The Stages in a Whelping Dog's Birth & Getting to Full Dilation

After nine weeks of waiting to give birth, most female dogs--and their owners--seem to be eager for the whole process to be over. However, there is still work for your dog to do, even after her labor pains begin. What many people seem to believe is a single event that starts with the first labor pain and ends with the final puppy emerging from the mother is actually divided into several stages.

  1. Relaxation of the Cervix

    • The first stage of labor begins when the female dog's temperature drops by about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit from her normal temperature. During the first stage of pregnancy, the cervix--the neck of the uterus--begins to relax so that the female dog can have her puppies. This process begins with gentle contractions that grow stronger as the time for delivery approaches. Stage one of pregnancy may last as long as 12 hours before stage two begins.

    Contractions

    • Strong contractions begin in stage two of labor. It is during stage two of labor that the puppies are born after full dilation has been achieved. The contractions during this stage of labor should be purposeful, eventually resulting in a puppy being whelped. Call the veterinarian if more than 12 hours go by without a puppy being produced. Never allow the second stage of labor to continue for more than two or three days, as fetal death and physical damage to the dam can occur.

    Expulsion of the Placenta

    • The third stage of pregnancy is when the female dog gets to rest a bit. During pregnancy, each puppy is cocooned in and nourished by its own placenta. Puppies are whelped one at a time. During labor, the puppy is separated from the placenta. If the placenta does not emerge from the dam with the puppy, then it should emerge within a quarter hour of the puppy being whelped. The normal rest period between puppies will last anywhere between 10 and 90 minutes. Stages two and three will alternate with one another until all of the puppies are born.

    Immediately After Birth

    • After each puppy is whelped, contractions will briefly cease while she cleans the puppy and helps it emerge from its placenta if it is still contained within the sac. She will instinctively eat the placenta if she is permitted to do so. The first puppies born will crawl to their dam's belly and "root," that is, search for a nipple. Puppies need to attach to their dam and suckle within the first 12 hours after whelping to take in the colostrum the mother lets down into the milk.