How long does it take for a dog to give birth between puppies? Is the interval between the birth of the puppies normal? How long should I wait to take it to the veterinary? To answer these questions this blog will talk about female dog parturition. We will talk about aspects of female dogs parturition and what should be done to help a female dog in this moment.
How long does it take for a dog to give birth between puppies?
The interval between the birth of the puppies should be 30 to 40 minutes and if it takes too long it can indicate problems in the parturition of the female dog. You should seek a veterinarian. Ideally, the interval between puppies should not be longer than 2 hours.
Dogs’ parturition can take up to 12 hours to complete. But this range may be longer in large dogs, and shorter in small dogs. Total parturition duration can also vary by the number of pups to be born; fewer puppies tend to have faster parturition.
Dogs’ parturition
Gestation in female dogs can last from 58 to 63 days and can be extended to 72 days or reduced to 57 days. At the end of pregnancy, a series of hormonal variations will lead the female dog to labor.
Parturition can be divided into 3 stages. The first stage is the preparation phase. During this period female dogs become restless, reduce food consumption, may try to hide in the chosen place for birth and may dig in the soil.
The second stage of parturition is the fetal expulsion; this phase begins with the birth of the pups along with the amniotic and allantoic sac. Some puppies may come out along with their placentas.
The third stage of labor is the phase of placentas delivery. Some puppies can be born without their placentas, and these can come out at the end of the second stage of birth.
Parturition in female dogs can be natural/ eutocic, when the female dog does not present difficulties in giving birth to the puppies alive. Difficulties at the parturition in female dogs is called dystocia, when proper treatment of dystocia is not performed, many puppies and parturients can die.
Some factors can lead to dystocia:
- Neonatal malpositioning;
- Neonatal malformation;
- Absence of uterine contraction;
- Mother’s pelvic conformation.
Neonatal malpositioning
Puppies must be born in a proper position. Either with the head and forelimbs stretched out, or backwards. Puppies in transverse position, or with flirted limbs, can lead to dystocia, as they cannot pass through the vaginal canal and also prevent the passage of other puppies.
A veterinarian must be called for obstetric maneuvers to be performed. If the puppy is still not born and the other puppies have neonatal stress, cesarean section surgery should be performed.
Neonatal malformation
Dogs with malformation may not be born alive but may also prevent the birth of others, as they are stuck in the vaginal canal during the parturition. And straining contractions can lead to exhaustion and secondary uterine inertia. In these cases, a fetotomy and cesarean section can be performed by a veterinarian.
Absence of uterine contraction
Some female dogs may not have uterine contraction, the absence of uterine contraction can be defined as primary uterine inertia, when there is a failure of uterine contraction in the fetal expulsion phase, or secondary uterine inertia, when it occurs mainly due to the loss of uterine contractions, as with female dogs with many puppies and very prolonged labor.
In these situations, the cesarean section must be performed by the veterinarian to avoid the puppies and parturient loss.
Mother’s pelvic conformation
Some breeds have a pelvic conformation that is not compatible with natural parturition, as is the case of the most brachycephalic dogs, whose pelvic conformation is not compatible with puppies that tend to be born large.
What to do to help a female dog when she is in labor?
Generally, female dogs will not need help when giving birth. However, some parturient do not open the puppies’ amniotic sac, so it is necessary for the tutor to do so, before the pup dies of asphyxiation.
Cutting the puppies umbilical cord should only be done if the parturient does not do it. The umbilical cord of the puppies should be cut with sterilized scissors and tied to avoid bleeding with nylon threads, also sterile.
If the parturient does not lick the puppy, the tutor must dry the puppy with clean, dry towels. Puppies do not regulate temperature so they must be in a warm place.
Puppies should breastfeed as soon as they are born. The first milk is called colostrum, and it is rich in antibodies, responsible for the protection of the puppies’ organism in the first weeks of life. If the parturient does not have milk, or does not want to breastfeed the puppies, seek help from the veterinarian.
If the female shows any sign of aggression towards the puppies, the parturient must be separated from the puppies and taken to the veterinarian so that the best treatment is carried out with the animals.
No medication should be used to accelerate dogs parturition, or even pull the puppies from the dog’s vulva. If the birth interval between the puppies is too long, take the parturient and the puppies already born to follow the rest of the parturition under a veterinarian supervision.
Conclusion
The birth of puppies can take between 30 and 40 minutes and cannot exceed more than 2 hours. In this situation, the veterinarian should be consulted. Very prolonged intervals of delivery can indicate dystocia and should be monitored by an experienced professional. Thus, avoiding the death of puppies and even parturient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How long does it take for a dog to give birth between puppies?
What is dystocia?
Dystocia is any act that prevents the beginning or progression of natural parturition in animals. Dystocia must be properly treated by a veterinarian, thus preventing the death of puppies and mothers.
How many placentas does a dog have?
Each pup has only one placenta, so the number of puppies is the number of placentas.
How do you know if you still have a puppy in the dog’s belly after parturition?
At the end of parturition, the best way to know if there are puppies in the female dog’s belly is through imaging tests such as ultrasound or X-ray. The experienced veterinarian can also perform abdominal palpation to identify puppies.
Reference
Bergström, A., Fransson, B., Lagerstedt, A. S., & Olsson, K. (2006). Primary uterine inertia in 27 bitches: aetiology and treatment. Journal of small animal practice, 47(8), 456-460.
Greer, M. L. (2014). Canine reproduction and neonatology. CRC Press.
Kustritz, M. V. R. (2005). Pregnancy diagnosis and abnormalities of pregnancy in the dog. Theriogenology, 64(3), 755-765.
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