Congratulations! Your dog is expecting puppies! Not sure when they will arrive? Not sure what to do after the babies get here? What if something goes wrong? Here are a few helpful tips to help both you and your dog with whelping.

Pregnancy in dogs is approximately 60 days from conception to delivery. There will be a change in your dog’s behavior, either dramatic or subtle. Nothing to worry about, that’s just the nesting instinct taking over. Once gestation reaches about 58 days, start taking your dog’s temperature while she is calm and relaxed. Do this two to three times a day, at the same time every day. Normal body temperature for a dog is 100-101 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperature goes down to 98 or 99, the babies usually arrive within 24 hours. Time for the preparations to get underway.

This would also be a very good time to notify your vet the pups are on the way just in case there are complications, and to arrange for transportation and help in moving the dog just in case you need it. Have plenty of towels and clean cloths in the backseat or truck bed just in case.

Help your dog’s nesting instinct along by providing an enclosed space or crate and lining it with clean towels, rags or cloths. This whelping area should have sides high enough to keep the puppies confined, and yet allow the new mom to easily get in and out.

The mother dog knows what to do by instinct and things usually go quite smoothly. But once in a while you might have to help a little. Gather together in one place sharp scissors, thread, iodine, surgical gloves and more clean cloths or towels. What are all these things for? The scissors for severing the umbilical cord if mom can’t or won’t bite through it, the thread for tying it off, and the iodine for sterilizing it after it has been cut. The towels or cloths are for drying the pups and cleaning matter from noses and mouths. You might also want to have some powdered dog formula and bottles handy in case mom is unable or refuses to nurse.

Once the water breaks, birthing can be fast or slow. Both are perfectly normal. During delivery, mom may growl, or howl, or whine, or bark or be extremely quiet. All of these are also quite normal. If the birthing does not begin within an hour of the water breaking, or mom seems to be straining, contact your vet for advice.

Some females stand, others squat and still others would rather lie down during birthing. Some moms do all three. All of these are normal, so do not try to restrict her movements – she does whichever makes her the most comfortable. Typically, the new mother will clean and take care of the puppies between births. The clean cloths in the whelping area will help her keep the newborns warm as well as aid in a speedy clean up for you afterward.

If the babies are arriving too quickly for mom to keep up, you may have to step in and give her a hand. Move them away from the hindquarters to a separate warm spot in the whelping area or if necessary to a completely separate space until mom is finished delivering all her pups and the delivery area is cleaned up.

Should you have any questions about what is going on, are concerned about anything, or if your dog seems to be having problems of any kind, including signs of stress and especially if the placenta is not expelled after the last pup is born, it is best to contact your vet as soon as possible for guidance.

One last thing to think about while your dog is pregnant is getting a doggie litter box. The Porch Potty is convenient and can be used either indoors or outside. It helps to keep the new mom close to her while they are still nursing. After the babies are old enough and getting around on their own, you and mom can teach the pups to use the Porch Potty too.

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