South African Veterinary Foundation Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinêre Stigting presents Is your bitch whelping normally, and how may your veterinarian assist?

South African Veterinary Foundation

Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinêre Stigting

presents

Is your bitch whelping normally, and how may

your veterinarian assist?

Mandate of the SA Veterinary

Foundation

Promoting an informed public

To promote and advance veterinary and related biological sciences in all their

aspects. This includes supporting veterinary research at all levels, to fund bursaries and loans for veterinary studies and to invest and

administer various financial portfolios in order to promote the knowledge, image

and status of the Veterinary and Paraveterinary Profession and practice

within Southern Africa resulting in improved quality of life for animals and

humans.

Normal birth in the bitch


Bitches usually whelp about 63 to 65 days after mating, but it may be as few as 57 days or

as many as 68 days.



Ask your veterinarian to examine your bitch while she

is still on heat, so that he may more accurately predict

when whelping is due and advise you on how to observe the whelping

process.



Provide the bitch with a whelping box with absorbent bedding about one week prior to whelping. Place the box in

a warm dry place.



The bitch’s own blanket or pillow will help her to initially become familiar with the box and accept it as her domain.



The bitch normally starts becoming restless,

scratching her bedding and panting before she starts

straining to deliver the first pup. If the signs persist for

more than a few hours without straining, consult

your veterinarian.



If the bitch strains for more than 30 minutes, a pup may

be stuck and you should immediately consult your

veterinarian.



If the bitch does not tear the bag around the pup, a person should do so and rub the pup

dry with a cloth in order to stimulate breathing.



It is normal for the bitch to eat the placenta: there is no

need to prevent her from doing so.



It is normal for the bitch to be as rough with the pup as

seen here.



If the bitch does not put the pup to the teat you should do so, as it is essential for each

puppy to start ingesting colostrum as early as

possible.



The bitch should start straining again within four hours after the birth of the previous pup, in order to

deliver the next pup.



If the bitch has not started straining by four hours after the birth of the previous pup,

consult your veterinarian immediately.



Once the last pup has been born, dried and helped to the teat, the bitch will be placid and peaceful, caring for her

pups.



The bitch should start eating and drinking during the same day that the pups are born. If

not, consult your veterinarian.



Most importantly, if you are unsure about anything

regarding your whelping bitch, that is sufficient reason to consult your veterinarian.

Acknowledgements


Video material: Val de Grace Animal Hospital & Mr V Jacobs

Text: Prof J Nöthling Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria

South African Veterinary Foundation

Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinêre Stigting

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South African Veterinary Foundation Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinêre Stigting presents Is your bitch whelping normally, and how may your veterinarian assist?