Benefits of Dog Pet Insurance
Dr. Roth
Posted by Dr. Roth on
There’s nothing in the world quite like new puppies. Pet parents with a pregnant dog may eagerly anticipate the day their dog gives birth. At the same time, if they’re new to the process, the prospect can be a bit overwhelming if they’re not sure what to expect. Here’s what pet parents need to know about helping their pregnant dog welcome her new puppies into the world.
The first (and one of the most important) things a pet parent can do for their pregnant dog is set up a nursery for their dog. No matter what area of the house a pet parent chooses for the nursery, it should be quiet and free of drafts. The mother dog should feel safe and comfortable with her new puppies after they’re born.
A whelping box is another integral component of a safe nursery. Pet parents should set it up so the mother dog can come and go freely, and the sides should be tall enough that the puppies stay safely confined.
Pet parents should understand the three stages of labor before their dog gives birth. That can help them know what to expect, avoid surprises, and quickly act if there’s a problem.
While a dog may instinctively know what to do when it’s time to give birth, there are still a few ways pet parents can help out:
A thin membrane covers each new puppy. In most cases, the mother dog will lick or chew it off. However, if she doesn’t do this quickly, a pet parent can step in and do it for her so the puppy can breathe. This should be done very gently with a clean washcloth.
A mother dog may try to eat the placentas. While it may not cause any severe issues, most vets recommend against letting her do this as it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Even if a pet parent has to step in to remove the membranes from one or more puppies, they should give the mother dog’s instincts a chance to kick in. They should allow the mother to clean her puppies and bond with them before stepping in to do anything else.
A pet parent may not have to get hands-on at all during the birthing process. However, they can help a mother dog after giving birth by keeping an eye on them and their new puppies. That way, if something is wrong, they can contact a vet for the appropriate puppy advice.
There are a few signs that indicate a dog needs some help from their pet parents:
Issues can arise at any time of the day. The Fuzzy Veterinarian Team is on hand 24/7 through Fuzzy Vet Chat to answer any questions right away in any of these situations.
Generally, pet parents won’t have to do too much when helping their dog give birth. Even so, there are things they can do to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for the mother dog and her puppies, like setting up a cozy nursery for the birth.
For the most part, the mother dog’s instincts will guide them, but pet parents can offer a hand with cleaning up after the dog gives birth and monitoring puppies for potential issues. Together, pet parents and the new mother can help to ensure the safe and successful delivery of healthy puppies.