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Dogs and pregnancy

Wed, 10 Jan 2007

Dog breeds like Labrador Retrievers produce large litters of puppies compared to breeds like terriers that produce smaller litters of large-sized puppies.

The later have more problems giving birth to than other breeds. Also breeds with larger heads such as Bulldogs usually have a harder time giving birth compared to other breeds.

The mother normally gives birth within 2 hours after her water breaks. The puppies are born at intervals ranging from just a few minutes to 2 hours.

You can help your dog during labour by having the following items close to hand such as towels, thread for tying off the umbilical cord, and a non-toxic disinfectant for your hands. It is strongly recommended that you should not interfere with the delivery process unless you absolutely have to in order to help the mother if she is having difficulty giving birth.

Call a vet if the mother has been straining unproductively for more than half an hour, as the puppies may be too large for her to deliver. During such a time the vet may have to perform a caesarean.

However, to be on the safe side you must contact a vet while your dog undergoes labour pains.
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