Ask your veterinarian to give you an approximate due date for your dog. Also get their on-call number so that you can contact the vet in case of an emergency during labor.
In order to take the dog’s temperature, you can use an oral human thermometer. Simply lubricate the thermometer with vaseline and insert it into the dog’s rectum. Make sure it is about an inch inside and leave it there for one minute to get a proper reading. Take the dog’s temperature at the same time each day.
A loss of appetite in the latter stages of pregnancy is likely a sign of stage one labor.
The first stage of labor can last for up to 1–2 days. You can comfort your dog by saying soothing words and being present. Avoid being overly affectionate and touchy during this stage. The dog likely wants some space.
Place the box in a quiet, warm, and traffic-free space in your home. Do this a couple of weeks ahead of the due date, so the mother dog becomes accustomed to it. By helping your dog with the nesting process you can control where the delivery will take place. For example, you may not want your dog to deliver on your bed!
A normal delivery will begin after 10-60 minutes of active labour. If the dog does not deliver a puppy after 60 minutes there may be a complication and you should call the vet. Alternatively, if the mother is contracting forcefully and no puppy is born, you should call the vet.
Keep the puppy close to the mother even if you have to interfere. Only interfere if necessary because this is important bonding between the mother and puppy.
Tie a piece of dental floss tightly around the umbilical cord, about an inch from the puppy’s body. Cut the cord and then clot any blood using clean gauze.
If the dog does not deliver the proper number of placentas take them to a veterinarian. Any unborn fetuses or afterbirth could result in serious health problems for the dog.
