She's been pregnant for a while now, and just a few minutes ago my sister and I were sitting on the floor and my dog was on the couch when she just randomly let out what sounded like a bark of pain, jumped off the couch, and started breathing extremely hard... then she was normal again... was that a contraction? I need help please!
2007-03-22 10:27:02 · 33 answers · asked by i_heart_misfits 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
From what you've said it looks like she's going through the first part of giving birth to puppies: uterine contractions begin. Your dog will appear very restless and may pace, dig, shiver, pant, or even vomit. This is all normal and all an owner can do is see that your dog has water available should she want it. This stage of labor is very long, lasting 6-12 hours and culminates with full dilation of the cervix in preparation to expel a puppy.
Call your vet if: 30-60 minutes of strong contractions occur with no puppy being produced; Greater than four hours pass between pups and you know there are more inside; She fails to go into labor within 24 hours of her temperature drop; She is in obvious extreme pain; Greater than 70 days of gestation have passed.
Good-luck!
2007-03-22 10:44:07 · answer #1 · answered by Lizzie 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not, dogs have 'Braxton Hicks' contractions, too ... that is 'exercise contractions' for three or four days before they go into 'real labor' ... but all you need to do is make sure that your dog has an EXTREMELY THICK stack of newspapers (opened at the fold, and use them 'overlapping' so that there are almost 'four sheets' on the floor where she can 'give birth' to the puppies) and also make sure that she's got a 'nice soft place' to put them after they're all 'born' and she's 'cleaned them up' ... use several 'really old blankets' that you can just 'throw away' and fold them into quarters in a large box or closet, so the pups can't 'escape' when they are 'crawling around blind' ... and you should 'watch your dog' from a 'slight distance' because MOST DOGS do 'everything themselves' and don't need any help ... but sometimes a dog gets into 'trouble' and you'll need to be there watching to 'know what is going on' ... and if you 'don't know' and are 'afraid' then you should take your dog to the VET and have her have her puppies there, where you and the Vet can both be 'standing by.' She's YOUR dog, and she really does 'need to know you are there' when she's having her pups, but she should also be 'just fine' doing all of the 'work' herself. All you should have to do is help her to 'move the pups' to the blankets after they've ALL been born (it may take half a day) and then pick up the 'newspapers' and throw them into the trash.
You should also be ready to provide 'extra food' for her after the pups come, because she's got to 'make milk' for them until they are weaned ... and she's going to need both 'lots of extra water' and things like 'calcium' and 'vitamins' as well as more calories ... SHE NEEDS THESE THINGS and can get 'milk fever' and possibly die if she doesn't. MAKE SURE that she eats a good 'dog food' that has CALCIUM in it, and give her a 'huge big bowl' that she can 'eat from while she's lying down' at first, whenever she's hungry. Same with the water bowl ... right next to her, so she doesn't have to 'get up' to do anything except 'take a walk outside' at least twice a day.
2007-03-22 11:23:43 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ABSOLUTELY...a couple of years ago my dog was pregnant and i was asking my self the same question...how am i gonna know when she goes into labor? Out of no where she let out a cry type sound then she walked around for a little bit and just found a spot and just kinda stayed standing there for a while in a perfectly still position...i wasn't so lucky though. One of her pups was toooo big to fit through her canal and i waited to long to bring her to the vet and the pup had to be surgically removed from her birth canal. We ended up losing that one pup but the other two came out perfect (small but perfect) my advise to you if you aren't sure whats going on after a couple of hours if shes still acting weird call a vet. or any one who can shed some professional adivise. In any case i'm sure your baby is gonna do fine. She will def be very emotional and a extremely protective over those pups when she is all done...Just like any mother would be.
2007-03-22 10:49:51 · answer #3 · answered by doonie479 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I've had dogs who've given birth before but I never heard of one, or saw one, having contractions. I'd call your vet and ask about that. Then just make a nice warm bed for her in an out-of-the-way place, and let nature take it's course. Good luck, Grandma!
2007-03-22 11:19:00 · answer #4 · answered by Bud's Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like she is going to deliver soon. I have never actually had to help my dog deliver, she did it all on her own. I was just there to keep her calm in between the births. Just do like a husband does for his wife when she is in labor; pat her and talk easy to her. Be sure to let us know how everything goes. Good luck to you!
2007-03-22 11:19:37 · answer #5 · answered by M.S. Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your local vet to help guide you through the process JUST in case the dog needs help in delivering the puppies.
2007-03-22 10:41:19 · answer #6 · answered by Patty G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First give her a nice quiet place to have her puppies where she won't feel threatened,put some old towels or blankets(nothing with strings) .Let nature take it's course,if she has trouble have a vet's number handy.They will coach you through it.she probably won't mind you watching as long as you don't upset her.GOOD LUCK!!!
2007-03-22 11:35:06 · answer #7 · answered by Pamela K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More than likely, it was indeed! If you haven't already, make a nice, clean bed for her (and Large), and keep some rags on hand to wipe puppy faces off with in case she can't get to them fast enough. Try to stay as close to her as possible and if she has trouble, call your vet. :-) Congrats!!!
2007-03-22 10:43:00 · answer #8 · answered by Laurie W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
find your dog a nice quiet area where she wont be disturbed,put her some bedding and some old newspaper to lay on and call your vet for further advise/assistance and good luck with the puppy's.
2007-03-22 11:31:32 · answer #9 · answered by fushia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be but i would call the vet and find out for sure. if she is, put a old blanket on the floor that is clean and let her lay on that, or even newspaper. good luck.
2007-03-22 10:30:45 · answer #10 · answered by misty blue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋