Try not to intervene in the whelping process unless it’s needed, as your dog should be capable and able to take all the necessary steps to ensure effective delivery of her puppies.
Puppies can exit the vulva in a few different ways (fully encased in the placenta, encased in a fluid-filled sac or outside of the sac). Usually, within one or two minutes of each puppy being delivered, the mother will remove and eat the sac – allowing the puppy to breathe.
If your dog doesn’t seem to be removing the sac, you will need to intervene. Too much time in the sac can cut off the puppy’s oxygen supply. The good news is it isn’t too difficult.
Take care not to pull on the umbilical cord in the initial removal of the sac. You shouldn’t use scissors to pierce the sac, as you may accidentally harm the puppy – and it isn’t necessary. Instead, gently slide your finger into the sac and pull it away from the puppy’s head. Take your bulb syringe, and gently suction the fluids out of the puppy’s nose and mouth. Then, hold the puppy head-down to help force fluids out of his nose and mouth. If the puppy still isn’t breathing, grab a clean, dry towel and rub the puppy to stimulate breathing. You can be pretty vigorous. You may only notice gasping at first, and it can take 10-15 minutes of vigorous rubbing before breathing normalizes.
If your dog hasn’t bitten off the umbilical cord, tie it off with cotton thread or dental floss about 2-3 cm from the puppy’s abdomen. Then, trim the cord below where you cut (about half an inch to one inch from the puppy’s abdomen) with a clean pair of scissors. Dab a bit of iodine at the end of the cord where you cut.
Allow each puppy to suckle as soon as possible, because it will release oxytocin, helping to stimulate additional contractions. If your dog is preoccupied with whelping, you can place the puppies to the side with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to ensure they stay warm. Reunite them with their mom as soon as possible after whelping.
Carefully examine each puppy as it’s delivered, noting any deformities like a cleft palate, cleft lip, spina bifida or imperforate (closed) anus. If you notice that any of the puppies are crying constantly or not suckling, this could be a cause for concern. If your dog is uninterested in the puppies or not paying attention to them, this is also a concern – and you should contact your vet.
Book an appointment with your vet within 1-2 days of delivery for a full examination for mom and her puppies. Your vet will examine and weigh each puppy, assessing their health, and will also make sure that there are no placentas remaining in your dog’s uterus and that she is in good health.
