Dog in labor?

Question

How can you tell if your dog is having contractions?? Dog was on my lap and I could feel movement and her would kick her legs a little is that a contraction or just her freaking out?

Answer 1

Do you know what day(s) your girl was bred? If so, count 63 days from the first mating and 63 days from the last mating. Usually, you'd begin taking her temperature on about day 57; a 'normal' temp should be in the 100.8 - 102.0 range. What you would want to watch for is a hard drop in the temperature down to about 98.4 or less. When this happens, your girl will *typically* deliver within 24 hours. If she carries a temperature of 98.4 or less for more than 24 hours, you need to get her to the vet immediately for an examination to see if she's having issues that need medical attention.

I take my girls' temperatures 3x a day when they are getting close to delivery, beginning on day 57 from the first date of breeding: 7am, 2pm, and just before i go to bed. I chart the temps so that i can see if there are any patterns because, like people, an animal's temperature can vary at different times of the day. I don't want to assume that a 99.3 is nearly "it" when 99.3 might just be her time of the day to run a lower temp.

Since you're concerned that she's in labor now, go ahead and take her temperature. If you don't have these necessary items, you might want to run out and get them (Digital thermometer, rubbing alcohol, K-Y jelly).

Clean a digital thermometer with alcohol, lubricate it with K-Y jelly and gently insert it into her rectum and wait for it to beep. If her temperature is 100.6 or higher, she's not quite ready. If her temperature is 98.6 or below, you might be about to have some puppies.

Also, fix her up a whelping box. Something that is large enough for her to have plenty of room to lie down in comfortably. Put several layers of newspaper on the bottom and put an old sheet, (folded) or some old towels, or something similar, on top of the newspapers. She may want to get her babybed ready.

Have extra bedding available, including clean newspapers and something fabric because you'll want to remove the soiled bedding after she delivers. It is important to provide a fabric type of bedding for the puppies and change it DAILY. Puppies can't get footing on a slick surface and, if left on a slick surface, they will often end up splay legged and, sometimes, that cannot be fixed and can result in the puppy having to be euthanized.

If it is at all possible, stay up with her once you know she is about to deliver. It is very important to make sure she passes one placenta for each puppy delivered. If she does not, then you need to get her in to the vet as soon as she finishes delivering for an injection of oxitocin, and possibly antibiotics.

I take a photograph of each puppy as soon as Mama has it cleaned up, weigh it with kitchen scales and record the weight, and record the date/time of birth. If you cannot take a photograph, make a note on the side, such as "male; brown with white spots and black ears." This way, you can weigh the puppies weekly to determine that they are growing as they should be.

Her kicking her legs a little isn't an indication of labor. It could, however, be a very good indication that she's tired of all those puppies squirming in there.

Please, please, PLEASE do NOT listen to the advice that a dog vomiting worms is normal. It is NOT normal!! If any dog, male or female, is vomiting worms, then that dog has an infestion far beyond "bad" and it needs **immediate** veterinary care to clear the problem up.

Lastly, don't forget that you need to start worming your puppies when they are 10 days old and every 10 days after that until they are 6 weeks old.

Remember, too, that 63 days is the 'average' length of canine gestation. Smaller breeds often have theirs a little earlier; larger breeds often have theirs a little later. The overall gestational length is, i believe, 58 - 66 days, depending upon the dam.

Answer 2

she can twinge with the kicks too is her tummy hard it will go very tight she will pant and whine alot and start wandering shredding paper or her bedding preparing a nest.she will then stoop and bear down and will loose clear gel that will then turn pink then red a pup will soon follow.talk to her in a gentle soothing tone to keep her relaxed she can also vomit and there can be worms in it so dont panic if this happens!

Answer 3

this is how you'd know if your dog went into labor she would constantly lay down and wont have much of an appetite

Answer 4

she'll find a remote place where no ones whatching.
other symptoms are-
restlessness-she'll keep getting up and down searching for a perfect spot

Answer 5

u cant really. but if u have had her around male dogs than she might be.