Waiting for puppies is an exciting period of about two months. And the closer the onset of parturition, the more tense the household feels. It’s important to recognize the harbingers on time to be ready for this long-awaited event and help the dog cope with such a difficult physiological process.
What signs indicate the approach of childbirth?
A few days before the birth of the puppies, the female begins to prepare a place for them: dig a hole, scratch the floor. During this period, she has a contraction of the uterus, there is rapid breathing and restless behavior.
The last weeks of pregnancy are accompanied by the stirring of puppies, which is felt at the time of applying the palm to the dog’s stomach, but 1-2 days before the start of labor, their movements calm down.
For 5-7 days before the birth of newborns, the female begins to secrete colostrum.
The silhouette of the dog changes before parturition: the belly falls, the sides seem hollow, and the ribs protrude, while the loop swells and relaxes.
The rectal temperature drops by 1 degree the day before labor. It is stored as such for several hours, and then restored.
A day before the contractions, the dog’s mucus comes out of the loop.
Before the beginning of labor, the female ceases to eat.
These signs will allow you to correctly assess the situation and timely come to the aid of your pet.
The process of parturition
The average duration of pregnancy is 60 days. From 4 to 6 puppies usually is born in a litter. The birth process is preceded by contractions, which can take 6-12 hours. This moment is accompanied by a contraction of the uterus.
Puppies are born after the release of amniotic fluid from the water bubble. If the rupture has not occurred, you should immediately contact the veterinary.
If husky has weak attempts and a puppy doesn’t go out the birth canal, the animal needs help. Put your hands on the area of the abdominal wall and make a few weak pressures. If you managed to get closer the puppy to the loop, it will be necessary to pull up at the time of the next attempt. Then wrap the newborn in a dry cloth and examine it.
If the baby’s umbilical cord is too long, take a pair of scissors and cut it at a distance of 2 cm from the umbilical cavity, and then tie it with a thread. It will dry out and fall away in a couple of days.
If the newborn shows weak signs of life, it’s necessary to make sure that his respiratory tract isn’t clogged with fluid. Use a rubber douche to clear them of mucus. If the performed manipulations didn’t give a positive result, you should make alternate flexion/extension of the body. This will remove the remnants of amniotic fluid and provide stimulation of respiratory function. If the puppy squeaked, it means that the reanimation went successful.
After birth, the puppy must be attached to the dog’s nipple. To develop a baby’s sucking reflex, place a nipple in his mouth and squeeze out a drop of milk. By the activity of the sucking movements, you can determine how much the newborn is viable.
Each puppy needs to be weighed. Still be sure to count the number of released afterbirths. Sometimes they appear after the birth of the next baby. Externally, the latter looks like a raw liver. It contains nutrients that help the dog to maintain strength in the process of labor.
When emergency care is required?
If stimulation of labor doesn’t give results, a cesarean section can save the dog and its litter. Among the main indications for this operation should be highlighted following:
- large fetus that doesn’t match the size of the animal’s pelvis;
- wrong position of the puppy;
- prolonged pregnancy;
- weak contractions even when stimulated;
- twisting of the uterus.
It’s very important that the caesarean section is performed on time. If you do this sooner or later, the dog and puppies may die.
After giving birth, the husky needs to recover. During this period, special attention should be paid to feeding the female. She should get food up to 4 times a day. Food should contain vitamins, be nutritious and easily digestible. If the female is fed, she will be able to provide her pups with enough milk.