How to Stimulate a Puppy's Breathing

Most of the time dogs give birth without incidence, and the mother dog welcomes her babies into the world by vigorously licking them -- both to clean them and to stimulate the puppy's circulation and breathing. Sometimes, however, the process doesn't go as expected and a human caretaker must intervene. If the mother dog is unable to -- or for some reason, does not -- begin caring for her puppy as soon as it is delivered, one of the most important jobs of the human caretaker is to stimulate the puppy's breathing.

Things You'll Need

  • Clean, warm towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give the mother dog a couple of minutes to clean the puppy herself. If she doesn't, then you must intervene.

    • 2

      Break the amniotic sac open, using your fingers.

    • 3

      Clean the puppy's face and nostrils with a towel.

    • 4

      Gently blow into the puppy's face.

    • 5

      Wrap the puppy in a towel and rub it vigorously until it starts to dry.

    • 6

      Swing the puppy's head downward periodically -- about every 30 seconds. This will drain any fluid from the puppy's lungs.

    • 7

      Listen for the puppy to begin whimpering and breathing normally.

    • 8

      Blow into the puppy's mouth if the puppy is not breathing within a few minutes of being delivered.

    • 9

      Check the color of the puppy's tongue to ensure that it is a healthy pink.

    • 10

      Offer the puppy to the mother.