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

Whelping and Raising Puppies

Dam, Day 62

A combination of images that list the steps of a Labor and Birth.

Stages of a puppy from labor to birth

A combination of images that show the birth of three newborn puppies

Puppy number two, puppy number three and puppy number four being born.

A combination of images that show the birth of a newborn puppy.

Puppy number five, a chestnut sable pied color being born.

A newborn puppy is laying on a towel across from a placenta.

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.

The placenta of a newborn puppy on a white towel.An empty placenta that is stretched over top of a persons hand.Five puppies are feeding off of their tan furry mother who is laying down on her side in front of them.

Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

Five newborn puppies are laying across a rug and they are looking at each other.

A litter of puppies at three days old. Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A blonde-haired girl is laying on a rug across from five tiny newborn puppies.

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

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