Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

474 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
The cervix opens into the vaginal birth canal. When the cervix is completely
dilated, the puppy slides into the vagina and the water bag around the
puppy can be seen bulging through the lips of the vulva. In some cases the bag
ruptures before the puppy is born. If so, a yellow or straw-colored fluid is
passed. After the water bag breaks, the puppy should be delivered within a few
minutes. Dark green fluid—from placental wastes called biliverdin—will be
passed, but normally the puppy comes first.
About 70 percent of puppies are born in the diving position, with feet and
nose first. After the head is delivered, the rest of the puppy slides out easily.
The mother instinctively removes the fetal membranes and vigorously licks
the puppy’s face to clear fluid and mucus from his nose and mouth. As the
puppy gasps, the lungs inflate and breathing begins. The dam now severs the
umbilical cord by shredding it with her teeth.
No attempt should be made to interfere with this normal maternal care. It
is an important part of the recognition process and mother-puppy bonding.
However, if the mother is occupied with another puppy and fails to remove
the sac around the puppy, you should step in and strip away the fetal membranes
to allow the puppy to breathe (see Helping a Puppy to Breathe, page
477). Similarly, if the cord is severed too cleanly or too close to the puppy’s
navel, it may continue to bleed. Be prepared to clamp or pinch off the cord
and tie a thread around the stump.
After the mother severs the cord, the stump of each puppy should be disinfected
with iodine or some other suitable antiseptic. This step helps to prevent
umbilical stump infection.
During stage three labor, the placenta is expelled. A placenta is passed
within a few minutes after the birth of each puppy. The dam may consume
some or all of the placentas. This instinctive reaction may stem from behavior
in the wild, where it is important to remove the evidence of birthing.
Consuming the placentas is not essential from a health standpoint. In fact,
ingesting several placentas can cause diarrhea. You may wish to remove some
or all of the placentas. However, be sure to count them. If the number of placentas
is less than the number of puppies, notify your veterinarian. A retained
placenta can cause acute postpartum metritis.
Normally, the next puppy will be born from the opposite uterine horn.
As the dam prepares for the second puppy, remove the first puppy and place
him in a warm box. This way, the mother will not accidentally roll on the
pup while she is distracted by the next birth. Between births put the puppies
back on the dam’s nipples. Their sucking action stimulates uterine contractions
and helps bring on the colostrum, or first milk of the dam. This
colostrum contains maternal antibodies that protect the pups against infectious
diseases.