The final stage of pregnancy and childbirth in dogs. Childbirth in dogs Signs that the dog is about to give birth

One of the crucial periods for the owner of a dog is the pregnancy and childbirth of a pet. Knowledge of subtleties physiological process, the ability to provide competent obstetric care animal - a guarantee of obtaining healthy offspring and preserving reproductive function females. In some cases, the dog may need qualified actions. veterinary specialist.

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Is it always necessary to call the veterinarian

In most cases, the birth process in pets goes away on its own, human intervention in this action is minimal. If the dog does not have the first birth, the animal was observed by a veterinarian during pregnancy, there are no chronic diseases, the birth process can take place independently. An experienced owner, who has more than one such event, can take delivery without the presence of a doctor.

In the event that the obstetric care of a pet is the first on the owner’s account, there is a lack of self-confidence - it is better to play it safe. You can’t do without the help of a specialist even if the dog had health problems while carrying puppies, the animal is too old and there are accompanying illnesses(heart disease, kidney problems, etc.).

To ensure that the birth of newborns is not overshadowed by problems, the owner should enlist the support of a veterinarian, have his contact number at hand and notify the specialist if signs of an impending birth are detected.

Preparing for childbirth in a dog

Preparatory measures for labor activity in a pet begin, as a rule, almost immediately after mating. Rational feeding taking into account physiological features, daily dosed walks, taking vitamin preparations on the recommendation of a veterinarian - key points that determine the prosperous and the birth of healthy offspring.

The average duration of gestation of puppies is 62 - 64 days. This period depends on the breed, multiplicity and individual characteristics animal. At small breeds the gestation period may be reduced, and for representatives large breeds the gestation period in some cases stretches up to 72 days.

Starting from the third week after conception, with the help of ultrasound abdominal cavity a veterinarian can not only determine the very fact of a pet's pregnancy, but also the number of fetuses in the womb. The owner can prepare for the adoption of childbirth already at this stage of development of the offspring. For successful childbirth, you will need the following materials and tools:

Waterproof pad. It is laid on the floor to avoid contamination of the room with bloody secretions. Optimal size oilcloth - 1 by 1 meter.
Cotton fabric. You will need 3-4 cotton diapers or sheets. It is convenient to use disposable diapers measuring 60 by 90 or 60 by 60 if the dog is small.
For wiping newborn puppies, you will need small pieces of cotton soft tissue. It is better not to use gauze and other mesh materials for these purposes - they will cling to babies and can cause microtrauma. Pieces of fabric should be well washed and ironed with a hot iron.
Scissors. This tool will be needed to cut the umbilical cord of newborns. It is advisable to take scissors with round ends, sharp. They are pre-boiled or treated with 70-degree alcohol.
Chlorhexidine solution or Miramistin. Preparations will be needed for the treatment of hands during childbirth. The same solutions can be used to disinfect scissors when helping an animal.

Brilliant green solution. An antiseptic is used to treat the stump of the umbilical cord in newborn puppies.
Syringes with a volume of 1, 5 and 10 ml. Syringes may be needed not only for injections of the drug, but also to cleanse the puppy's nasal cavity of mucus with difficulty inhaling. For resuscitation, it is also convenient to keep a small rubber douche on hand.
It will not be superfluous to prepare medicines such as Oxytocin, Valocordin, saline and 40% glucose before childbirth. Drugs should be used only when necessary and on the advice of a doctor. For resuscitation of weak newborn puppies, you will need ammonia and cotton wool.
Disposable bags for isolating the placenta and disposing of used wipes.
Electric heating pad for puppies.
Cardboard box. A basket or a small box will be needed to isolate the puppies from their mother for a while (weighing, sex determination, etc.).

To find out the body weight of newborns, you need an electronic scale and a notepad for recording data.

To prepare for the birth of a dog, see this video:

The first signs and symptoms of incipient labor

The owner of a pregnant female should have an idea of what the harbingers of childbirth are, how to determine that labor activity will begin soon. The following signs testify to the approaching process:

2 weeks before a significant event, the dog's belly increases significantly in size, sags.
The hair on the abdomen around the mammary glands is thinning. The glands themselves swell. 3 - 5 days before birth, when you press the nipples, colostrum appears.
The dog becomes restless, looks for a secluded place, wears rags, clothes, rugs, bedding in a certain place - equips a nest for future offspring. Many pets follow the owner inseparably, require affection and attention.

The animal carefully licks the external genitalia, preparing for childbirth. This phenomenon is observed approximately 2 days before whelping.
During urination, when getting up after sleep, a whitish secret may be released from the genital slit. The separation of the mucous film is observed 3 to 5 days before labor.
12 - 24 hours before the puppies are born, the amniotic fluid leaves the dog. The animal can lick them. During the same period it is possible frequent urination in small portions.

As a rule, a few hours before the birth, the dog stops eating, settles in a nest equipped in advance. Thermometry shows a decrease in body temperature to 37 C in large breeds and to 36.6 C in small females. Hypothermia is caused by a decrease in the concentration of progesterone, which leads to inhibition of the work of the thermoregulatory center in the brain.

Is there a difference between large and small breeds

The physiological process of the birth of puppies in females large and small ornamental breeds has no significant differences. However, there are objective difficulties in obstetric care for small pets due to their small mass. Owner decorative dog It should be taken into account that the pet brittle bones, tender muscle and a narrow pelvic passage compared to the size of the cubs.

Stages of labor in a dog

The process of birth of newborn puppies is determined by a number of hormonal and mechanical factors. Veterinarians-obstetricians distinguish the following stages of labor in dogs:

Preparatory stage. Under the action of the hormone cortisol, synthesized by the fetus, prostaglandins are activated. This leads to an increase in the excitability of uterine receptors. There is an increase in muscle tone reproductive organ, preparation of the birth canal for the promotion of the fetus. At this stage, the owner observes contractions in the dog. The onset of labor is especially well felt if you put a hand on the pet's stomach.
Cervical dilatation period. The stage is accompanied by full disclosure of the birth canal and attempts. There is a discharge of amniotic fluid. The animal is pushing, as in the act of emptying the intestines.
fruit expulsion stage. At this time, there is a contraction of the striated muscles of the uterus. High blood pressure in the abdominal cavity contributes to the mechanical movement of the fetus outward. At the same time, the head and breech presentation a puppy is considered normal in obstetric practice.

postpartum stage. Uterine contractions lead to the expulsion of the remnants of the placenta. The afterbirth separates after the birth of each puppy. It often happens that in one amniotic sac there can be several newborns at once, but each of them has its own baby place. The dog can eat the afterbirth. This will not bring harm, but many owners clean the children's place on their own, without giving it to the female.

After birth, the mother gnaws the amniotic sac, gnaws the umbilical cord, licks the babies, while freeing the airways and stimulating independent breathing.

Symptoms to watch out for

In rare cases, the birth process is pathological and requires the provision of qualified veterinary care. The following signs should alert the owner:

The animal's pregnancy has been prolonged and exceeds 67 days from the moment of mating. This phenomenon is most often associated with large-fruitedness and requires professional manipulation.
Violent contractions do not end with the birth of a newborn puppy. If more than 2 hours have passed since the start of contractions, or weak labor activity is observed, it is time to call a veterinarian at home.
The exit of the next puppy is delayed by more than 2 hours.
The puppy appeared in the birth canal, but due to large-fruitedness does not leave the mother's womb.
During childbirth from the genital tract of the female, abundant bloody issues bright red, green or brown liquid.
One of the puppies in the litter is stillborn.

You should also call the veterinarian at home when the owner is not sure whether all the puppies were born, when the temperature of the pet rises above 39.5 C, and also when the new mother becomes very weak.

Childbirth in a dog, as a rule, takes place without serious intervention by a specialist. The owner must prepare in advance for this process and know the main stages of labor in the pet. If necessary, you should immediately call a veterinarian at home, without relying on your own strength.

Useful video

About childbirth in dogs, signs and stages of the birth process, see this video:

Childbirth in dogs is a complex and responsible process. Owners need to know how the signs of childbirth appear in a dog, and how the process itself goes. This will allow you to help the pet or, if the pet is puppies under the supervision of a veterinarian, assist the doctor.

Features of childbirth in dogs

It is believed that dogs can give birth on their own, without human help. Animals have genetic memory and intuitively know what to do. However, it should be borne in mind that pets partly “lost” their innate skills as a result of domestication. They are people-oriented and need support.

Also, problems during childbirth can arise due to the physiological characteristics of the animal's body, diseases and inexperience of the bitch.

Therefore, the owners of a pregnant dog should learn about the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy and labor.

On average, a bitch's pregnancy lasts 59–63 days. The weeks before delivery may vary somewhat depending on the size of the animal and the number of embryos. So, if there are a lot of puppies, they will appear a couple of days earlier. Based on the breed congenital features and the number of livestock in the litter, the gestation period from 56 to 72 days is considered the norm.

How many puppies there will be in a litter is impossible to predict. This parameter does not depend on the breed. Most of all, it is affected by the mating time: you need to guess with the period when the number of eggs will be maximum. Also play a role hormonal background, health, quality of keeping both females and males. A dog can give birth to 1 to 15 babies. But there are also champions.

Behavioral and physiological signs of incipient labor

There are three periods in childbirth in dogs:

Preparatory: birth canal open, the body of the bitch is preparing for the birth of puppies.
Prenatal: fights begin.
Direct birth: the appearance of puppies and the exit of the placenta.

Conventionally, the first signs of childbirth in dogs can be divided into physiological and behavioral. The latter appear as follows:

The female becomes restless, cannot find a place for herself, hides, digs, gnaws on the bedding and floors.
The dog can become very affectionate, do not leave the owner, look into the eyes expectantly.
Almost all pets lose their appetite. But sometimes they may start eating more than usual.
The pet constantly asks to go outside, but immediately returns back.

The change in behavior is due to the fact that the first contractions of the uterus have begun and intra-abdominal pressure increases. Visually, this is not noticeable, but the bitch is already experiencing pain and discomfort.

The physiological signs of childbirth in dogs are as follows:

The belly sags. This happens about a week before delivery. If you look at the bitch from above, it seems that she has lost weight.
The puppies, previously pushing in the stomach, subside.
8-24 hours before delivery, the dog's body temperature drops to 37-37.5°C, while normally it is 38-39°C. Some individuals also have lower rates.
A viscous white or grayish liquid begins to stand out from the genitals. It comes out a "cork".
Breathing and heart rate increase.
The nipples swell, which makes it seem as if the hair around them has thinned.
Hair falls out on the abdomen.
Immediately before childbirth, the water begins to break. It looks like the dog has urinated.

The above signs suggest that the birth of puppies will begin in 2-24 hours. If this does not happen, it is necessary to contact the veterinarian to determine the cause of the deviation and, if necessary, stimulate labor.

With the onset of contractions, the signs of childbirth in a dog become visually noticeable. You can see the contraction of the abdomen during attempts. If you put your hand on the belly of the animal, you will feel how the uterus tenses and relaxes after each contraction.

The dog lies on its right side. If the place of birth was limited to a box or an arena, the bitch will begin to rest her paws against the front wall, and her croup against the back. During contractions, she may moan loudly or even scream.

How to prepare for the upcoming birth of a pet?

You need to prepare for the appearance of puppies 1-2 weeks before the expected date of birth. Forethought is necessary, as the process can start a couple of days earlier.

A special place is being prepared for the bitch and future puppies. It can be a large box, an arena, or a designated area. Some owners prefer to have the dog give birth on the couch or bed. This method is suitable for large breeds. The surface is pre-covered with a film and old sheets.

The place of birth should be protected so that the bitch can safely go out and come in, and the newborns could not get out. After giving birth, the puppies, along with their mother, are transferred to another place, protected from drafts. They also provide safe heating. The air temperature in the first two weeks should be 28°C, then it is gradually reduced to 20°C.

The apartment is being prepared. Childbirth is a very “dirty” process. Therefore, they clean all the carpets, take old sheets and diapers, which it is not a pity to throw away. It is also better to wear already worn clothes.

On the eve of childbirth, the dog can gnaw everything that comes under the tooth. Therefore, all valuable things are hidden.

The owners must take care of sterility. The room is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. If possible, install over the place for childbirth infrared lamp. The belly, nipples and genitals of the dog are washed, the hair is shaved off. If the bitch is long-haired, you can collect overhanging strands with rubber bands. The wearer's hands must also be clean and with short-cut nails.

Necessary materials for childbirth

Before giving birth, you need to purchase a few things. "Obstetrical" set for dogs includes:

oilcloth;
sheet;
heating pad;
a small box where newborns will be placed;
a basin or bucket for dirty rags;
thermometer: room and veterinary;
sterile tweezers, scissors, pipettes;
syringes;
cotton wool, gauze or bandage;
napkins and diapers;
disinfected silk threads: they are useful for cutting the umbilical cord;
scissors;
scales;
multi-colored wool threads for marking puppies;
block and pen - for recording data on childbirth and puppies: body temperature, intensity and duration of contractions, weight, time of appearance and color of babies.

You also need to stock up on medicines:

alcohol or vodka;
glucose in ampoules;
synthomycin ointment;
hydrogen peroxide;
brilliant green;
calcium gluconate;
"No-Shpoy";
diphenhydramine;
oxytocin;
vitamin B12 in ampoules;
analgin.

To reinforce the forces of the "woman in labor", she can be given small pieces of chocolate in between contractions.

Activities during childbirth

Just before giving birth, the dog's water breaks. The water bubble bursts, and the fluid flowing out of it washes the birth canal. It bursts either by itself, or it is gnawed by a bitch. You can't burst a bubble on your own.

After the pet rests for a while. Attempts during childbirth become intense, the time of contractions is reduced. The first puppy after the discharge of water should appear after a maximum of 3 hours. If this does not happen, you need to call the veterinarian, as this sign indicates a complicated tribal activity and there is a risk of death of the mother or puppies.

Puppies are born head first or tail first. Both positions are considered normal. Newborns appear in the amniotic membrane. Sometimes it ruptures itself when passing through the birth canal. But most often it is removed by a bitch. If she does not do this, she must immediately break the shell.

A healthy puppy should immediately squeak. If he is silent, breathes through his mouth, wheezing is heard, or appeared not in the amniotic membrane, but filled with blood or green exudate, you need to clean his nose and mouth. In some cases, it is necessary to suck fluid from the lungs.

Next, you need to cut the umbilical cord. The dog usually does it by itself. But if not, you need to squeeze the umbilical cord with one hand at a distance of 3 - 4 cm from the puppy's abdomen and express the blood towards the baby. With the second hand, the umbilical cord is intercepted a little higher, fixed, and with the first hand it gently stretches towards the newborn. It should separate easily on its own. If this does not happen, it is cut with scissors and tied with silk threads soaked in alcohol.

After the birth of each puppy and dog, the afterbirth comes out - the placenta. It is necessary to carefully monitor that all afterbirths come out. Leftovers can cause metritis, an inflammation of the uterus. You also need to change the litter as soon as the newborn is born and the placenta has passed.

After the birth of the baby, the mother carefully licks him and roughly pushes his nose. There is no need to interfere: these actions stimulate breathing, blood supply and the excretion of the first feces.

When should you call the veterinarian?

Careful preparation for childbirth in a dog is not yet a guarantee that everything will go well. Complications may arise during the process as a result of unforeseen circumstances or existing health problems.

A veterinarian is called when:

2 hours after the start of labor, the first puppy did not appear.
Scarlet blood flows from the genitals.
After the birth of the puppy, the afterbirth did not depart.
If the interval between the birth of babies exceeds 1 hour.
The bitch has dysplasia, problems with the cardiovascular system.
The dog had previously had a caesarean section.

The help of a veterinarian will not be superfluous when more than 6 goals are expected in the litter, the owner has never given birth before, or the dog belongs to small breeds.

postpartum period

For the first few hours, the dog is allowed to rest and made sure that it does not accidentally crush the puppies. For a couple of weeks, the bitch has a discharge of mucus with blood, which gradually discolors. If there is too much discharge, they are green or feel bad smell you need to call the veterinarian.

After giving birth, the pet is fed warm tea by adding some sugar and glucose to it. There may be diarrhea. In this case, the bitch is given Activated carbon. Feeding is restricted for three days fermented milk products and semi-liquid cereals in milk. Gradually introduce meat dishes: broth, boiled lean meat. Do not feed raw chicken or beef, as they can lead to excess milk and inflammation of the mammary glands.

The first couple of weeks the dog is reluctant to leave the puppies, so the walk time is reduced to 15-20 minutes. But the pet must walk, as it stimulates the secretion of milk. After the street, the paws, stomach and nipples are thoroughly washed so that the puppies do not become infected.

In a female, it occurs at 1/2 ... 1 year, but it is impossible to knit a female before the third oestrus. Boys begin to be active earlier than girls, but mature physically and morally later than them. Cynologists recommend untying males of small breeds not earlier than one and a half years, and large ones six months later. The first start of the bitch in mating is carried out at the same time.

If you violate the rule of the third estrus, the female may be barren, the puppies are inferior in breeding terms. In males that have survived premature mating, the psyche is disturbed, the terms of breeding use are shortened.

Puppy lasts 8-10 weeks. Before giving birth, the dog changes behavior, prepares a nest, but this does not happen in females of small breeds. Whelping can start suddenly, so the dog breeder is obliged to be ready for childbirth on the eighth week after mating, to be nearby, monitor health and behavior, and record all events in a diary. At the fifth week of pregnancy, ultrasound is recommended to prevent pregnancy pathologies.

Stages of pregnancy

The optimal period for the development of the fetus is nine weeks. Exists inverse relationship between the number of puppies in the litter and the duration of pregnancy. As in humans, pregnancy is conventionally divided into 3 periods. Initial (up to 20 days) does not bring changes in the behavior of the dog. She is active, playful, but some bitches are observed to be excessively sleepy.

At the beginning of the second trimester, a pregnancy test can be performed, in the middle, embryos are viewed with ultrasound. The female becomes lazy, gaining weight. When feeling the abdomen, they feel the motor activity of the puppies.

In the final phase of gestation, the bitch becomes clumsy, gets tired quickly, starts nesting, sleeps poorly, fusses. From the owner at this time requires care and attention. Feeding becomes more frequent and plentiful. The optimal solution to the problem of nutrition will be the use of complete feed for a pregnant dog. Requires food with a moderate concentration of energy, so that the bitch does not get fat and high content fiber to prevent constipation. In the second half of pregnancy, the bitch's appetite increases.

Milk production requires feed high content energy and low quantity fiber. The caloric requirements of a lactating bitch are doubled compared to those of a nursing bitch, and three times those of a single bitch. Therefore, before childbirth, a transition to nutrition for lactating is required.

Preparing for childbirth

A responsible dog owner must prepare for the birth of his pet. It is necessary to remember how the bitch behaved in the first whelping. If everything went well, we should expect the same development of events.

The owner of the dog is able to master the techniques of rendering primary care from videos or cynological literature. But, if the first birth of the bitch was difficult, it is better to use the services of a professional.

7 ... 10 days before the expected date of whelping, the place where the bitch will give birth should be prepared. This is a collapsible playpen or a spacious box. One wall of the maternity box is made lower than the rest so that the bitch can leave the nest, but the puppies cannot.

exact date no one knows childbirth, so you always have to be ready for the start of whelping. The dog must be trained to this place so that it does not resist when it is placed there. Experienced cynologist keeps a diary in which he records all the events that happened with the pet. Such information may be needed veterinarian during childbirth.

Signs of childbirth

Before giving birth, the following events occur in the life of a bitch:

Section of the mucous plug. While sleeping or urinating, whitish mucus is released. Until childbirth can remain 3 ... 5 days.
The nipples swell, colostrum is secreted from them. The hair around the mammary glands falls out. There are 1-2 days left before delivery.
Falling down

Usually dogs give birth easily, and there is no need for a person to intervene in this process. The exceptions are the first births, as well as births in bitches of very small breeds. In such cases, you should have the phone of a veterinarian at hand. It's hardly worth calling in advance. The presence of a stranger will only harm, causing unnecessary anxiety for the woman in labor, which is completely unnecessary for her in similar situation. It makes sense to seek veterinary help only at the moment when something goes wrong. In order not to miss the onset of such a moment, the owners will need at least minimal theoretical preparation. It will also be very useful when veterinary care for some reason cannot arrive on time.

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Preliminary preparations

Pregnancy in dogs lasts from 59 to 63 days. Knowing the date of mating, it is easy to determine the time of the expected birth.

Preparation for such important event must be organized at least two weeks before its occurrence. We should never forget that the birth process sometimes begins prematurely. The first thing to do is to find a veterinarian who can arrive on time and help the animal if there are any problems.

A week and a half before the birth, you should equip the place in which the process will take place. It is desirable that the dog gets used to this place in advance. For its arrangement, you can use any box or playpen, where one of the walls is cut off so that the dog can easily get inside, and the puppies are not able to get out.

The bottom of the box or playpen is lined with a thick layer of waste paper or some unnecessary rags. So mom and kids will be much warmer. An oilcloth is placed on top of such an insulating layer, and not a clean sheet. Another small box should be prepared, where puppies will be deposited during childbirth. At the bottom of this box is placed a heating pad wrapped in woolen cloth.

You also need to keep ready:

room thermometer (the temperature in the room where the puppies are born should be maintained at 28 ºC);
veterinary thermometer;
timer;
notebook with a pen;
clean towel (wipe the puppies);
scissors (cut the umbilical cord);
silk threads (tie up the umbilical cord);
multicolored woolen threads(if you plan to tag puppies);
alcohol solution (or vodka).

The day before the expected birth, the dog's stomach and the area around the genitals are washed. Cut the hair in these places as short as possible. Terriers have their “mustache” and “beard” trimmed, which can prevent the expectant mother from taking care of the hygiene of her offspring.

Signs of the beginning

By the end of the second month of pregnancy, the owner should especially carefully monitor his pet so as not to miss the first signs of the onset of labor. Harbingers that puppies are about to be born are usually as follows:

1. The dog's behavior becomes restless. All expectant mothers behave differently. Some try to hide somewhere, as if making a nest for themselves. Others constantly follow the owner, as if trying to beg for something.
2. Appetite decreases or disappears altogether. There is also vomiting.
3. Relaxation of the muscles of the pelvis and abdominal cavity begins to occur, the stomach drops.
4. Milk sometimes appears on the nipples.
5. Whitish mucus exudes from the loop.
6. The day before delivery, rectal temperature drops from the usual 38-39 ºC to 37 ºC in large dogs and to 35 ºC in small breed dogs. With the help of daily measurement of rectal temperature, it is easy to find out whether the animal is going to whelp in the next day, or it will happen a little later.
7. Just before the birth, the dog's pulse quickens, shortness of breath appears, sometimes it starts to shiver.
8. To understand that the bitch is about to give birth to offspring, the intrauterine behavior of the puppies will also help. Just before childbirth, they stop moving in the mother's stomach.

If the above symptoms appear, but within a day the birth has not begun, the dog should immediately be shown to the veterinarian.

childbirth

When the owner is going to assist the veterinarian or perform childbirth at home on his own, he should first cut his nails short and wash his hands thoroughly.

Childbirth in dogs takes place in three stages:

contractions (preliminary stage);
birth of puppies (main stage);
separation of afterbirths (final stage).

preliminary stage

Contractions last from 2 to 24 hours. At this time, the dog becomes even more restless. She scratches the litter, constantly looks back at her stomach, and breathes quickly and heavily. She is sick. Rectal temperature the woman in labor during this period does not change. The uterus is contracting, but the abdominal muscles are still at rest. The cervix opens. The vaginal muscles are relaxed. The stage ends with an increase and increased uterine contractions.

The owner can help his pet at this stage only by his presence and affectionate treatment. It is strictly forbidden to use any stimulant drugs on your own!

Main

As soon as the dog's waters break, the main stage of the birth process begins: the birth of puppies. At this point, the abdominal muscles are involved in contractions. Puppies can go out with their heads or with their hind legs forward. Both positions are considered correct. The interval between puppies is 0.5-3 hours.

The help of a veterinarian is necessary if, three hours after the waters broke, not a single puppy was born (especially if brown or greenish discharge from the bitch's loop). Also, the help of a doctor will be needed if, three hours after the birth of one puppy, the next one is not born, which is palpable in the mother's stomach.

Having given birth to a puppy, the bitch must independently release him from the amniotic sac, gnaw through his umbilical cord and lick the baby. Following this, the puppy finds the nipple without assistance.

This is how you should act if the bitch during childbirth cannot cope with her maternal responsibilities

But sometimes instinct fails a new mother (especially when she gives birth for the first time). If the bitch does not react in any way to the puppy that has just been born within four to six seconds, the baby should be brought to her muzzle. If after this no reaction follows, the owner will have to accept the newborns. It is done like this:

1. The amniotic sac bursts and the puppy is taken out.
2. If he does not breathe and does not make any sounds, his oral and nasal cavity. Then lift the puppy by the hind legs and shake.
3. The umbilical cord is cut with scissors at a distance of at least two centimeters from the abdominal wall and tied with a silk thread previously soaked in an alcohol solution.
4. The puppy is wiped with a towel and placed on the mother's nipple. After he eats a little, and he begins to function gastrointestinal tract, from anus the first stool They are usually black in color. If this does not happen, the baby needs to gently massage the tummy with a finger.
5. After five to ten minutes, the puppy is transferred to a box prepared in advance for babies. If this is not done, the bitch may accidentally crush her child, giving birth to his brother or sister. The box should be placed so that the mother can see her offspring.

Final

Immediately after the birth of the next puppy, the placenta that surrounded it in the womb, that is, the placenta, is separated and comes out. But the remnants of the placenta can come out with postpartum discharge(during the first week following delivery). Usually giving birth dogs try to eat the placenta. Two or three eaten placenta will only benefit: along with them, hormones that stimulate labor activity will enter the body. More afterbirths eaten will cause diarrhea.

The owner needs to carefully monitor how many afterbirths have already come out, how many of them have been eaten, and write it all down in a notebook. The remains of the placenta in the uterus can cause purulent inflammation. Therefore, if not all of the afterbirths have come out, urgent action must be taken. To start at home in the bath, the dog should be put on hind legs and direct a warm jet of water on her stomach. It will also be useful to massage the abdomen from top to bottom. If all this did not help, the bitch must be delivered to veterinary clinic.You will need to seek help from a specialist in the following situations:

temperature increase;
profuse bloody discharge;
purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor;
discharge that does not stop a week after childbirth.

When the birth is completed successfully, you should change the bedding under the woman in labor and put the babies to her. A dog with puppies needs to be kept warm and dry, as well as complete rest. In the room where the bitch is with offspring, strangers should not be allowed. Its also desirable to be there as little as possible.

Childbirth in dogs of very small breeds

Such large dogs, like a shepherd or husky, most often give birth without assistance. But childbirth in dogs of very small breeds, for example, in yorkshire terriers are inevitably associated with risk.

This happens because puppies in large breeds are 50 times smaller than their mothers, and in miniature ones - only 10!

In addition to Yorkies, breeds at greatest risk include the Jack Russell Terrier, miniature pinscher, chihuahua. Problems with miniature dogs arise not only because of the relatively large size of their puppies, but also due to the fact that the birth instincts of these animals are weakened, and their psyche is unnecessarily vulnerable.

Babies in little mothers appear five to seven days earlier than in their normal-sized relatives. It is hardly worth taking such births at home, especially when the dog is going to whelp for the first time. It is better that the birth process takes place in the clinic, under the supervision of specialists. But if obstetric care still has to be provided at home, and the puppy can’t be born in any way, you need to act as follows:

As soon as, with the next attempt, the fetal bladder appears from the mother's loop, the puppy should be fixed in the birth canal, holding its head or place above the hips with two fingers.
During the next attempt, the baby will need to be carefully pulled towards you and fixed again. It is worth releasing the head and shoulders, and the puppy will come out on its own.
Careful “loosening” of the baby from side to side is allowed. But in no case should you pull the puppy by the paws.

The puppy is fixed in the birth canal, holding his head with two fingers

Small dog breeds produce more puppies than large ones.

Possible problems

When puppies are born, the following problems most often occur:

Problem	Solutions
Weakened labor activity	The veterinarian decides on medical stimulation or on a caesarean section.
A dead puppy appeared from the noose, blocking the birth canal with its body	It must be removed as soon as possible so that the living babies remaining in the mother's stomach do not suffocate. You can do it yourself. Techniques are the same as for obstetric care for miniature dogs
Puppy stuck in birth canal due to spasm of vaginal muscles	Inject the dog with some antispasmodic, and also try to move the puppy forward by pushing it from behind with a finger inserted into the vagina, if nothing has changed during the next attempts
big puppy	Try to pull it out yourself. Techniques are the same as for obstetric care for miniature dogs
Puppy head turned to the side	Only a veterinarian can help

As can be seen from the table, in some cases you can try to help the dog on your own, in others you must immediately seek help from specialists.

A few hours before the onset of contractions, the vagina swells, the loop becomes very soft, thick, sticky secretions appear from it, which dog breeders often do not notice, especially in small breed bitches. At the same time, the temperature drops to 37°C.

The puppy is attached to the wall of the uterus with the help of the placenta and receives nourishment and oxygenated blood through the vessels in the umbilical cord that connects the puppy and the placenta. The puppy, umbilical cord and placenta are in the same shell, except for the birth of twins, which have one placenta for two, but twins are very rare in dogs.

While the puppy is growing and developing in the uterus, he lives completely closed in a two-layer bladder. The outer bubble is often referred to as the "water" bubble. Its smooth inner shell is called the amnion, and the thick jelly-like liquid that fills it is called " amniotic fluid". It protects the puppy and the umbilical cord from being crushed and damaged, it acts as an excellent lubricant during childbirth. When the outer bladder membrane finally ruptures, the fluid pours out and bathes the vagina. The puppy remains in inner shell, in which he is born.

The umbilical cord emerges from the center of the placenta. Through it, nutrients and oxygen from the mother's blood through the placenta enter the puppy's blood. Also, through the umbilical cord and placenta, the puppy is released from the products of its vital activity, so they are also the excretory organ. The umbilical cord, which connects the puppy and the placenta, has two arteries and one vein. They carry oxygenated blood and nutrients comes to the puppy and is removed oxygen-deprived blood.

Whelping begins with restlessness, often accompanied by trembling, and can last from one to 24 hours. At this time, the bitch will scrape and tear the bedding in the box.

Real fights can be divided into three stages:

The first stage is the expansion of the birth canal;

The second stage is the breeding of the puppy, when the contractions are visible and felt, it continues with normal delivery up to two hours.

The third stage is the removal of the placenta and membranes. They usually come out within 5-15 minutes after the puppy is born. Sometimes they go out with the next puppy.

The anxiety stage, which appears at the beginning of whelping, is caused by an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The contractions of the uterus at this time are still irregular and weak, so they are not noticeable. Between contractions, the muscles of the uterus relax and gradually the body of the uterus, the vagina and the loop expand. The pains are initially vague and uncomfortable, so the bitch becomes more and more restless. She looks back anxiously, turns around, then lies down, but soon gets up again, it is definitely noticeable how unwell she is. Some bitches vomit at this time, almost all refuse to eat. Abundant mucous secretions appear from the loop, which lubricate the birth canal, preparing them for the passage of the puppy. Until the contractions become strong, regular and noticeable, they cannot harm the bitch or puppy. But it is a completely different matter when the strength and duration of contractions increases.

With an increase in the intensity of labor pains, the second stage begins, when uterine contractions - contractions - are joined by attempts - contractions of the abdominal muscles. At this time, the bitch usually lies down and when she strains, she firmly presses her back and croup against the wall of the box. Well, if she has at the same time an emphasis for paws. Most females whelp lying on their right side, but some prefer to whelp standing up, others do this and that. Gradually, the water bubble with the puppy is pushed through the opening of the pelvis into the vagina. First, the water bubble presses on the cervix and passes into the birth canal, gradually the canal becomes softer and expands more and more, until, finally, the uterus, cervix and vagina make up one wide birth canal.

In the second stage of labor, uterine contractions can be felt by placing a hand on the female's abdomen. Contractions become regular, strong, and the uterus hardens with each contraction and then gradually relaxes. In the intervals between contractions, the bitch relaxes, breathes heavily and looks with an absent look. During contractions, she may even scream. Heavy breathing is often the first sign to the owner that the bitch is going into labor.

Gradually, the water bubble with the puppy enters the pelvis under the action of contractions, and then it is pushed further towards the exit from the vagina, passing part of the way with each strong contraction. The lowest pup in the uterine horn comes out first, unfortunately it is often the largest in the litter and therefore the most difficult to birth. Often on this section of the puppy's path when greatest strength contractions bubble bursts. Sometimes he appears from the loop several times and disappears again.

Beginners often confuse the appearance of a water bladder with a harbinger of the birth of a puppy with a fetal bladder and tear the bubble that appeared from the loop during attempts. This cannot be done. It is easy to determine if the puppy is walking by feeling the crotch above the loop. There will be noticeable swelling - it must be touched. If there is a bubble, it will be soft to the touch, and the puppy will feel like something solid and solid. After the bubble bursts, nature allows the bitch to rest for a while to gather strength for the last very strong, even powerful contractions before the birth of the puppy. These contractions are extremely painful and exhausting, accompanied by strong contractions of the muscles of the abdomen and diaphragm. All these muscle movements push the passive puppies until finally the first one comes out.