When your beloved dog gets pregnant and is near the labor period, along with her, you will be tense and confused.
How to Induce Dog Labor at Home?- You might have many questions, like, is she overdue, when should I induce labor, how to induce dog labor at home or what might be signs that the labor period is near!
Helping Your Dog Through Labor
While most dog deliveries happen naturally, understanding the process and knowing when to intervene is crucial for both the mother dog and her puppies. Here’s what you need to know:
When Does Labor Occur?
- A dog’s typical gestation period is 58-68 days.
- Your vet can help determine the expected due date.
Signs of Impending Labor
- Drop in rectal temperature (below 100°F) 12-24 hours before labor.
- Nesting behavior (seeking a safe place for delivery).
- Restlessness and panting.
Stages of Dog Labor
- Stage 1: Restlessness, nesting, temperature drop (6-12 hours).
- Stage 2: Active contractions and puppy delivery, with rest intervals in between.
- Stage 3: Placenta expulsion after each puppy (Number of placentas should match the number of pups).
Natural Ways to Induce Labor (With Caution)
- Walking: Short, gentle walks can encourage contractions.
- Nipple/Abdomen Massage: Mild stimulation can help.
- Calcium Supplements: Use with vet guidance, only after the first puppy is born, to strengthen contractions.
When to Call the Vet
- Dog is overdue.
- No puppies after 24 hours of Stage 1 labor.
- Strong contractions for over an hour without puppy delivery.
- Rest periods exceeding 4 hours.
- Abnormal discharge.
Cleaning Puppies
- Normally done by the mother dog.
- If she doesn’t, assist by:
- Tearing the amniotic sac.
- Cutting the umbilical cord (1 inch from the belly).
- Wiping the puppy clean until it cries.
Key Takeaways
- Natural labor is best; inducing should only be done under veterinary supervision.
- Being prepared and calm will help your dog feel safe.
- Don’t hesitate to contact your vet if complications arise.
Remember: Your presence and support can make a big difference in ensuring a safe and healthy delivery for your furry friend.
When Does a Dog Labor Happen?
Knowing when your dogs should labor is necessary. Inducing labor early can be dangerous. It would help if you had an idea about the breeding time of your dog, then you can track the labor date. The gestation period of dogs is between 58 to 68 days.
Labor and childbirth of a dog is a pretty uncomplicated operation as with most dogs, and it happens without any assistance or intervention. Nevertheless, there are times when this procedure does not take place according to what vets regard to be a regular timeframe.
If the dog is having trouble delivering her puppies, the physician will likely recommend that she be admitted to a vet clinic for additional evaluation and diagnosis.
Ways to Know About the Labor Time
Knowing the dog’s breeding time can estimate the labor timing and help in inducing labor. Other than breeding timing, other factors help determine the time:
- An X-ray is taken when your dog is on her 45ths day.
- The number of puppies going to be delivered.
- Estimating rectal temperature (if the rectal temperature is around two degrees, then it is the time of labor, as the temperature usually drops before labor begins).
- Start exhibiting nesting behavior. They begin searching for a secure place to give birth.
- Tiredness.
Apart from knowing the basic and regular signs of labor, there are a few more things you need to keep in handy while inducing at home.
A whelping box, a warm environment, cozy blankets, thermometer, and of course, your vet’s contacts ought to be near you. Keep her doctor informed beforehand, so that they can come right away if the situation gets out of hand.
How to Prepare for your Dog’s Labour?
After knowing about the labor time of your dog, you should be prepared to help them and induce labor. Certain situations should be considered.
Stage 1: Check the Rectal Temperature
The temperature drops around 2 degrees, which is the rectal temperature, followed by stage I labor, lasting between six to twelve hours, begins.
Dogs start exhibiting behaviors like nesting and restlessness. At this stage, she may have already found a safe place, for example, a box.
We should arrange a safer place for her if she hasn’t got any, preferably a box with a comfy bed.
Stage 2: Contractions in Your Pet
In this stage, pups will be delivered. Contractions and straining begin, and the first pup will be delivered after 2 hours.
Your dog takes many pauses during the delivery period. This pause is not necessarily after delivering each puppy. She may take around 4 hours of rest. After the pause, again, the contracting and straining process continues.
After which, the rest of the pups will be delivered. Proper attention should be given to your dog to ensure she is not taking too much time in the resting phase.
Stage 3: Post Resting Period
During stage 3 placenta will be coming out. This happens after the resting phase. She returns to the delivery stage, followed by the resting stage and then stage 3.
At this stage, we need to ensure that the number of placentas is the same as the number of puppies. Otherwise, if the placenta is left in the abdomen, it may seriously sick your dog.
how to induce labor in a dog?
It is generally not recommended to try to induce labor in a dog unless it is medically necessary and under the guidance of a veterinarian. The process of labor and delivery in dogs, also known as whelping, is a natural and complex process that is best left to occur on its own.
Attempting to induce labor in a dog without proper medical supervision can be dangerous and can cause complications for the mother and puppies.
If your dog is pregnant and approaching her due date, it is important to monitor her closely and to contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of distress or complications.
Your veterinarian will be able to provide guidance and assistance if it is necessary to induce labor in your dog.
How to Induce Dog Labor at Home?
There are several ways to induce your dog’s labor at home naturally.
Walking
Light walking can be a helpful inducing method. But be careful not to make her go for long walks, running, or jump. Make them walk in a safe space, avoiding other dogs, so that they don’t get prone to germs.
Exercise
Make them do moderate exercises and with the right postures, or else, it might be fatal for them during delivery. Amid such an important timing, don’t pressurize them with strenuous exercises, as their weight can wear them out. Try to stay away from activities that will excite them.
Massage
Massaging your dog’s nipples and abdomen gently will help stimulate contractions. However, while massaging, be careful not to hurt them too much. Don’t give hard massages.
Calcium Supplements
This can be used as a final stage. You can only use it after the delivery of the first puppy. Otherwise, it may create complications for your dog. You can also provide them with calcium supplements to strengthen contractions.
Complications That Might Arise During Your Dog’s Labor
Some dogs may have complications during their labor period. This may arise due to several reasons.
The Shape of the Pelvic Canal
The narrow-sized pelvis can make delivery difficult.
Breed
British bulldogs, French bulldogs, and boxers are dog breeds with slow progressing labor.
Uterine Inertia
The condition when the uterus cannot contract well is called uterine inertia. Due to this condition, dogs can’t push the puppies out.
The Size of the Puppies
Large-sized puppies can make them difficult to fit in the birth canal.
Position of the Puppies
There may be positional defects in the pups. They shouldn’t be born sideways.
Whelping
Whelping is the process of dogs giving birth. After whelping, dogs clean their newborns by licking, removing them from the amniotic sac, and chewing the umbilical cord and the placenta.
How to Clean the Newborns?
When your dogs won’t do cleaning, you can help clean up the puppies. It would help if you were prepared to assist the newborns, which is essential. You can do the following steps:
- Tear the amniotic sack first.
- Cut the umbilical cord carefully. Using a string cut one inch from the belly.
- Clean the newborns with a clean and dry towel. Continue the process till the baby cries.
- Give puppies to your dogs and let the mom take care of them.
When Should You Call a Vet?
Don’t worry if your dog shows restlessness, tiredness, and discomfort. After doing the natural inducing methods, you can wait for around 24 hours.
If your dog is still not entering the labor process, it is time to call a vet for help. Vets can solve the issue by giving medications or other methods. You should call the vet in the following situations:
- Your dog is not delivering puppies after completing the gestation period.
- The duration of stage I of the labor is between six to twelve hours. If the dog is not delivering after completing stage I (more than 24 hours), it is time to take her to the vet.
- Contraction of the pelvic canal is not followed by delivery, even after an hour.
- The resting phase or stage two duration extends more than 4 hours.
- If puppies are not coming out even after active pushing, you need a veterinarian’s assistance.
Proper Diet for Your Dog
Get suggestions from your vet about your dog’s diet for a smooth delivery and feed them a proper diet.
In addition, you should prepare before the canine labor period. You should be aware of the processes involved and take care of the signs.
You should call your veterinarian whenever your dog needs assistance or is in critical condition.
Like pregnant ladies who are scared of giving birth to their young ones, dogs also will be feared, confused, and painful.
So, to make them comfortable and feel secure, we must help and take care of them and their babies. Knowing the processes and doing everything carefully is also an important step you should follow.
Having enough knowledge about these ways and following the methods of how to induce dog labor at home can help to deliver without any medical complications.
If there are medical complications, you should immediately call a vet for assistance. Remember to not panic, be patient, and keep encouraging your dog. If you freak out, the new mum will freak out too.
