Happy Labor Day everyone!  I recently had a conversation with a dog owner whose female dog is pregnant and expecting puppies very soon.  She wanted to know if there was a supplement to give her dog incase she could not produce milk after her delivery and asked about a birthing box or whelping box.  She had bought one but wanted know if her dog would naturally go to it during delivery or if she should show it to her before hand.  I called my vet who gave me some great information.  Typically, a female dog does not have problems producing milk after delivery and showing them the box before her delivery will help once she goes into labor.  I did some research and thought I’d share my findings with you.  I have never experienced a dog having puppies so this was a teaching experience for me and I hope this helps you.  If anyone has ever experienced a dog’s labor and delivery, I would love to know your experience.  Please comment below!

1. Puppy food to be fed to the female from week 4 of pregnancy

Your female should be fed a premium quality adult dog food until week 4 of pregnancy when puppy food should gradually be added to the diet. Royal Canin, Hills, or Eukanuba will provide guaranteed quality. She should be consuming entirely puppy food (high calcium/protein) by her last week of pregnancy.

Examples of good quality puppy foods available from MedicAnimal.

2. Whelping Box

– Introduce the whelping box to your dog
– Once you have purchased or built your whelping box, take some time to get your dog accustomed to it. Dogs look for warm, safe places to deliver their puppies. If you don’t introduce her to the whelping box beforehand, she might decide to deliver someplace else—like your closet.
– Encourage the pregnant female to sleep and sit in the box regularly. That helps her get used to being in there. If you install a heat lamp, that might make her more likely to go in it, and it will also help the puppies retain body heat after they’re born.
– Make sure the sides are high enough so that the puppies will not fall out and to prevent draft.
– The box should be big enough for your dog to stretch out so that delivery is more comfortable for her.
– The box should be made comfortable with extra towels and to make delivery comfortable.
– Place the whelping box in a warm, quiet area which is free from distractions but familiar to the dog as she needs a quiet and secure place to rest.
-Keep clean at all times.
– For bigger breeds, a security bar around the internal surface is often recommended. This will prevent a puppy placed in a corner being crushed or suffocated by his mother accidentally.
– Plastic sheets should layer the floor of the box covered with newspapers or puppy training pads. They make excellent bedding material because they are easy for the mother to shred for her nest, are absorbent, and can be replaced.
– Blankets, rugs, and towels are also useful, but they must be cleaned frequently.
– A waterproof heating pad under the box will serve as an additional heat source. It is very important to make sure you do not put a heating pad in the box where a puppy could contact or lie on it directly as they could get burned.
– Make sure when the puppies start moving around, you provide a safe area for them to stretch their legs.
– Ideally, set up the whelping box away from all other dogs and in a quieter area to give the mom privacy.
– Put a tarp or plastic drop cloth underneath and around the box in case of accidents.

Whelping Supply Checklist:

• Newspaper to line the whelping box during delivery for easy clean up
• Non-skid bath mats for bedding after whelping is done
• Dry, clean towels to clean the puppies
• Paper towels to help with clean up
• Thermometer to check your dog’s temperature before whelping
• Unwaxed dental floss to tie off the umbilical cords
• Clean scissors to cut the umbilical cords
• A heating pad or hot water bottle to keep the puppies warm (be careful of it not being too hot)
• Iodine to clean the puppies’ abdomens after the cord is cut and dab on the end of the cut umbilical cord
• A baby scale in ounces
• Your veterinarian’s phone number and the number of a nearby emergency clinic

A great recourse to read if your pup is pregnant and ready to deliver. You will be in for an experience and if this is your first time, educate yourself so that if something goes wrong, you can be more prepared: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-pregnancy-care-prep/