How to Help a Japanese Chin Dog Give Birth

While dogs certainly are able to give birth on their own, the likelihood of the mother and all her puppies staying healthy is increased if you are on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly. You might become stressed out when your Japanese chin is about to give birth, but knowing what to expect and being prepared will help. Japanese chins can be susceptible to heatstroke, so make sure the birthing area is cool and well-ventilated.

Things You'll Need

  • Comfortable bed, box or large basket
  • Washcloth
  • Sterile scissors
  • Dental floss
  • Suction bulb
  • Cloth-lined basket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a comfortable birthing area for your dog. Japanese chins are small dogs, so a box or a large basket can work well. Line it with towels or blankets so she will be comfortable. Be aware that the birthing process will be messy, so choose linens you won't mind discarding later.

    • 2

      Watch for signs that your Japanese chin will soon give birth. She will likely stop eating, drink more water than normal, become restless and may even vomit. Make sure she has access to her birthing area when it seems like she is nearly ready to give birth.

    • 3

      Watch as your Japanese chin dog gives birth. Make sure each puppy comes out fully and the mother takes care of it afterward. You may need to step in and help if a puppy will not come out after about an hour or if the puppies come out too quickly for the mother to stop and care for each one.

    • 4

      Pull out the puppy from the mother's body if it has remained partially out for about an hour and you can see its legs. Gently grasp the puppy and pull it downward. Use an arcing motion to make sure you do not break the puppy's legs or back. The puppy should slip out.

    • 5

      Step in and help if the mother does not care for a puppy after it's delivered. First, remove the amniotic sac from around the puppies body, specifically its face. Then use a clean washcloth to wipe the fluids away from its nose and mouth.

    • 6

      Tie a knot with dental floss around the umbilical cord about an inch from where it connects to the body. Tie another knot about an inch away from the first one. Use sterile scissors to cut the umbilical cord between the two knots.

    • 7

      Rub the puppy vigorously with a clean, dry washcloth to both warm and dry it. This also should stimulate the Japanese chin puppy's first breath.

    • 8

      Use a suction bulb to gently clear out fluid from the puppy's nostrils, if it does not begin breathing on its own.

    • 9

      Place the clean puppies inside a cloth-lined basket where they can stay warm. Leave them there until all the puppies have been born, then return them to the mother.

    • 10

      Call your veterinarian if the mother strains hard to try to birth a puppy for more than an hour with no results. She may need a Cesarean section. Taking breaks between puppies during birthing is normal, but contact your veterinarian if the mother stops for more than four hours and still has puppies inside her. Also contact the veterinarian if the mother seems uninterested in her puppies after she has given birth. She could have hypoglycemia, milk fever or other common problems associated with dogs giving birth.