Whelping Problems in Dogs: When a Birth Needs a Vet

What normal labor looks like

Pregnancy in dogs lasts about 63 days from ovulation. Counted from mating, the date is less exact. A pregnancy that goes past about 70 days from a known mating is considered too long.

About a day before labor, the mother's rectal temperature often drops below 99°F (37.2°C). Normal is about 100 to 102.5°F (37.8 to 39.2°C). Taking her temperature morning and evening in the last week can help you spot the drop. Your vet can show you how.

Labor has three stages. In stage one, she is restless, pants, shivers, digs and nests. She may refuse food or vomit. This usually lasts 6 to 12 hours, and sometimes a day or more. You will not see pushing yet.

In stage two, visible straining starts and puppies are born. A puppy usually arrives within 30 minutes of strong pushing. Gaps of up to two hours between puppies can be normal. She may rest, drink, or clean and feed the first puppies in between. Stage three is the delivery of the placenta, often with the puppy or soon after. Stages two and three repeat until the last puppy is born.

A whole litter often takes several hours, and large litters take longer. A birth that goes on for more than 24 hours is not normal. Each puppy has its own placenta, and many mothers eat them. Counting placentas is useful, though it is easy to miss one. Tell the vet if you think one did not come out.

Green discharge means a placenta is separating. It should be followed quickly by a puppy. Green or dark discharge with no puppy coming is a warning sign.

Why a birth can stall

The most common cause is a uterus that does not contract strongly enough. Vets call this uterine inertia. Sometimes contractions never get going. This is more likely with a very small litter, where one or two puppies do not trigger strong labor, or a very large one that overstretches the uterus. Age, excess weight, poor nutrition and illness can also play a part. In other cases the uterus starts well and then tires, usually because a puppy is blocking the way.

Other problems come from the birth canal or the puppies. The mother's pelvis may be narrow because of her breed or an old fracture that healed badly. A puppy may be too big to pass, which is more common when the litter is very small. A puppy may be lying in an awkward position, such as sideways or with its head turned back, or have a malformation. Fear and stress can also slow labor, especially in a first-time mother or one in an unfamiliar place.

Breed matters. Flat-faced breeds such as French bulldogs, bulldogs, pugs and Boston terriers have difficult births far more often than mixed breeds and are much more likely to need a C-section. Chihuahuas and other toy breeds are also at higher risk.

Signs a birth needs a vet

It is best to call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic if you see any of the following.

• Strong, frequent straining for 20 to 30 minutes with no puppy born
• A puppy or fluid-filled sac stuck in the birth canal while she strains for about 10 minutes
• More than two hours since the last puppy when you believe more are inside
• Green or dark discharge with no puppy following soon after
• Bloody discharge before the first puppy, or bright red bleeding that lasts longer than 10 minutes
• No labor within 24 hours of her temperature drop
• A mother who seems very weak, collapses, trembles, or has a temperature over 103°F (39.4°C)
• A pregnancy beyond about 70 days from a known mating

If something feels wrong and you are unsure, calling early is the safer choice. A phone call costs little. Waiting too long can cost puppies.

What to do on the way

Write down when labor began, when each puppy was born, and how many placentas you saw. The vet will use this timeline. Puppies already born can travel with her in a towel-lined box with gentle warmth, since newborns cannot keep themselves warm. Keep the car calm and quiet.

Pulling hard on a stuck puppy can injure the puppy and the mother. Medicines that strengthen contractions can do harm if a puppy is blocking the way, so they are only given after a vet has examined her.

How vets diagnose and treat it

The vet starts with your timeline and an exam. A gentle internal check with a gloved finger shows whether a puppy is in the birth canal and how it is lying. An X-ray shows how many puppies are left, their size and position, and the shape of the pelvis. An ultrasound shows whether the puppies are alive and whether they are in distress. A slow puppy heartbeat is a sign of distress. Blood tests, such as calcium and blood sugar, show how well the mother is coping.

If a puppy is stuck near the opening, the vet may be able to ease it out by hand. If the canal is clear and the uterus is weak or tired, medication can strengthen contractions, sometimes along with calcium. A C-section is recommended when medication does not work, when a puppy is too big or badly positioned, when the puppies show distress, or when the mother is unwell. In studies, about half or more of dogs with dystocia needed a C-section. The vet will explain how to support nursing while she recovers.

Pregnant strays in foster care

A pregnant stray often arrives with no known mating date, an unknown health history, and sometimes old injuries. At Paw Squadron, the first stops after every rescue are the vet and a bath, with a checkup and treatment against worms, fleas and other parasites. If a dog may be pregnant, it helps to tell the vet, since some parasite treatments and vaccines are not suitable during pregnancy.

An ultrasound can confirm the pregnancy and check that the puppies are alive. In the last two to three weeks of pregnancy, an X-ray can count the puppies and give the vet a rough idea of their size compared with her pelvis. Knowing the number tells you when the birth is finished. A few other things make the birth safer.

• A whelping box in a warm, quiet room away from other pets
• Clean towels, gloves, a notebook and a thermometer
• Your vet's number and the address of the nearest 24-hour clinic
• A plan for getting there at night
• A balanced diet for pregnancy and nursing, with no extra calcium unless the vet advises it

A dog moved into a new home late in pregnancy does best with a calm spot and few visitors, since stress can slow labor.

A difficult birth is not contagious. Birth fluids can carry germs, though, so gloves and good hand washing are sensible, and other pets are best kept away. If a dog loses her puppies late in pregnancy or they are stillborn, the vet may suggest testing for infections such as canine brucellosis. It spreads between dogs and, rarely, to people.

After the birth

Many vets like to check the mother and puppies soon after the birth. Some vaginal discharge is normal for about three weeks, sometimes longer, and it should slowly lessen. It is worth calling the vet if it smells bad, turns heavy or bright red, or if she has a fever, stops eating, or ignores her puppies.

Small dogs nursing large litters can develop eclampsia, a dangerous drop in blood calcium. It usually appears when the puppies are one to four weeks old. Early signs are restlessness, heavy panting and stiff walking, followed by trembling, muscle spasms or seizures. This is an emergency, so call the vet right away. Once the puppies are weaned, ask the vet about spaying the mother. It prevents future pregnancies and the risks that come with them.

If you are fostering a pregnant dog and are unsure whether labor is going normally, call the vet early. For more guides on caring for rescued animals, visit PawPedia. If you would like to give one of our dogs a home, see the Adoptions page.