How to Predict when Your Dog Will Whelp Her Puppies
Measure progesterone levels., Measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels., Determine when your dog is in diestrus., Have your vet perform an ultrasound., Let your vet take x-rays., Take your dog’s rectal temperature., Notice personality and behavior...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Measure progesterone levels.
Progesterone is the hormone that maintains pregnancy.
Its levels start to rise at ovulation (ovary releases an egg to be fertilized), become higher during pregnancy, then decrease shortly before whelping.
When progesterone reaches a certain level in the blood, your vet will know your dog is ovulating and predict the whelping date.Your vet will take daily blood samples for several days to measure your dog’s progesterone levels.Whelping will take place about 62 to 64 days after progesterone levels indicate ovulation.When progesterone drops at the end of a dog’s pregnancy, whelping will likely occur in one to three days. -
Step 2: Measure luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.
LH is the hormone that stimulates ovulation.
Its blood levels will peak at ovulation, allowing your vet to predict when your dog will whelp.
However, LH levels peak for only a short period of time, so it can be easy to miss this peak.Because the LH peak is so short, your vet may prefer to measure only progesterone levels. , Diestrus is the phase of a female dog’s reproductive cycle when it is out of heat.
It lasts about 57 days.To know when your dog is in diestrus, your vet will swab the inside of your dog’s vagina and look at the vaginal cells with a microscope.
Vaginal cells look different in each phase of a dog’s reproductive cycle.
Once the cells indicate diestrus, your vet will predict that whelping will occur in about 57 days (give or take 3 days)., After your dog is 25 days pregnant, your vet will be able to see the puppy fetuses, and even detect their heartbeats, on an abdominal ultrasound.Using this information, your vet can estimate the number of days until your dog will whelp. , Later in the pregnancy, between days 42 and 52, your vet will be able to see the fetuses on an x-ray.
Before day 42, the fetuses’ bones are not developed enough to be seen on an x-ray.At this point in the pregnancy, your vet will predict that your dog will whelp in the next few weeks. , A drop in body temperature is one of the most reliable clinical signs to use when predicting whelping.
Your dog’s body temperature will drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit/37 degrees Celsius approximately 8 to 24 hours before whelping.Starting on day 60 of your dog’s pregnancy, take her rectal temperature twice a day., Your dog will probably start acting differently at the end of her pregnancy.
About one day before whelping, she may become restless, prefer to be by herself, and demonstrate nesting behavior.Nesting behavior is when a female starts building a nest or safe area to care for her babies.
Examples of nesting behavior in dogs are dragging papers and blankets to a quiet area.Your dog may also start panting the day before she whelps.Some dogs can become extra sweet and loving right before whelping, and others can become very irritable., Dogs that are within one day of whelping will typically start eating less.
This does not happen with all dog breeds, though.Your dog may continue eating as usual the day before she whelps. , One day before whelping, your dog’s vulva (external part of her reproductive system) will start to swell.
It may also start leaking a clear mucus.You may want to put some extra blankets on your floor so the mucus does not get on your floors. , Knowing when your dog will whelp is half the battle.
You will also need to prepare for the whelping process.
Prepare a whelping area an area in your home where your dog can comfortably give birth and nurse her puppies.
This area should be warm, quiet, and secluded.
This area should also have supplies:
Rectal thermometer (and KY jelly to lubricate the thermometer) Blankets Gram scale to weigh the puppies Heated whelping nest Pen and paper to record notes about the puppies (weight, coat color, etc.) and mother Puppy formula and feeding tubes for puppies that aren’t nursing on their own , Most whelpings occur without complications and without need for human intervention.
In fact, too much help from you make your dog nervous about giving birth.
There may be times, though, when she will need your help with the whelping process:
Tearing the placental membrane from the puppies’ mouth and nose, in case the mother is tired or inexperienced Rubbing the puppies with a towel until they start breathing and crying Using clean scissors to cut the umbilical cord to about 1/2 inch (1cm) from the puppy’s abdomen Tying the end of the umbilical cord with a piece of clean thread , If something doesn’t seem right about the whelping process, contact your vet as soon as possible.
For example, call your vet if your dog is past her scheduled whelping date.
Here are some other reasons to call your vet:
Intense labor for 20 minutes, but a puppy hasn’t been delivered The mother develops a fever (rectal temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit/39 degrees Celsius) Bloody discharge from the mother’s vagina for 10 minutes Green discharge coming from the vagina, but no puppies have been delivered -
Step 3: Determine when your dog is in diestrus.
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Step 4: Have your vet perform an ultrasound.
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Step 5: Let your vet take x-rays.
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Step 6: Take your dog’s rectal temperature.
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Step 7: Notice personality and behavior changes.
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Step 8: Detect a decreased appetite.
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Step 9: Examine your dog’s vulva.
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Step 10: Prepare the whelping area.
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Step 11: Intervene only when necessary.
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Step 12: Contact your vet if there are whelping problems.
Detailed Guide
Progesterone is the hormone that maintains pregnancy.
Its levels start to rise at ovulation (ovary releases an egg to be fertilized), become higher during pregnancy, then decrease shortly before whelping.
When progesterone reaches a certain level in the blood, your vet will know your dog is ovulating and predict the whelping date.Your vet will take daily blood samples for several days to measure your dog’s progesterone levels.Whelping will take place about 62 to 64 days after progesterone levels indicate ovulation.When progesterone drops at the end of a dog’s pregnancy, whelping will likely occur in one to three days.
LH is the hormone that stimulates ovulation.
Its blood levels will peak at ovulation, allowing your vet to predict when your dog will whelp.
However, LH levels peak for only a short period of time, so it can be easy to miss this peak.Because the LH peak is so short, your vet may prefer to measure only progesterone levels. , Diestrus is the phase of a female dog’s reproductive cycle when it is out of heat.
It lasts about 57 days.To know when your dog is in diestrus, your vet will swab the inside of your dog’s vagina and look at the vaginal cells with a microscope.
Vaginal cells look different in each phase of a dog’s reproductive cycle.
Once the cells indicate diestrus, your vet will predict that whelping will occur in about 57 days (give or take 3 days)., After your dog is 25 days pregnant, your vet will be able to see the puppy fetuses, and even detect their heartbeats, on an abdominal ultrasound.Using this information, your vet can estimate the number of days until your dog will whelp. , Later in the pregnancy, between days 42 and 52, your vet will be able to see the fetuses on an x-ray.
Before day 42, the fetuses’ bones are not developed enough to be seen on an x-ray.At this point in the pregnancy, your vet will predict that your dog will whelp in the next few weeks. , A drop in body temperature is one of the most reliable clinical signs to use when predicting whelping.
Your dog’s body temperature will drop below 99 degrees Fahrenheit/37 degrees Celsius approximately 8 to 24 hours before whelping.Starting on day 60 of your dog’s pregnancy, take her rectal temperature twice a day., Your dog will probably start acting differently at the end of her pregnancy.
About one day before whelping, she may become restless, prefer to be by herself, and demonstrate nesting behavior.Nesting behavior is when a female starts building a nest or safe area to care for her babies.
Examples of nesting behavior in dogs are dragging papers and blankets to a quiet area.Your dog may also start panting the day before she whelps.Some dogs can become extra sweet and loving right before whelping, and others can become very irritable., Dogs that are within one day of whelping will typically start eating less.
This does not happen with all dog breeds, though.Your dog may continue eating as usual the day before she whelps. , One day before whelping, your dog’s vulva (external part of her reproductive system) will start to swell.
It may also start leaking a clear mucus.You may want to put some extra blankets on your floor so the mucus does not get on your floors. , Knowing when your dog will whelp is half the battle.
You will also need to prepare for the whelping process.
Prepare a whelping area an area in your home where your dog can comfortably give birth and nurse her puppies.
This area should be warm, quiet, and secluded.
This area should also have supplies:
Rectal thermometer (and KY jelly to lubricate the thermometer) Blankets Gram scale to weigh the puppies Heated whelping nest Pen and paper to record notes about the puppies (weight, coat color, etc.) and mother Puppy formula and feeding tubes for puppies that aren’t nursing on their own , Most whelpings occur without complications and without need for human intervention.
In fact, too much help from you make your dog nervous about giving birth.
There may be times, though, when she will need your help with the whelping process:
Tearing the placental membrane from the puppies’ mouth and nose, in case the mother is tired or inexperienced Rubbing the puppies with a towel until they start breathing and crying Using clean scissors to cut the umbilical cord to about 1/2 inch (1cm) from the puppy’s abdomen Tying the end of the umbilical cord with a piece of clean thread , If something doesn’t seem right about the whelping process, contact your vet as soon as possible.
For example, call your vet if your dog is past her scheduled whelping date.
Here are some other reasons to call your vet:
Intense labor for 20 minutes, but a puppy hasn’t been delivered The mother develops a fever (rectal temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit/39 degrees Celsius) Bloody discharge from the mother’s vagina for 10 minutes Green discharge coming from the vagina, but no puppies have been delivered
About the Author
Alexander Morgan
A passionate writer with expertise in crafts topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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