The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Whelping Stories: Three Puppies Born

Dog laying on a blanket against a cage

These were not my puppies, or my litter but I was called on to help as ”mid-woof.” If you do not have experience in whelping, it is wise to invite someone over that has some experience.

At 9 a.m. the dam has green discharge, contractions start, but are mild and almost unnoticeable.

An internal exam shows a pup at three inches.

At 10 a.m. the pup has moved down an inch; an internal exam shows the pup at two inches in the canal.

At 11 a.m. the pup has moved down one more inch, and is at one inch.

I am concerned, as contractions are weak, and this pup has been in the birth canal for two hours, which is about the limit to leave her and do nothing. Details are below. Here is a video clip of the dam in distress.

Dam having contractions; see the tail move up and to the side.

Clock on the wall with the time '11:23' being displayed

11:23 a.m.—First contractions. A pup is in the birth canal, and has been for over two hours.

I am going to start feathering the dam to see if I can make the contractions stronger.

Dam licking the puppy before it comes out

The dam was working on this pup in the birth canal for 2.5 hours. Time to call the vet or take actions into your hands if you know how. I feathered her to make her contractions stronger.

Although green can be normal, I was not feeling good about this pup. It needed out and sooner than the dam was able.

Puppy finally beginning to present itself

The puppy's head is out, but it is stuck and turning blue. I rubbed the head, and the pup is alive, but unconscious. Do NOT LET THIS PUP go back inside the dam as the sack is removed.

Lady helping pull a puppy out of the dam

Pulling out the puppy, gently

First Puppy is out

The puppy is out, but it is GREEN and lifeless. This is when you CAN most often revive a pup.

Lady trying to revive the first puppy

I got the pup out, and with help, got her breathing, and sucked all the yucky stuff out of her lungs and throat. The puppy's pads are white. I have to get this pup going quickly.

Puppy head sticking out of a heated pad

Warmed her up good. HEAT got her going, and she is pinking up. Here she is in a microwave heated rice pad.

First Puppy laying on a towel

She is thriving an hour later. Nice and pink (yippee!) and breathing on her own.

First Puppy is nursing

Puppy #1 is doing well.

First Puppy laying on a heat pad

Put pup #1 on heat.

Dam licking the Second Puppy

Puppy #2 is presenting herself. This pup’s birth was fairly by-the-book. The dam’s contractions were very mild, but she needed a little help.

The Second Puppy is being helped out of the Dam

Pup #2 was stuck and breech. A little pulling assistance is needed. I have a hold of puppy, NOW I will pull it down and forwards, toward the dam’s belly button.

The Second Puppy is almost out

Waiting for final contraction which doesn't come...so I carefully pull.

The dam receiving assistance from a person

Pulling out the pup.

The person assisting the dam even further

Pulling down and towards the dam’s head. Not down and outwards.

Puppy number two is out

Pup #2 is out

Puppy number two next to the damClock which displays '12:18pm'

It's now 12:18 p.m.

close Up - Puppy Number Two laying on a blanket

Puppy #2 is doing well.

Puppy number three is presenting itself

Puppy #3 makes his presentation. This one was the hardest. The dam would NEVER have gotten this puppy out by herself, and the average breeder without experience would not have gotten this large, stuck breech puppy out.

The feet of puppy number three is exposed

FEET, breech... Shoot!

Close Up - the foot of a puppy

A foot!

Close Up - Puppies foot presenting itselfPuppy Number three being gently taken out of the dam

Carefully pulling the feet and pushing from under tail. This was TOUGH, it was stuck solid. See my one hand is pulling, and the other finger is actually pushing down on the hips of the puppy.

Puppy Number Three is Stuck

Stuck puppy

Puppy Number Three is being taken out more aggressively

Still have only feet, and the pup is turning blue, so I am going to pull aggressively, HARD, this one is scary, she is NOT budging. So, before you decide to whelp puppies on your own, ask yourself, WHAT would you do with a stuck puppy dying in the birth canal? Is this something you really want your kids to see? Is this something you are prepared for?

Puppy Number Three is half hanging out of the dam

Making good progress, but still really, REALLY stuck

Puppy number three is almost completely out

Trying to get the stuck puppy out

Puppy Number Three is being cleaned up and taken out at the same time Puppy being pulled out of the dam

I am pulling the pup toward her belly button, not straight out or down...

Puppy number three finally out of dam

…and she is finally out... A big, 202-gram puppy

A clock that displays '12:47'

It's now 12:47 p.m.

Close Up - Broth, turkey and kibble and a bowl of water for the dam

Broth, turkey and kibble and a bowl of water for the dam

Dam walking to water bowl inside her pen Three puppies laying on a towel inside the whelp box

All pups are thriving.

Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

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