how do we help our dog deliver puppies?

Question

she is a lhasa apso and is due next monday. I dont want to be a breeder, just wanted to let her have one litter, I intend to keep a pup. I have been on hundereds of whelping web sites and am quite daunted by all the things I may have to do - cut cords, break the sack, get the puppies breathing etc. I am also really worried she may go into labour while I am out working. I only work weekends as I am a cabaret singer but the day before she is due I am working in the afternoon and evening - is is ok to leave her alone? Thanks for all the answers so far!!!!

Answer 1

you don't , she should be able to deliver on her own. the only time you would help her is if she starts to have trouble pushing the pups out. what kind of dog is she? if she is a med-lg dog she should be able to do it alone. just watch her to make sure that she will not have trouble having them. good luck with your new pups. i breed golden retrievers and i don't help mom unless she needs it and that is hardly ever, she manages to do it herself.

Answer 2

Your dog can probably pretty much handle things herself, but you can help by keeping the whelping area warm, clean and quiet. Keep plenty of blankets and towels available (birthing can be messy), and keep a cell phone near you with the emergency number of your local animal hospital, in case her delivery goes badly.

Stay out of mama's face while she's having the babies unless she seems to be having difficulty.

If she's a new mom, she may need help getting the first pup out of its placenta and biting the umbilical cord. Give her a chance to do it, but she she looks confused, help her out by opening the sac (from the puppy's head first) and cut the cord with sterile pair of scissors. Use your pinky finger to clear the pups' mouth and bounce it very gently in your hand to start it breathing. {Of course, amke sure you're hands are sterile; wear surgical gloves if you can.)

If the newborns cannot find a teat, place them near one. They'll need that mama's milk as soon as they can get to it.

Don't be surprised if she eats the placentas. They're a good source of protien for her.

Don't be surprised if some of the pups are breech births (feet first); that's not unusual for dogs.

If she goes too long between births (anything over 5-6 hours is too long), pack her and puppies up in the car (making sure everyone is warm) and get her to an emergency vet ASAP.

You'll also need to get to a vet immediately if you see an excessive amount of blood (bright red), or if your see a discharge of greenish-black foul-smelling goo. (There can be some greenish-black discharge from the placenta; it's acutally the puppies' first poop. But if the goo has a foul odor, like rotting flesh, it's most like the liquified remains of a fetus that died inside the mom, and it can poison her whole system.)

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Answer 3

the best thing you can do is go to your library and get the book which is called BOOK ON THE *ITCH and will tell you all you need to know it is very good and will explain from start to the time they leave your home hope this helps good luck don't worry to much you will be OK and just make sure that the mother doesn't lie on her pups but believe me you will find that book is so good the first time i breed my *itch i was nerves but i read that book from back to front and found it a great help there are things in there about feeding how to cope with the *itch and pups when being born also little things that you wouldn't know like if the mother rejects a pup and how to get the pups to urinate which is so important

Answer 4

Most dogs will do fine by themselves. Is she in labor now or are you just wanting info for when the time comes? Have a nice comfortable, quiet place for her to have her babies, away from all the hustle and bustle of the house. Keep a close eye on her. If she is having trouble, call the vet. He may be able to help you thru it over the phone, or if it is a serious problem, you may need to take her in. Make sure you have your vet's office, home and cell phone numbers ready, and the number of the nearest emergency clinic just in case you need to go there.

Here are some helpful sites.

http://www.chihuahualoving.com/MakingBabies.html

http://www.petbitsforyou.com/pregnant.html

Answer 5

You don't. You just give her some blankets, make sure she's comfortable and watch to make sure that there are no complications. Animals instinctually know what to do so it's best to just let them do their thing and try not to bother them too much. After she has the puppies just make sure that you're putting out food and water nearby wherever she has them and that you change the towels or blankets. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 6

Really she will do most of the work herself,, the only time you really need to give her a hand is if one of her puppy's get stuck. You will have to help her push it out by giving small tugs to the puppy as the mother is pushing, She will do the rest,

Answer 7

Don't do anything. Seriously. When people try to help animals deliver their young bad things happen. She knows what she's doing. Put some blankets around her and let her do her thing. Try not to change up her routine or she may postpone her labor. Believe me animals have a lot of control over this.

Answer 8

All that you will need is listed in the article below, I hope that it is helpful to you, and I wish you the best of luck (O:


Whelping supplies you will need during the stages of labor,

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1628&articleid=930

Answer 9

I don't think you should get your answers from this website- for starters. You need to (at a minimum) get advice from a vet so that you have a plan. Although delivering puppies is natural, that doesn't mean its risk-free. Get advice from a professional.

Answer 10

stick a stamp on each of the puppies heads and let your dog pop them on the counter at the post office