My Dumb Dog

Whelping is a term used to refer to the birth process of canines, when the female gun dog gives birth to a litter of puppies. Most female hunting dogs (bitches) will go through this process naturally, with little help needed from you or a veterinarian. Occasionally, though, some help is needed and if you understand the process and what is expected at each stage of whelping, you’ll be prepared to give aid when it is needed.When you have a pregnant gun dog and she is about to give birth, this process is called “whelping”. In most cases, the mother dog will know how to do this alone, but in some cases help may be needed by you or a vet. If you are thinking about breeding dogs, and having the mother deliver them at home, then you should really become familiar with whelping and all that goes into to it.

A bitch will be pregnant for about 58 to 68 days. Towards the end of this gestation period, at about the fifty-eighth day, you’ll want to start watching for signs of labor. Take the dog’s temperature regularly and watch for a sudden drop to about 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit as this is an indication that she will begin whelping within the next 24 hours. You can rent or buy a thermometer meant especially for this task from a veterinarian. Use a little lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, to help the process.The gestation period for dogs is 58 to 68 days. As that 58th day approaches you will want to keep a close eye for signs that your pregnant dog is about to go into labor. I typically take my dogs temperature as the days get closer to the expected delivery date and watch carefully for a sudden drop in her temperature. Now dogs typically have a normal temperature of 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit but about 24 hours prior to delivery their temperature will drop by a couple degrees to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating birth is imminent.

Make available a whelping box (any box large enough for her to comfortably stretch in). It can be cardboard, plastic, or wooden. She will naturally begin nesting in that box shortly before the whelping process is to begin. Her instincts are telling her to prepare for the puppies.In order for you dog to feel “prepared” for the whelping process, it is necessary for you to provide some version of a “whelping box” for her. This can be a professionally made one, or something as simple as a cardboard box, which ever she feels more comfortable in. Once the whelping process has begun the mother dog will begin a process called “nesting” which means the dog will take anything available whether it be newspaper, blankets, or towels to prepare a comfortable place for her to give birth.

Don’t hold that 24-hour rule for temperature drop to whelping too fast, however. Often, this temperature drop happens only a few minutes or hours before the event. Nesting and temperature change together are sure indications no matter what, though. Be prepared anytime after her 58th day of pregnancy for her to go into labor at any time. When she does go into labor, she will begin contractions, which will be clearly visible as her muscles from shoulder to tail will contract and release rhythmically and she will likely lie down and find a comfortable place in her whelping box. She will whimper slightly and begin licking herself to prepare for birth.It is always to keep in mind though that when your dog’s temperature drops, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have 24 hours until the puppies are born. It can often happen within only a few hours before labor begins. If your dog begins whelping, and her temperature drops, that is a sure sign that labor will begin very soon. Labor is very easy to spot, she will begin having contractions which will be easily spotted. The muscles from her shoulder to her tail will contract and release over and over again. At this time she will most likely be very restless and try to find a comfortable position.

It’s likely that from here on in, you will only be an observer, watching as the pups emerge one after another. It can take several minutes or even hours. A bitch that has not had puppies before will likely take longer than one who hasn’t, but there is no hard-and-fast rule. If the process takes more than two or three hours, call a veterinarian for advice.As the puppies do begin to arrive the female should know how to handle to puppies but be there to offer assistance in case she begins to struggle or has a hard time tending to all the puppies. Some females will whelp puppies quickly, while other will take longer. If you female experiences excess labor for more than 3 hours seek a vet’s advice.

If more than an hour goes by with her in labor but producing no puppies, help her up and take her for a brief walk around the area or (if the weather is good) in the yard. Do not go further than you can carry her, however, so that if she collapses into birth, you can quickly take her back to her whelping box. Feathering is another technique that can help stimulate birth. Put on a latex glove and lubricate with KY jelly or another non-toxic lubricant and gently insert your finger into her vulva up to the top of her vagina.To speed the process up or if you find that a considerable amount of time has gone by between delivery of puppies you can take her for a quick walk. Keep a close eye on your female this short walk may create an unexpected birth outside of the whelping box. Another way to stimulate birth is to use a technique called feathering. With a latex glove and some KY jelly, gently insert a single finger into your female’s vulva lightly lifting it to the edge of her vagina, in an up and out motion.

When the puppies finally do come, they will be preceded by a gush of fluid as her water breaks. After her water has broken, expect a puppy within twenty minutes and more to follow shortly after, one after another. They are usually born head first and the mother will naturally know when to stop. You can “feel” her gut by gently pressing with your fingers to see if more puppies are due to arrive.When a puppy is being born it is accompanied by the water sac, which can either be with in tactic, or ruptured prior to the puppy being fully delivered. The puppy is usually delivered head first.

Once they are born, the mother will likely do all the work caring for the puppies. Make sure that warm, damp rags are ready for wiping down the pups and for gently massaging them to stimulate breathing. Most likely, mother will do this with her tongue as the pups are born, so again, you will likely just watch. Do not pick up or handle the puppies any more than medically necessary during the first few hours so that they can have mom’s full attention. Gentle, shortly-timed handling for the first week or so is recommended while the puppies acclimate and grow.Once the puppies are delivered, mom knows what to do. She will clean them and make sure they are breathing, if this does not happen, you can clean the puppy off yourself and take a clean dry towel and rub the puppy until they begin to cry. This will both clean and get them breathing all in one step. It should however be taken into consideration that handling the puppies more than medically necessary shouldn’t be done within the first week of birth.

Just remember, there are lots of different kinds of hunting dog supplies out there, and to choose them wisely. Don’t forget your dog crate and dog training collars.