Finding out that your dog is pregnant can be really exciting, but also a bit nerve wracking! Your vet will be able to help you work out your dog’s due date, but it will be approximately 63 days after she was mated.

Giving birth is a completely natural process for bitches. In most cases the delivery will go smoothly, and your bitch will manage best without any interference. However, you should keep a watchful eye on proceedings as problems can occur. If your bitch is having problems, then early intervention could save her life as well as that of the puppies.

This article explains the stages of normal labour, to help you understand what is going on and when to intervene or call for veterinary help when your dog is in labour.

When Will the Puppies Be Born?

Normal pregnancy lasts 63 days, but this can vary from 60-70 days. Smaller breed dogs can have shorter pregnancies. The time from mating to conception (when the egg is actually fertilized by the sperm) can be very variable and it’s possible for conception to occur up to 7 days after mating. Therefore, care must be taken not to over-interpret approximated delivery dates. 

Calculation of the delivery date is best based on results of examination of smears taken from the vagina, hormone tests made before conception, or ultrasound examination in the first few weeks of pregnancy. These tests may allow ageing of the foetuses.

Dog Labour Stages

Labour should begin within 24 hours of a decline in rectal temperature below 37°C (99°F) and progress through the three stages to completion within 12-24 hours. When bitches give birth, we say they’re “in labour” or ‘whelping’. There are three recognized stages of labour. The signs of labour in dogs are outlined below:

How Long Are Dogs in Labour For?

Stage I usually lasts from 12-24 hours, during this time the bitch may show early signs of dog labour, like changes in behaviour. She may become reclusive, restless and start ‘nesting’ (trying to make a bed for the puppies). She may refuse to eat, and some bitches may vomit.

To support your dog during the birthing process, it's important to set up a whelping box for her. Make sure it's a cozy, warm space that offers peace and quiet. The box should also be spacious enough for her to move around comfortably while giving birth.

Panting and trembling may also be amongst the first signs. In this phase the uterus (womb) is contracting, and the cervix is dilating. Although you might see a clear and watery vaginal discharge (around the back end of the bitch) no visible tummy contractions will be evident yet.

Stage II begins when you can see the bitch starting to strain. These strong contractions will eventually result in a puppy being born. Typically, there shouldn’t be more than 1-2 hours between puppies being born, but great variation exists.

The delivery of an entire litter of puppies can take between 1 and 24 hours. Increased puppy survival is associated with shorter total delivery time (less than 12 hours) and an interval of less than 2 hours between puppies. Discharge from the vulva during this time may be clear or bloody. The delivery process should never take longer than 24 hours - make sure to contact your vet if this is the case.

Typically, bitches continue to nest between deliveries and may nurse and groom their puppies. As the next puppy starts to arrive panting and trembling is common. Puppies are usually delivered head-first, but some may present tail-first, backwards, sideways or with head or limbs folded back.

Puppies that present in positions other than head-first are more likely to need veterinary assistance to be delivered successfully. Call your vet for help if you notice a puppy appears to be presented the wrong way. The umbilical cord usually breaks by itself as the bitch moves around, so you should not need to cut or break the umbilical cord. If you are not sure, then call your vet for advice.

Stage III is the delivery of the placenta. In this stage of labour, bitches often deliver puppies and placenta alternately until the delivery is complete, but sometimes 2 puppies will be born and then 2 placentae. Try to keep a check that the same numbers of placentas and puppies have been delivered at the end. It’s important that all placentas are delivered as they can make your dog very unwell if she doesn’t deliver them all.

What if No Puppies Are Being Born?

Dystocia is the term used when the bitch is struggling to pass a puppy through the birth canal. Dystocia isn’t uncommon and can have several causes. For example, incorrectly positioned puppies, over large puppies, or a medical problem with the bitch, like low blood calcium levels.

Some flat-faced breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs, may be more prone to problems giving birth. The bitch may be in trouble if she’s straining for a long time and no puppy is born – or if she strains for a while and then stops straining without producing a puppy or placenta. If you think that your bitch is having trouble delivering a puppy you should contact your vet for advice immediately.

How Do I Know if My Bitch is Having Problems?

If in doubt, always call your vet, but things to consider include:

• Prolonged length of pregnancy: if the pregnancy lasts longer than 70-72 days from the first mating then this is abnormal. Prolonged pregnancy results in oversized puppies that won’t always fit through the birth canal. A caesarean section may be needed to surgically deliver over-sized puppies. A prolonged pregnancy can also result in deterioration of the placenta and partial separation of the placenta which can result in the death of the puppies in the uterus.
• Call your veterinarian for advice if there is 20-30 minutes of strong contractions with no puppy born or 2-3 hours of weak contractions without a puppy being born, or if there are 4 or more hours between puppies.
• Stuck puppy: if a puppy appears to be stuck in the birth canal, call your vet for advice.
• Stillborn/dead puppies: if a stillborn puppy is delivered, concerns must be raised for the remainder of the litter as yet unborn. If the unborn puppies have slow heart rates (your vet will be able to detect heart rates) this can also indicate distress.
• Maternal distress: the puppies are also at risk if their mother becomes ill before delivery. If they’re nearly at full term they may stand a better chance of surviving if they can be delivered and cared for outside the womb. If a bitch develops green discharge or copious amounts of vulval discharge and/or bleeding during pregnancy, veterinary advice will be needed immediately.

What Will My Vet Need to Know?

If you have to call your vet for advice when your dog's giving birth, it will be helpful to have the following information to hand:

• When your bitch was mated.
• How many weeks of pregnancy she is at.
• Whether she has had a litter previously.
• Her breed and the size and breed of the sire (father).
• How long she has been showing signs of giving birth.
• Whether any pups have been passed and if so, how long ago the last pup was delivered.
• Whether there is any discharge at her vulva and if so, what colour it is.

This information will help your vet decide what needs to be done next and give you the best advice possible to help save both your bitch and her puppies.

Welcoming newborn puppies into the world can be a magical experience but things can go wrong. Understanding the normal stages of labour can help you recognise when things might not be going as planned and when to contact your vet for help. The less anxious you are, the less anxious your dog will feel, and the more likely things will go smoothly. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.