Stages of a puppy from labor to birth
Puppy number two, puppy number three and puppy number four being born.
Puppy number five, a chestnut sable pied color being born.
Pictured are a pup and a placenta. Placentas either come out with the pup, or they can be retained and delivered with next contraction, or sometimes not till the next puppy and sometimes not at all. It is important to count the placentas to ensure one placenta comes out per pup. If they do not all come out, it is important to tell your vet.
Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
A litter of puppies at three days old. Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Emily is in LOVE... Keeping the pups clean and warm.
We touch pups as they come out of the birth canal, and every day thereafter, every couple of hours. Depending on the breed, 90% of breeds let you touch their babies, but no one else. Everything is sterilized; you cut the cord with sterilized scissors, clamp with sterile hemostats. Always use hand sanitizer or wash with warm soapy water.
Preemie puppies have to be kept very, very warm, and then never allow them to go below their birth weight, supplementing them either with a dropper, bottle or tubing them. And a very good scale that weighs to the ounce is the only way to keep them alive, feeding them a little every hour. It is hard to avoid pre-labor, except to not allow any jumping or rough play, long walks or stress.
As the pups come out, warm them, and never let them get chilly. You'd be surprised by how warm they need to be kept.
Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
