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Puppy Labor
My little chihuahua is pregnant...this is her first litter...she was bred on June 30th 2009 and the gestation period is 62days therefor she is due anywhere from the 25 to the 2nd of september.... but with her being this close to her due date..she isn't very large....her boobs are swollen and all but idk....what are the signs to look for to know that she is going into labor? How long should labor last? is it going to be painful for her? will it be a timely matter???
Thankyou so much, that is all very helpful information!! I will definitely post pictures when she has them..only a few more days to go!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations on your upcoming excitement! Taking care of puppies can be a challenge, but definitely worth the effort.
First, has her pregnancy been verified at the veterinarian by ultrasound or xray? It could be that she only has one pup and doesn't seem very large to you.
Many dogs become very restless right before delivery and their temperature will generally drop to about 99 degrees Fahrenheit from their normal (100 to 102). This usually occurs about 24 hours prior to labor. Allow her access to water if she wants it. Don't be shocked by shivering, panting, or even occasional vomiting. This is pretty scary stuff!!! You should also see contractions.
As labor proceeds, the puppies are expelled. The puppies will be covered with a membrane that mom will clean and lick off of them. Give her a minute or two to do this. If she won't do this, you need to clean the pups off and rub with a clean towel to stimulate breathing. Mom should also chew off the umbilical cord.
Puppies arrive about one very 45 - 60 minutes. You will see hard straining right before a pup is due. BUT...if she strains hard for more than an hour or takes longer than a 4 hour break, you should contact her veterinarian.
After everybody is delivered and mom and pups are resting, give your veterinarian a call to have a post partum exam. It's a great idea to insure that everything is progressing smoothly!
Good luck...we will want to see pictures!
First, has her pregnancy been verified at the veterinarian by ultrasound or xray? It could be that she only has one pup and doesn't seem very large to you.
Many dogs become very restless right before delivery and their temperature will generally drop to about 99 degrees Fahrenheit from their normal (100 to 102). This usually occurs about 24 hours prior to labor. Allow her access to water if she wants it. Don't be shocked by shivering, panting, or even occasional vomiting. This is pretty scary stuff!!! You should also see contractions.
As labor proceeds, the puppies are expelled. The puppies will be covered with a membrane that mom will clean and lick off of them. Give her a minute or two to do this. If she won't do this, you need to clean the pups off and rub with a clean towel to stimulate breathing. Mom should also chew off the umbilical cord.
Puppies arrive about one very 45 - 60 minutes. You will see hard straining right before a pup is due. BUT...if she strains hard for more than an hour or takes longer than a 4 hour break, you should contact her veterinarian.
After everybody is delivered and mom and pups are resting, give your veterinarian a call to have a post partum exam. It's a great idea to insure that everything is progressing smoothly!
Good luck...we will want to see pictures!
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