It is extremely important to take your dog to the vet throughout pregnancy. If you do not know how many puppies to expect, you may not be able to judge when the dog is finished whelping and when it is taking a break. If you don’t know the litter size, call your vet. If you’re not certain about the dog’s litter size, look up how many puppies are average for your dog’s breed. While this may not be the number it actually has, it can give you an idea of what to expect.
The dog may either stand or lie on its side to give birth. You may notice that the dog changes this position frequently.
Contractions usually occur for ten to thirty minutes before a new puppy is born.
Whelping usually lasts about three to six hours, but it can last up to twenty hours, especially if the dog is a breed with a large head, such as bulldogs or Boston terriers. Some dogs may take multiple breaks throughout whelping. If you know your dog hasn’t had all of her puppies yet and there’s more than an hour before the next one comes, call your vet right away—one of the puppies could be stuck, which could be very serious for your dog and any puppies she hasn’t delivered yet. [5] X Expert Source Kateryna ZabashtaDog Breeder Expert Interview. 19 March 2021.
There may be a few contractions after the last puppy so that the dog can push out the last placenta.
If you are expecting more puppies yet two hours have passed without your dog giving birth, call your vet. The dog should be calm and resting when it is finished. If two hours have passed and your dog appears restless, it may be preparing to give birth again.
Your dog and puppies should be examined by a vet within 24 hours of birth, even if they appear healthy.
Your vet may give the dog a shot of oxytocin to help it expel the placentas naturally.
