I learned a lot helping my dog deliver (also called whelping) her puppies for the first time. If my experience can help anyone else with their upcoming whelping or just satisfy curiosity, I’m all for it.
Breeding Our Dog
A little history on Prada first. My husband and I made the decision to purchase Prada from a pet store just after our younger son was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. We decided that Prada would bring a welcome distraction to our home during a stressful and sad time. The $3700 price tag was a lot to swallow but we fell in love with her.
We did not get Prada fixed because we knew there was a chance we might want to breed her at some point. We had an unsuccessful attempt last year to breed her and I decided to try again. A stud was recommended to me by a friend and at Prada’s next heat, the stud and my girl tied twice. Once in the afternoon and again the next morning.
“Tied” literally means they were stuck together, you can certainly google it if you are more curious than a vague explanation. My understanding is that the male swells and the female contracts…. creating the “tie”. The dogs were rear to rear for a little over 30 minutes both times and separated with a liquid mess left on the floor (I know, gross, I had to clean it up.)
Pregnancy
Two weeks later, I was telling my boys and my friends that I didn’t think the mating had worked. I was telling them that I was glad the stud owner guaranteed his work, as we would be able to use his services until the mating was successful.
Both boys play travel basketball and that coming weekend was a trip to Cali. My niece came over to house and dog sit. Prada was acting very strange the night before we left. She was shaking and panting. I felt very concerned that she was sick and let my sister and niece know that they may need to take her to the vet. The next day, my niece let me know that the shaking had subsided substantially and that Prada seemed fine.
When we got home from Cali two days later, it was obvious that Prada was indeed expecting. She was about 4 weeks along at this point. She was already almost half way done with her pregnancy! Dogs are pregnant for about 8-9 weeks (approx. 63 days). I began researching whelping boxes (where the pregnant dog gives birth) and the supplies I would need. I am linking the items I purchased and would recommend all of them.
I purchased with a baby play pen with the idea that I can use it as the puppies grow. I also purchased a couple pillows for Prada to lay comfortably in the pen while still pregnant. Everything I read stated to set up the whelping area early, so the mama has a chance to get comfortable before her actual delivery.
I also purchased washable puppy pee pads, washable dog blankets, disposable pee pads, a pack of sterile towels, a puppy whelping kit, a puppy scale, and a puppy heating pad.
Time For Puppies
The afternoon before Prada went into labor involved a lot pf panting and her not leaving my side. I laid next to her in the whelping area that evening as she laid on one of her pillows and watched her stomach tighten in contractions. I set up the heating pad and placed the sterile towels and whelping kit in the playpen near us. I watched as she pushed for the first time and saw a bulge, but no puppy yet.
Luckily, I have a close friend who has helped her dogs birth litters multiple times. I face-timed her. She walked me through what to expect and kept me calm. The next push produced a puppy in an amniotic sac. Now, I have read and been told that the mother will chew through the cord and eat off the amniotic sac. I also read that there is a chance of issues if the mother is too rough.
I decided to help Prada with the cord and sac part. I broke the sac and used the sterile scissors that came in the whelping kit and cut the cord myself. Blood. Literally. Squirted. What did I expect? I don’t know, I obviously was functioning on adrenaline and was just trying to support my Prada mama. I suctioned the puppy’s nose and mouth. I then used a sterile towel and dried off the puppy. I held the puppy right next to Prada’s face and she licked the puppy as I dried her off. Prada greedily ate the sac and I placed the first born female puppy on her nipples and the puppy immediately began suckling. The placenta came pretty quickly after the first puppy and Prada ate that as well.
Within the next 4 hours, Prada had a total of 6 puppies. My sons were helping and present off and on. Koi became disgusted after watching Prada eat the second puppy’s placenta and decided to walk away for a bit. We had water available for Prada the entire time and she would drink sometimes. We also gave her meat and cheese snacks to try to help sustain her during such a strenuous time.
Final Puppy Makes a Dramatic Entrance
The biggest scare came with the sixth and final puppy who is still the runt today.
I was waiting on the placenta from the fifth puppy and did not expect a sixth puppy to also come out with the placenta. I broke the sac around the puppy and realized I had to break another layer, and after breaking that second layer, I had to break a third layer before I could get to her. She was limp. Not moving or breathing. I quickly cut her cord, suctioned her, and then took a sterile towel and rubbed her vigorously. No response. I had hung up with my friend some time ago, but immediately called her back.
I didn’t even say hello. A soon as she answered, I blurted, “A puppy isn’t breathing and isn’t responding to Prada licking or my rubbing”.
She told me I would have to breath into the puppy’s mouth. She instructed me to put my pinky in her mouth to hold down the puppy’s tongue and blow. Then turn the puppy over and rub her back again. I would then suction her again. I had to repeat this three times before the puppy finally started taking rattling breaths.
That last little girl holds a special place in my heart because she scared me so bad.
Once Prada recovered enough to move around, she went outside to go pee and rushed back in to her puppies. She then vomited up a few placentas. I don’t think I have expressed to you all properly just how messy this experience was.
The Puppies at 3 Weeks Old
That was almost 3 weeks ago. I weigh the puppies every day to track their growth and supplement with goat milk from a bottle. We also did ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) from 3 days old to 16 days old. ENS has been reported to help aid puppies development, resilience, and coping mechanics.
Fun Fact: Puppies are born deaf and blind. Who knew? I’m sure some of you did.
All of the puppies eyes are now open and their ears are slowly opening as well. They will balance on all four legs for a bit and even take a few steps. They started lapping up milk with their tongue yesterday and we will start the weaning process soon.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my puppy birthing experience.
The links to the items mentioned above can be found below.