Whelping 101: Vet Approved 2025 Guide to Your Dog Labor & Birth🩺🐶
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Whelping 101: Vet Approved 2025 Guide to Your Dog Labor & Birth🩺🐶
By Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc
Whelping is the natural process of a dog giving birth, usually around 63 days post-ovulation. With proper preparation, monitoring, and care, most dogs deliver safely without intervention. Here's your thorough 2025 guide to a smooth, supported whelping experience! 🩺🍼
1️⃣ When to Expect Labor
- Gestation typically lasts 63 ± 2 days from ovulation
- A drop in rectal temperature to below 100 °F (37.8 °C) signals impending labor
- Nesting behaviors—scratching, restlessness—often begin 12–24 hours before birth
2️⃣ Preparing the Whelping Area
- Set up a clean, dry whelping box with low sides for mama and rails (“pig rails”) to prevent crushing pups
- Line with newspaper, puppy pads, or waterproof liners over cloth—easy to clean and absorbent
- Introduce the dam to the box 5+ days ahead to comfort her and encourage nesting
3️⃣ Essential Supplies
- Keep towels, sterile scissors, cord clamps, bulb syringe, sterile lubricant, heating pad, and a thermometer nearby
- Weigh puppies daily; typical gain is ~2 g per pound of expected adult weight daily
- Hold the vet’s phone details and schedule a check-up within 24–48 hours postpartum
4️⃣ Recognizing Labor Stages
- Stage 1: Uterine contractions, cervix dilation—restlessness, panting—can last 6–24 h
- Stage 2: Active delivery—puppies born with placenta; expect spacing of up to 2 h between pups
- Stage 3: Expulsion of placentas after each puppy
5️⃣ When to Seek Veterinary Help
- No puppy after >2 h of strong contractions or >4 h since last pup—potential dystocia
- Green/black discharge without pup, excessive pain, collapse, or weakness
- Dam shows distress, fever, or refuses to care for pups
6️⃣ Post-Birth & Neonatal Care
- Clear membranes and fluids; use a towel or bulb syringe if mama doesn’t lick
- Cut and clamp cords 1 in from the puppy’s body; disinfect with iodine
- Maintain warmth—box at ~85 °F for first 2 weeks—then slowly reduce
- Begin free-choice high-quality puppy food for mama; she needs 2–4× normal calories during nursing
- Watch for fading puppy syndrome; ensure warmth, hygiene, and colostrum intake
- Monitor for eclampsia signs in mom (shaking, panting, tremors); calcium drops postpartum require immediate vet attention
📊 Whelping Cheat Sheet
| Aspect | Key Notes |
|---|---|
| Gestation length | ~63 days (±2d) |
| Drop in temp | <100 °F signals Stage 1 |
| Box | Low sides, rails, lined, warm |
| Supplies | Towels, scissors, syringe, thermometer |
| Labor delay | Stage 2 delay >2 h → vet |
| Post-care | Warmth, nursing, feeding, eclampsia watch |
🔍 Final Thoughts
Whelping with knowledge and preparation sets up mama and pups for success. Monitor closely, stay ready to support, and involve your vet if needed. Celebrate the miracle responsibly and confidently in 2025! 🍼❤️
Need help with labor monitoring, box setup, or neonatal care? Download the Ask A Vet app for expert support any time of day. 📱🐾
