Dog Pregnancy & Whelping

How is pregnancy confirmed in dogs?

Pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound from 4 weeks gestation. 

By 8 weeks, x-ray may be used to give an estimation of how many puppies are expected arrive.

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What do I need to do if my dog is pregnant?

Good nutrition is important to help the mother dog produce enough milk for her puppies without making herself unwell.

  Treatment and prevention of parasites like intestinal worms and fleas will help protect the puppies as well as the mother dog.

You will also need to prepare the area for the puppies to be born in - a whelping box.

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How can I tell when my dog is going to give birth?

You might see your dog's behaviour change. She might lose interest in food. Some dogs become very clingy and want to be near you, while others want to hide away where it's quiet. 

You might see some discharge from under her tail. The discharge might be clear as the cervical mucus plus softens, or stained green if labour has begun.

If you're comfortable, you might measure her temperature. When her temperature starts to drop, the time has nearly come!

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What do I need to do when my dog gives birth?

Keep the area she is in calm, quiet, and a comfortable temperature (not too hot or too cold).

Pay attention to how long it takes for each puppy to appear. It shouldn't be longer than 2 hours between puppies.

Sometimes you need to help remove the membranes from around the puppy, dry them, and remove some of the fluid around their nose and mouth. The mother dog often will do most of this, but sometimes she needs a little help!

Make sure the puppies are able to get to their mum for their first feed. Some may need help reaching a nipple and getting comfortable. 

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When do I need to worry?

• If you think your dog is straining without a puppy appearing shortly after, or if a puppy is obviously stuck.

• If it's been 2 hours since a puppy appeared

• If your dog gives birth to fewer puppies than you expected (for example, you were expecting 6 but have only got 4)

 

If you are worried, then contact us and plan to bring the mother dog (and any puppies) in for an assessment.​

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Will my dog need a caesarean (C-section)?

Not all dogs will need help, but some do. About 1 in 5 dogs will need a caesarean. 
We can perform a C-section if we are concerned that a puppy is stuck. 
You can also consider planning an elective caesarean for your dog. 

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Don't feel like you're confident in helping your dog give birth at home?

We provide an Assisted Whelping service!
You can bring your dog in to our clinic and our team will help support you during the birth of your puppies.

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