Whelping Puppies: How to Midwife Dog Whelping

[cabelasportsmen]

Is shredded paper a good bedding for a whelping box?

[DogBreeding]

@cabelasportsmen No - too much risk of puppies getting hidden and lost underneath, plus it sticks to their wet little bodies and the bitch. She will usually mess up whole newspapers too, with similar risks. I like the long, segmented padded cushions that go on outdoor furniture. They are soft and comfy, can be washed, and are tough enough to withstand most nesting behavior.

[lightningxstryke]

So is dark green discharge is normal after she's had all the puppies? I've always heard that that means there is a retained puppy or placenta, or an infection. I keep getting different answers...

[DogBreeding]

@lightningxstryke The dark green is from the puppies and can indicate foetal distress. However, in all my years of breeding it has never been associated with a retained puppy or placenta (though it is possible of course) and I don't worry about it, especially if the bitch has a normal temperature, is eating and drinking well and stopped straining after the last pup was born. Young bitches tend to have "cleaner" whelpings.

[mandalynn198426]

my mother recently past away and had a female that she bred now im a little concerned due to the fact i have never done this before she is about maybe halfway through her pregnancy and i know i have a hard time staying calm when they start having them any tips on what i should do and what not to do would help im doing all the research i can to help with the whole pregnancy and the vet wont help unless i pay him and i cant afford that unless its an emergency what should i do

[DogBreeding]

@mandalynn198426 Watch lots of videos and get yourself educated! It costs nothing to get a book from your local library. Also find and ask other breeders in your area for help... if you ask enough, you will find someone helpful eventually. You could also buy the Whelping video available from the website on this video where it says "whelping" on the navbar.

[GoldenJacks]

This video helped me a lot in what to expect when my dog gave birth the first time. Now she is expecting her 2nd litter and I watched it again to make sure I will know what to do for her when the time comes. One should expect this to be a messy process. Once it is over with, you just replace the messy bedding with clean bedding and everything is fine. I do have one question, when should a person give the mother a bath to clean her?

[DogBreeding]

Once the birth is well and truly over, and the pups have all fed, I take Mom out for a walk and a pee, wash her back end with a fat sponge and some nice shampoo, give her a good rinse and dry, and change the bedding in the whelping box. This is also a good time to disinfect the puppies navels and weigh any that seem a bit weak or small so you can check that they are feeding and gaining weight, and take action early if necessary to top them up with tube feeding.

[MAISIEMOLLY1]

LOL, paranoid or what, how is it soo disgusting when its fresh and new, not like she bin lying in it for days is it, you smell that bedding and tell me it smells bad....no, just of normal birth smells, nothing horrid, its not gonna infect her or the pups is it, in my opinion its completely unfair to move a bitch while shes whelping her litter, how would u lot feel if you had to keep getting up and down.

With mine i fully change and disinfect the box once she is content and the birth is over!!!!

[PowerBullTerrier]

i love your videos i was able to AI a dog by watching these.

[linda4659]

sooo cute !!!!

[beemaid26]

All this is helpful to us as we are beginners. Our Wire Fox Terrier should give birth around Christmas day - not the best time to get assistance (this will be our first litter). We have a frien who is a breed specialist but would not want to ask him around to help on Christmas day! If you can direct us towards any useful assistance it would be much appreciated.

[DogBreeding]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you... (I hardly ever check my comments). Hope the birth went well. I you still feel like you need support, click on the link on the video, and you can access a Breeding information package and/or a whelping DVD guide.

Best regards

Dr Meg

[lifeabiatch]

It was hard to watch these wee puppies on dirty bedding,it had to be cleaned after every puppy,I am a breeder,and yes birth is messy,but not when you can roll each towel or sheet up and replace with clean one ,and I am over it

[lifeabiatch]

ok the bedding was disgusting,there was no need to keep it nasty while all the pups were being born,I put a wee pad under my girl when she is ready to have another puppy,and once the placenta is out ,she only eat one,I wrap up the weepad and get it out,this way the other puppies are not in filth,wow,that was really disgusting

[DogBreeding]

Well, birth is a messy business - get over it! Liked your idea of the wee pad though...

[xxLabrat407xx]

I agree birth is a messy process but on the other hand if you mess about with the bitch's whelping too much it may distract her from what she needs to do. It may make her feel panic. It's best to what you did. The point is to assist not distract the dog.

[EmyDragon]

Woah! Big litter, our schnauzer had 7 and we were totally shocked! (expecting 4 or 5), two years later and we're about to be midwives again...still scary though!