Who doesn’t love a new little puppy? A bundle of fur on four little legs, wobbling around, so anxious to give their person – or any person – unconditional love and puppy kisses! Those puppies don’t just appear from nowhere. Responsible breeders have made careful and conscious mating decisions, waited out the gestation period and waited for mama to deliver a litter of healthy pups. That’s all nice, but what in the world is whelping?
Whelping is the technical term for the process of a dog giving birth. It is a critical time requiring careful preparation, monitoring and support. Breeders and pet owners should understand the stages of whelping, how to prepare, recognize complications and provide appropriate postnatal care.
At Vitalize®, our team of dog lovers wants to ensure your dog’s labor & delivery go without a hitch. If there is one thing we know, nutrition for pregnant dogs is vital and carries over to successful whelping. Care that comes full circle is at the heart of everything we do. Therefore, we wanted to share this information with our fellow canine caretakers.
Remember, Vitalize is a line of dog supplements with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing. Our goal is to make an undeniable impact on every animal.
This guide will cover all aspects of whelping to ensure the health and safety of both the mother and her puppies.
Preparing for Whelping
Preparation is key to success in everything, including ensuring a smooth delivery. Adequate planning and organization reduce stress for both the mama dog and its human caregiver. Whelping is the final stage of pregnancy, a period that typically lasts about 63 days in dogs. Before your dog reaches those final days of pregnancy, ensure you have the proper supplies and space for whelping her new pups. You will want to take the following steps.
Prepare a Whelping Box
Provide a clean, quiet and comfortable whelping box large enough for the mother to move freely but with sides high enough to prevent puppies from wandering. Whelping boxes can be wooden, plastic, acrylic or metal. The most important consideration is that they need to be easy to clean. You likely want to line the floor with plastic or some other easy-to-remove liner for post-delivery cleanup. We encourage a waterproof liner as the puppies will urinate in the whelping box during their first few weeks of life until you start training them—either with a litter box or otherwise.
Once the pups are born, you might consider a warming plate or a soft dog bed or blankets as cushions to keep both mom and babies comfy and warm. We suggest one puppy blanket or pad versus several small blankets that a pup could get rolled up in and potentially smother in.
Supplies Checklist
You will want to have several items available before your dog becomes a mama. Complete the following checklist of items and have them close to the whelping box.
- Clean towels and blankets to clean off and dry the puppies.
- Sterile scissors and umbilical clamps to cut umbilical cords if necessary.
- Disposable gloves for handling the pups.
- Thermometer to monitor the temperature of the whelping box for comfort.
- Heating pad or heat lamp – help keep the new puppies warm and safe.
- Clipboard or notepad to record births and weights.
- Digital scale for weighing puppies so you can monitor their growth and performance or weight loss if they get sick or weak.
Create a Safe Environment
Keep the area warm – between 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit – and quiet, away from household traffic. Be sure to line the whelping box with absorbent material. Make the whelping box available to your pregnant dog about 7 to 10 days before her anticipated due date so she can get accustomed to laying in it comfortably. Her instincts should tell her the box is intended for her, especially if you put a favorite blanket or toy in the box. Keep the whelping box out of a high-traffic area like a family or playroom so the dog has a quiet, comfortable space to welcome her puppies into the world.
Understanding the Whelping Process
Canine gestation ranges between 58 and 68 days and averages approximately 63 days. Follow our guide on what to feed a pregnant dog to ensure the mom and pups get the best prenatal nutrition possible. As a dog owner, it is vital to familiarize yourself with the stages of pregnancy and labor. This ensures a successful whelping process.
Stages of Pregnancy
Early Pregnancy (Weeks 1-4)
During the first month, physical signs are barely noticeable. Changes in appetite, slight weight gain and behavioral shifts may occur. Veterinary confirmation via ultrasound is possible around day 28. Speaking of the veterinarian, establish a relationship with your canine doc long before pregnancy. Your dog(s) should be current on vaccinations, and routine check-ups should be part of their regular health plan.
Mid Pregnancy (Weeks 5-6)
Physical changes become more evident during weeks 5 and 6. The abdomen enlarges, and appetite increases as the pups get nourishment from their mom. It is essential to provide quality nutrition for pregnant dogs. Just like pregnant women, be sure they receive regular veterinary check-ups.
Late Pregnancy (Weeks 7-9)
Nesting behavior begins, and the mammary glands swell as the female approaches whelping. Temperature monitoring becomes vital as a drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit often indicates labor within 24 hours. Watch for your expectant mother to start spending more time in her whelping box, literally preparing her nest and getting cozy. This is why we encourage preparing it early.
Signs of Approaching Labor
Recognizing the signs of whelping allows you to provide timely assistance. Whelping is a laborious, time-consuming experience that the mother dog can typically go through unassisted. Common whelping indicators include:
- Restlessness and nesting behavior
- Drop in body temperature
- Loss of appetite
- Panting and shivering
- Mucous discharge
Stages of Whelping
Stage One: Pre-Labor
The initial stage can last 6-12 hours. The cervix dilates, and the mother appears anxious and restless and begins nesting. Be sure she has a comfortable, quiet place for her whelping box that is warm, as her temperature has dropped.
Stage Two: Delivery
Active labor begins with visible contractions. Puppies are usually born within 30-60 minutes of intense straining. Each puppy typically arrives within 20-60 minutes, though intervals of up to two hours are normal. Mothers usually clean the puppies and sever the umbilical cords themselves. Depending on litter size, delivery can take a long time. Give the mama plenty of time and space to clean and sever each umbilical cord and clean each pup.
Stage Three: Placenta Delivery
The mother will expel the placenta after each puppy. Make sure that she delivers each placenta—retained placentas can cause infection. Keep a record to verify none are left inside.
Support During Whelping
Although most deliveries are seamless, there will be times you might need to help the new mother with the delivery. It is important to observe and assist as needed:
- Monitor Closely: Observe the process without unnecessary intervention unless problems arise.
- Clearing Airways: If the mother does not clean a puppy, gently clear the airway with a bulb syringe. Cleaning the nose ensures the puppies get the air they need outside the womb.
- Umbilical Cord Care: If the mother does not sever the cord, tie it off with dental floss an inch from the puppy’s abdomen and cut it with sterile scissors.
Recognizing & Managing Complications
Be aware of signs of distress or abnormality. If you know your mama dog is in early signs of labor, it is wise to contact your veterinarian. The veterinarian doesn’t need to be involved but perhaps will know to be “on-call” in case of any dystocia, or whelping complication. Dystocia is more common in older females and larger litters. Some breeds, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Boston Terriers and Chihuahuas, are more prone to dystocia.
Prolonged Labor
If active pushing exceeds an hour without a puppy, seek veterinary assistance. If your veterinarian cannot help with a natural delivery, a cesarian delivery is required.
Retained Puppies
A sudden termination of labor despite knowing more puppies remain inside necessitates immediate veterinary care, which is why we recommend giving early notice to your vet.
Weak or Unresponsive Puppies
Stimulate with gentle rubbing, especially in the chest area where the heart and lungs are present. If unresponsive, seek veterinary help.
Post-Whelping Care
Although birth is a beautiful process, whelping is stressful for the new mother. She has potentially spent hours bringing new lives into the world. Now, she is their sole source of nourishment. It is essential to provide her and her babies with the best care possible.
Mother’s Care
- Provide fresh water and nutrient-rich food.
- Monitor for signs of infection or postpartum complications, such as fever or foul-smelling discharge.
Puppies’ Care
- Ensure each puppy nurses within two hours to receive colostrum, the mother’s nutrient-rich first milk.
- Weigh puppies daily to track growth. If you chart a decrease in weight in one or more pups, contact the vet. If only one pup shows weight loss, consider supplementing that pup with milk replacer and talking to your vet at a postnatal check-up.
- Keep the environment warm and clean. Clean the area regularly of puppy waste and keep it warm and cozy for the new puppies.
Veterinary Check-Up
- Schedule a postnatal check-up within 24-48 hours to ensure the health of the mother and her litter. As mentioned, if one or more puppies experience continual weight loss, follow up with your veterinarian. Continue monitoring weight while the puppies are nursing.
- Provide Vitalize® Dog Gel for the trip to the vet. A healthy dog starts with a healthy gut. Vitalize Dog Gel is a prebiotic and nutrient-rich gel for dogs designed to give immediate support to the digestive and immune systems. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility and MOS, which helps normalize gut microflora and supports the immune system. The Vitalize Dog Gel works fast to support appetite and hydration. Consider giving it to the new mother after whelping or to any dog during a stressful situation.
Long-Term Puppy Care
Feeding
Puppies nurse exclusively for the first three weeks. Gradually introduce soft foods by week four. Puppy food is specially formulated with the nutrients that puppies need. Can dogs eat carrots? Yes, they can. They can also eat cheese, including cottage cheese, which is a good way to give them medication if needed. Provide clean, fresh water daily. Caution: the pups will likely play in the water as a learning experience until they are accustomed to it.
Socialization
Gently handle puppies from birth to promote human bonding. Talk to them gently and use simple commands so they are used to you and your voice. Introduce new experiences gradually, but ensure that they are safe and at a level that meets the pups’ abilities.
Health Monitoring
Follow a vaccination and deworming schedule recommended by a veterinarian. If you are selling your puppies, provide all vaccination information to the buyers so they can stay on track and continue getting the proper vaccinations they need.
Vitalize Plays a Role in Delivering Healthy Pups!
Whelping is a complex yet rewarding experience requiring preparation, knowledge and attentive care. Hopefully, before your mama dog was even bred, her diet included a product from Vitalize.
Vitalize is a line of supplements with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing.
Vitalize products are powered by two proprietary ingredients: AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility, and MHB3®, a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.
Studies show that dogs that have been fed Amaferm experience better health outcomes during birthing, early life care and breeding.
In addition to Vitalize Dog Gel, we offer 4 other products:
Vitalize® Dog
A granular vitamin and mineral supplement for dogs, Vitalize Dog supports breeding and performance. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, omegas for healthy skin and hair and a high-quality blend of vitamins and minerals for daily support of any diet.
Vitalize® Alimend® K9
A liquid product for dogs, Vitalize Alimend K9 supports gastric health and GI tissue and may relieve occasional gastric issues. In addition to Amaferm, it contains MHB3®, a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid that coats the stomach and supports GI tissue integrity. It also contains beta-glucans to support the gut and immune system.
Vitalize® Trixsyn® Canine
Another liquid product for dogs, Vitalize Trixsyn Canine features MHB3, a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. This ingredient supports hip and joint health and boosts mobility.
Vitalize® Trixsyn® Canine Performance
Vitalize Trixsyn Canine Performance is a liquid product for dogs that supports total mobility utilizing hyaluronic acid. It supports hip, joint, and soft tissue health. The performance formula helps maintain a normal inflammatory response and supports normal exercise recovery.
The Final Word
We hope you have found this whelping guide useful. Hopefully, your mama dog will have a healthy pregnancy and whelp unassisted. However, the bottom line:
Always consult a veterinarian. Your animal doctor knows what’s best for your dog. Listen to him or her, and make sure to have your dog examined annually. That is the best way to build a veterinary-client relationship with your dog and the vet. That also helps with dog anxiety, and the dog won’t think going to the vet has to be just for troubleshooting or sickness.
Read and follow labels. We cannot emphasize this enough. Even on our Vitalize products, we put labels there for a reason, and if you don’t read them, your dog might not be getting the best nutrition possible, regardless of how good the nutrients are in the bag.
Monitor your dog’s health. Just because he or she licks the bowl clean every time doesn’t necessarily mean that there are no underlying issues. Is your dog losing weight? Do they seem lethargic or scratching and itching? It might be time to take them to the veterinarian.
Get your Vitalize Today!
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