assistance or complications.

But when it is your pet that is set to deliver, it is exciting as preparing the birth of a baby, like planning the color and decoration of the nursery, so equally don’t overlook preparing the family dog with her new babies.

Although most owners are very careful to keep their pets confined when they are in heat, sometimes a breeding does take place, perhaps without the owner even realizing it.

No matter what the circumstances, knowing the earliest signs of pregnancy can help you determine if conception has taken place.

IS MY DOG PREGNANT?

There comes a time when many a worried owner may have to ask ‘Is my dog pregnant?’

You might think the answer is simple - Yes or No – but unlike humans, it can be difficult to gauge.

There is no blood or urine dog-pregnancy test because the normal changes a dam goes through are relatively similar whether the dam is pregnant or not.  Therefore, you have to rely on symptoms of dog pregnancy, at least initially.  If you’re still not sure, consult your vet.

SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY:

 

     Increased or decreased appetite.

     Enlarged nipples.  

     Firm abdomen.  

     Lethargy and increased tiredness and sleeping.  

     Nesting and territorial behavior.  

     Clear vaginal discharge. 

     Morning sickness.

Many females will show change in behavior, often becoming more affectionate.

Some pets will appear to be confused, wanting to be with the owner.

Some pets will become irritable and may even act aggressively during pregnancy.

Be sensitive to your pet’s behavior changes.  If you observe any abnormalities, alert your veterinarian.

As soon as your girl is beginning to show that she is pregnant, there are several things you can do to help prepare a dog for the new addition to the family.

Perhaps this is your first experience of your pet whelping, it would be wise and a good idea to make an appointment with your vet and get a professional advice, especially if she hasn’t had one yet.

Your vet should be able to answer all your questions and suggest whether or not you need to increase her food, her medication, any supplements, her exercise and rest routine etc. for remaining of her pregnancy.

Pregnancy in all dogs (all breeds) lasts about 2 months (60 to 64 days).

FALSE PREGNANCY:

False pregnancy also called pseudo-pregnancy or phantom pregnancy usually occurs somewhere between 6 to 12 weeks after the dam goes through her normal heat cycle.

A non-pregnant bitch can undergo the same response, resulting in pregnancy like symptoms. Symptoms can be so convincing right down to:

… Swollen belly, nipples and lactation.

… Licking the mammary glands (self-nursing).

… Digging and nesting and guarding it aggressively.

… Restlessness, whining, anxiety and depression.

… She may also decide to ‘adopt’ some babies to fill the void. This could be puppies from

.    someone else’s littler or might substitute toys or stuffed animals.

Give her time to come to terms with the situation on her own.

Phantom pregnancies are not physically harmful to your bitch but they can lead to emotional changes for the duration, so it is important to work closely with your vet to take the best course of action to follow.

PREPARATIONS:

THE DAM:

Clipping the long hair from underside of the abdomen allows the puppies to find the nipples

easily.

Trimming the rear quarters helps keep the mess to a minimum.

If she is not clean, she should receive a bath before delivery and then kept in the house.

            

Remove the dog collar before whelping to avoid a danger to puppies.

SUGGESTED SUPPLIES:

Newspaper      Line the whelping box for the mother and puppies: before, during and after 

                        whelping.                                                                                                                     

Paper Towels  Clean up whelping area.

Bath Mats       Bedding for the dam and puppies after whelping.

Heating Pads  Keep puppies warm.  Be sure not too hot.

Ribbons          Colored ribbons to identify puppies.

(Under your veterinarian’s guidance)

Thermostat    Check dam’s temperature before whelping

Scissors         Cut puppies umbilical cord (if the dam doesn't cut it on her own).

Iodine            After umbilical is cut, clean puppies abdomen.

Important:  Should an emergency arise, keep your vet informed about the expected delivery, contact details and availability in after hours etc.

  

WHELPING PLACE:

The place where the mother dog is to whelp should be prepared well in advance, allowing her to sleep there at night and rest there during the day, so that she will be well accustomed to the strange surroundings when time comes to whelp.

The place should be clean, comfortable and a secure place for your dam to whelp.

This spot should be in a quite area well away from household traffic and other pet animals, especially other male dogs, as keeping focused is essential for a smooth delivery.

Anything can distract the dam, such as strangers, your pet animals even if she is acquainted with them, and kids may cause undue upset to ‘mom’. This can cause her to destroy her pups, lose her milk supply and snap at intruders.

Dams normally do not hurt their babies. First-time moms are sometimes terrified of these squirming babies trying to snuggle up to her and nurse. You must be understanding and calm her during these moments till her maternal instincts take over.

Some dogs like the owners to be with them the whole time they are in labor. Others prefer to have their puppies in seclusion. Respect your pet’s wishes and avoid intruding any more than necessary.

A whelping box is a good choice and a comfortable place to give birth.

WHELPING BOX:

The benefits of a whelping box makes preparing for birth less stressful for your dog,  because you can teach her that she has a special place to go and have her puppies,  instead of wandering around trying to find a private spot on her own.

With a whelping box, the mother dog can come and go as she pleases after birthing, and the puppies will be kept confined to the safety of the box. The box also keeps the puppies better protected from drafts.  It also helps to contain the birthing mess and puppy messes are kept in one place.

Since this will be where the pups spend the first weeks of their lives, it should have 12 to 18 inch sides to keep the puppies safely inside.

A heat lamp should be placed high enough that the mother dog cannot contact it, but close enough to heat the area.

Line the whelping box with newspaper about 5” deep.

Do not put any kind of sheets, blankets or pads because they will just get wet and soiled during whelping,

Plus newborn have a tendency to get caught up in or under them and can suffocate.

Never,  never use wood shaving in the box for pregnant or new born animals.

Once she is done whelping and is taken outside to relieve herself, the entire box is changed and dry paper put in.

A blanket or a sheet stretched over the top to give the puppies traction.

If the puppies are moving around and crying, they may be too cold or too hot.  If they are bobbing their heads, searching and crying, they are hungry.  They should be put with their mother as soon as possible to nurse.

CHOICE OF WHELPING BOXES:

 Cardboard box:

One of the least expensive whelping boxes is a simple cardboard box.

Make sure it is strong not to collapse and big enough for the type of dog you have for it to stretch out in it.  The one thing about this box is that you can simply throw it away when you no longer need it.

Plywood:

Or if you can hammer a nail, you can probably build a simple whelping box for very little money and without too much trouble.  Just spend some time looking at whelping boxes available, so you know how they are made. Under no circumstances paint the wood as this can be harmful to the puppies.

Plastic trays or Children water pool.

Commercial Whelping Boxes:

These boxes cost a considerable amount of money, but they are a good investment if you plan to be a professional breeder as they can be used over and over again.

Whichever whelping box you choose, be sure to install 'Pig-rail' a couple of inches up off the floor and runs along all 4 sides.  This is a safety measure for the puppy who might be accidentally crushed behind mamma's back if she fully pushes herself against the wall.

                                Happy Parenting.