Labour and pregnancy in dogs



When your dog is pregnant, you may find yourself wondering “how do dogs give birth?”. You don’t have to panic as her due date approaches - dog labours are usually much less dramatic than ours, and she should be able to bring her puppies into the world without any worries. Mum should be more than capable, but keep her company during labour in case she runs into any complications.
Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about pregnancy in dogs or about your dog giving birth. Their advice should help to put your mind at rest. Here are some helpful tips from our PetCare Team to help you be as prepared as possible for when your pet becomes a new mum.
Preparing for the birth
Hopefully your dog’s birth will go smoothly, but it’s always best to be prepared in case the unexpected happens.
The stages of labour and delivery
In general, dog births are normally straightforward and don’t often involve complications. Although you should interfere as little as possible, it’s still important to be with your dog giving birth so that you can support her and step in if there are any problems. Labour normally lasts 3-12 hours, and happens in three stages.
- The cervix and uterus prepare for delivery with smaller contractions that may not be visible to you.
- Your dog’s vulva will begin to swell in preparation for delivery.
- During this stage of labour, dogs may be very restless and unsettled and mum may pant and shiver – this is all perfectly normal, so don’t worry.
The second stage is the passing of puppies which usually takes between 3-12 hours but can take up to 24 hours.
- Mum's rectal temperature will return to normal as she gets ready to deliver her puppies.
- You will see strong contractions, followed by a clear fluid from your dog’s vulva – a puppy should follow within the next 20-30 minutes.
- Puppies are usually born within 20 minutes of each other, but it’s quite normal for mum to have a rest during delivery, and may not strain at all for up to two hours between pups. Watch your dog giving birth closely and contact your vet if she rests for longer than two hours.
- It’s normal for some of the litter to be born tail-first, so don’t be alarmed if this happens. You may need to gently encourage mum to deliver puppies that are tail-first, but be very careful not to tug.
- Mum should bite through the puppy’s sacs and umbilical cords before cleaning them herself. If you notice she is trying to chew the cords too close to the puppy, stop her and do it yourself. See our Helping during delivery section for more information.

- If labour lasts a long time, mum may need to go to the toilet in between deliveries. Keep a close eye on her in case she starts giving birth to the next pup at the same time.
- A greenish/brown discharge may suggest a placenta has separated. If you see this, a puppy should be born within the next 2-4 hours. If it isn’t then contact your vet, as there may be a complication with your dog giving birth.
- The placentas should pass after each puppy has been born.
- Try to check how many placentas have been passed (note if she eats any), so you will know if any are left inside mum. If you think this has happened, contact your vet as they may need to intervene.
- During this stage of labour, dogs may be very restless and unsettled and mum may pantand shiver – this is all perfectly normal, so don’t worry.
- If mum is preoccupied delivering another puppy, you may have to help her cut the umbilical cord of an earlier born puppy. To do this, tie a knot using heavy thread approximately one inch from where the cord attaches to the pup’s body. Tie another knot a little further from the first, and use clean scissors to cut the cord between the two knots. Cutting too close to the pup’s body can risk its health, and leaving it too long could lead to it being chewed or swallowed by mum.
See our page on Things to look out for during labour for more information on the stages of labour and possible complications.
After the birth

When you are sure that labour has finished, and that everyone is healthy and happy, get mum something to eat and drink. Give her the normal puppy food she has had throughout pregnancy, as she’ll need something she’s used to that’s gentle on her stomach.
Try to help her go outside for fresh air and to go to the toilet – this might be tough to do straight away. Remove and replace anything that has been soiled during delivery, and then give the new family some quiet, quality time together.

If you’d like more information on labour and pregnancy in dogs or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM