You may find yourself wondering what to do if your pet is pregnant. Ensuring that you are prepared and know what to do is extremely important so that their whelping will be safe. Whelping is the process of your dog giving birth. There are lots of things to take note of to ensure safe delivery. You need a rough estimate of the due date of your dog and see a veterinarian for assistance and advice on how to take care of them during pregnancy.
Is It Okay for Them To Deliver at Home?
Many pet owners would choose to have their pets give birth at home. Same with humans, home birthing is extremely common. On the other hand, we will not know if any issues will arise, and that’s where the problem begins for home birthing.
If we see one thing going wrong, it’s normal for pet owners to start panicking as they are extremely worried about them. Even if everything is going perfectly fine, seeing them in labor is rather scary as there’s nothing we can do but watch them deliver the new puppies. Here are some of the things you have to keep in mind if your dog is giving birth.
Labor
During labor, your pet may experience contractions that can last from 6 to 12 hours. You’ll notice your pet getting agitated, panting heavily, digging, or vomiting occasionally. If the amount of vomit is worrying, call your vet as soon as possible. You also need to watch out for vaginal discharge, bleeding, especially if your dog has been straining for 20 to 30 minutes, but no puppies are coming out; promptly bring your pet to an emergency hospital. You can browse through a vet’s website to learn more.
Puppy Care
Please make sure the puppies have a tidy surrounding once they’re born. Given that they can’t control their temperature, you would also have to use a heat lamp throughout their first month to make sure they are warm. Puppies are highly vulnerable to infection and diseases, so make sure they have their first veterinary appointment in their 6th week and kittens to a kitten vet around eight weeks.
Spay and Neuter
Pregnancy and giving birth put a substantial strain on your pet’s body. That’s why if you don’t have any plans on breeding them, most vets would recommend having them undergo cat spaying or neutering. This will also help unwanted pregnancy and overpopulation. There are health problems that your pet may be at risk of if they are not spayed or neutered. If you’re uncertain if you’ll get it or not, it’s best to reach out to your veterinarian for recommendations and more details.
Conclusion
Giving birth is a painful and very stressful experience for your dogs. That’s why it’s essential that you are prepared throughout the birthing process, as it can take a very long time for all the puppies to come out. You would also have to monitor the puppies as there are some instances where the mother rejects them, which means they won’t be fed. There are even pet owners that don’t want their pets to be pregnant again after seeing what their pets need to go through. But all is worth it to have a new snuggly and adorable family member who’ll make us smile even more.