Pregnancy in dogs lasts about 60 days. At this time, the bitch needs proper care and nutrition. The owner should familiarize himself with the signs of the onset of labor in advance in order to help the pet in time and take the puppies into the world.
Preparing for childbirth
Two weeks before giving birth, it is worth preparing a place where the dog will give birth and feed the puppies. During this time, the expectant mother will get used to the new home. A large box is suitable as a bedding, in which the dog can easily fit with the offspring. It is worth roughly calculating the date of birth, knowing the date of mating. During this period, it is better not to leave the dog alone.
Dog behavior before childbirth
An attentive owner immediately notices the strangeness in the dog's behavior on the eve of childbirth. She begins to mindlessly wander around the house, falls asleep on the go, breathes heavily, cannot sit in one place, rummages in boxes. Some bitches have an appetite, while others refuse to eat altogether. If the dog is asked to go outside, it needs to be taken out for a while. Another symptom of an approaching birth is excessive affection towards the owner. The dog's anxiety can be explained by the fact that the uterus began to contract, the first painful sensations appeared. Contractions of the uterus at the first stage are rare and barely noticeable.
A couple of hours before the puppies are born, the dog is looking for a calm, warm place. She lies on her side, stretches her paws forward, strongly bows her head between them. Whitish, sticky discharge from the loop appears. Body temperature may indicate an impending contraction. If the normal temperature is 38.5 ° C, then before the contractions it decreases by two degrees. Therefore, so that childbirth does not come as a surprise, you should measure the temperature twice a day during the week before the planned childbirth. If the temperature has dropped, but there are no contractions, then the dog needs to be shown to the veterinarian.
The day before the birth of puppies, you need to wash the dog's belly and genitals, as well as remove excess hair in the anus and loop. If the wool is thick, then it is collected with rubber bands. The owner should not leave the pet. At this moment, the bitch needs affection, care, attention.
Contractions and attempts
In the second stage, severe labor pains appear. In addition to the contraction of the uterus, attempts are made (contractions of the abdominal muscles). During each of them, the dog strongly rests its paws on the wall of the box. The contraction of the uterus can be traced by placing a hand on the abdomen. During contractions, the uterus hardens and then relaxes. In the interval between attempts, the dog breathes heavily, the look becomes lost, some women in labor even scream. Before the birth of the puppy, the water leaves the dog. This is due to the rupture of the water bladder, which serves as a protective sheath for the embryos. The bubble ruptures by itself or the bitch does it, fluid flows out of it, washing the birth canal. After that, the contractions intensify. The first puppy should appear within three hours. Otherwise, the help of a veterinarian will be needed, since this situation is considered a complication, and the dog, along with the puppies, may die.
