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Small paws, big adventures: puppies in their first weeks of life
Is there anything more exciting for dog lovers than a dog's pregnancy? The birth of puppies is undoubtedly an emotional and significant event: after about two months of gestation, the little furballs are born and your everyday life changes completely.
How does birth work in dogs? Can you support your pregnant dog during birth? Is it necessary to call in a veterinarian during the birth? What do you need to bear in mind when dealing with the puppies in the first few weeks of their lives?
You will find the answers to these questions and more in the article.
Birth in dogs: What you need to consider
Is your dog's due date approaching? There's no need to be nervous or worried. Your dog will usually manage this on her own. However, you can support her without her feeling stressed. The average gestation period for a dog is around 63 days. Since the day of mating does not necessarily coincide with the day of fertilization of the eggs, the gestation period can vary between 58 and 72 days after mating.
How do I know if my dog is pregnant?
There are just a few signs that may indicate that your dog is pregnant:
- Swollen udder
- Changed appetite; it may initially decrease until the 3rd week of pregnancy and then increase by 30-50% from the fifth week until shortly before birth
- Increased fatigue and reduced activity
There are currently no home tests for dogs to determine pregnancy, so you should consult your veterinarian if you suspect pregnancy.
How pregnancy is determined
- Palpation: Palpation used to be the quickest way to confirm pregnancy. However, this method carries risks and should only be performed by experienced veterinarians.
- Blood test: A blood test for the hormone relaxin allows a reliable determination of pregnancy. If the test result is negative, pregnancy is unlikely, but not 100% ruled out.
- Ultrasound examination: From the 3rd week of pregnancy, unborn puppies can be easily identified using ultrasound. The veterinarian can also check the quality and quantity of amniotic fluid as well as the development of the puppies.
- X-ray examination: After the 7th week of pregnancy, the skeletons of the puppies are visible on X-rays. Although not common today, X-rays can often determine the number of puppies better than ultrasound.
How to recognize that birth is imminent
Shortly before giving birth, your dog's behavior will change significantly. These typical signs can appear a few days before birth and vary from dog to dog:
- nest-building behavior
- More frequent urination
- restlessness and nervousness
- Lack of appetite
- scratching in the area of the birthplace
- Increased attachment
- Increased licking of the vagina
- Clear discharge
- panting and rapid breathing
In many dogs, the body temperature drops by about one degree 24 to 36 hours before labor. When labor begins, the temperature rises again until it reaches its normal level during labor.
Good preparation is crucial
To prepare for the birth of the puppies, you should prepare a whelping box in a quiet and warm place beforehand. This should be large enough for your dog and her puppies, and allow easy access. Whelping boxes can be found in pet stores or online. They are usually made of untreated wood or plastic. Alternatively, you can also use a dog basket with a high edge. However, make sure that it is high enough to prevent the puppies from falling out.
Also have the following ready:
- clean towels
- an infrared lamp to warm the puppies
- fresh water
- Thread and scissors for tying off the umbilical cord if necessary
The puppies are coming!
Phase 1: Onset of contractions and dilation phase
Birth in dogs occurs in three phases. First comes the opening phase, in which contractions begin and the young animal at the back pushes against the cervix to open it. This phase is characterized by increased scratching and restlessness as well as possible discharge of mucus.
Phase 2: Expulsion phase and birth of the first puppy
After the opening phase, which lasts 6 to 24 hours, the expulsion phase follows. This is where the outer amniotic sac bursts and the bitch pushes the puppies out. The first puppy can last up to two hours, then the other puppies follow at different intervals. In total, the expulsion phase should not last longer than 12 hours.
Phase 3: After birth
The mother licks and cleans her puppies to stimulate breathing and bowel movements. She also cuts the umbilical cord. The placenta is excreted after each puppy and is often eaten by the mother dog - this provides her with proteins and minerals.
How can you help your dog?
Your dog will normally be able to cope without help during the birth. However, it is still a good idea to be nearby so that you can intervene immediately and inform a veterinarian if any complications arise. Complications include long breaks between births, heavy bleeding or signs of pain in the dog. If everything goes smoothly, the most effective way to support your dog is to remain calm.
This is also what you need to do:
- If your dog is giving birth to another puppy,
you can help the puppy that was born earlier. Pick him up carefully,
Remove any amniotic sac residue and clean it with a warm, moist
Cloth. Rub against the grain to stimulate his breathing. - If
If necessary, clear the puppy’s airways by placing a clean finger
into his mouth and clean the oral cavity and nose. Rub him
something afterwards so that he makes a sound and the airways
become free. - You may also need to remove the umbilical cord of a
Cut the puppies. Tie them about 3 cm from the body and
tie another knot a little further. Cut the umbilical cord
between the nodes.
- After the birth of the puppies, your dog needs a lot of fluids
and food, ideally the one she received during pregnancy
received. - Accompany your dog outside so that she can do her business in peace. Then clean up the whelping area: remove soiled towels and blankets and lay out new towels so that the puppies can lie down clean and warm.
- Observe the puppies and check whether they are finding their way to their mother's milk on their own. If necessary, help them to reach the teats. If there are more puppies than teats, intervene in power struggles so that all puppies get enough milk.
Vegetative phase: The first 2 weeks
The puppy should stay with its mother (usually with the breeder) until at least eight weeks of life. Only in exceptional cases can an earlier separation take place (for example, if the mother is ill).
Early separation should be avoided because the puppy learns a lot from its mother and siblings during this time. During these first weeks it goes through several important developmental phases .
Puppies spend almost 90% of their first two weeks of life sleeping and use the rest of the time to suckle. Their goal: to grow! Their birth weight doubles within the first week.
The puppies must first get used to life outside the womb. Their eyes and ears are still closed, which is why the little furry friends are particularly in need of protection during this time. Although they are still very young, puppies can smell, taste and react to touch from birth. These senses are important for them to find their mother's fragrant milk glands.
Transition phase: The puppies become mobile
In the third week of life, a transition phase begins in which the puppy's eyes and ear canals slowly open. However, the little furry friend does not yet actively perceive its surroundings, as the ability to see and hear does not occur until around the 18th day.
The puppy begins to consciously make contact with his siblings and mother and to explore his surroundings. He now shows an increased interest in the world around him.
Imprinting phase: The puppy makes contact
The crucial imprinting phase begins between the 4th and 7th week of life: the puppy actively uses its senses to explore its environment. Contact with people plays an important role in this - the puppy builds its first social relationships.
During the imprinting phase, new " time windows " open up in the puppy's brain, in which experiences are linked to other experiences. These connections influence the animal's behavior for the rest of its life.
Good breeders ensure that puppies are exposed to as many different stimuli as possible during this phase - for example, other dogs, animals, people and noises - so that they are safe and fearless later on. It is therefore important to choose the breeder carefully and to make sure that the puppies have had the best possible imprinting. This is how you, as the owner, lay the foundation for a happy human-dog relationship.
Socialization phase: Out into the big wide world
A puppy moves from the breeder to its new owners - its family - at the earliest from the 8th week of life (or better from the 12th week). At the same time, this transition to the new living space marks the beginning of the socialization phase , which lasts until the 12th week of life.
During this phase, puppies have to experience and try out everything they have learned so far in every detail . Within the dog family, puppies enjoy a lot of freedom until the end of the imprinting phase. However, this changes suddenly when the socialization phase begins and the training of the puppies begins .
This training is absolutely necessary because they will later have to integrate successfully into the pack. Older dogs now set clear boundaries, establish taboos and enforce them with disciplinary measures. Puppies spend this important time in their lives with their owners, which is why consistency in training is the top priority.
Encounters with people, animals and new impressions are crucial in a puppy's socialization phase. Getting used to people is one of the most important lessons during this time.
Make sure that the first contact between strangers and the puppy is made by you so that the puppy does not feel harassed or attacked.
Your little furry friend will enjoy positive experiences , such as a fun game or lots of petting. Contact with well-socialized
other dogs. The young dog should get to know different situations – under controlled conditions – and have as many positive experiences as possible.
My puppy bites - what now?
Exploring the world with their teeth is a normal phase in the development of puppies. Even before their eyes and ears are open, young dogs gain experience with their mouths, for example when searching for milk from their mother.
Later, when the milk teeth have grown, puppies learn to use their teeth carefully while playing with their siblings. In a responsible breeding program, your little four-legged friend grows up with his mother and siblings. Here he learns to control his teeth naturally from the fourth week of life.
Through play, he learns the consequences of biting too hard. His mother then refuses him access to milk or his siblings end the game with a howl. This way he understands that he has to be more careful.
When playing, your puppy will often bite your hands, legs or feet. In general, it is a good idea to forbid your four-legged friend from snapping when playing. Otherwise, he could use it as a punishment against you later if something displeases him. You should also quickly stop him from tugging and biting clothes . Be consistent when your puppy bites too hard or won't stop.
- Establish a stop signal when your puppy goes too far, such as "no," "out," or "ouch."
- React immediately if the game gets too wild, for example by using the stop signal.
- Stop the game if your dog bites or snaps
In play and in everyday life, you always have the opportunity to train the so-called " bite inhibition " with your puppy. By being vigilant and preventing even the smallest signs of a bite that is too hard, your four-legged friend will have understood the principle after just a few days.
If he continues to bite, the following methods can help:
- Offer your little furry friend a chew toy as an alternative.
- Put him in a crate so that he can rest – important: not punishment, but rest time.
- If in doubt, seek support from a dog trainer.
In brief: The learning phases
The length of the individual learning phases is variable and differs between dog breeds and individual dogs. While the first six months are similar for most puppies, the breed heritage becomes more apparent from the puberty phase onwards. Puppies learn continuously and quickly until they reach adulthood. The different phases flow seamlessly into one another, so you don't have to wait for a specific time to teach your puppy something.
However, it is important that you do not suddenly change your behavior: every dog is different. Some puppies are more curious and learn faster, while others are shy and need more time.
Dr.Clauder's for healthy dog moms and puppies
There is no greater challenge for the body than pregnancy and nursing puppies. Bitch & Puppy Paste can help to meet the high protein and energy requirements of the bitch before and after the litter and those of the growing puppies. Puppy Milk+ replaces the mother's milk for puppies, gives the nursing bitch strength or strengthens old or weakened animals.
