A lot can happen in a relatively short time once a dog goes into labor. During this exciting process, it is important to be knowledgeable about the process and prepared for what is about to happen. The three stages can vary from dam to dam and litter to litter, but in general they are:

Stage One: No contractions yet, but the cervix is softening and dilated.
In this stage your dam might find paper and blankets to shred. She might also search out a quiet place to hide, which is why you need to have the whelping box ready. This stage ends when a puppy is in the pelvic canal; this can take about 12-24 hours.

Stage Two: Time to push.
A puppy is coming out at this stage; the first puppy takes the longest. Normally after the first pup, each one takes about one to four good contractions.

Stage Three: The placenta.
Each puppy has its own placenta. It is important to count them as each pup is born to make sure they’ve all come out; otherwise, an infection could occur. The dam will eat the placenta for nutrition, but if she has a large litter you might want to remove some. Too many might cause vomiting or diarrhea.

To make the day (or night) go easier, be prepared by doing the following:

• Alert your vet as the day gets near.
• Make sure you have the number of an emergency vet in case something goes wrong when your regular vet’s not available.
• Alert a friend that’ll offer support and childcare if you need it.
• Fill your car’s tank with fuel.
• Clip your dog’s hair so her tits are easily accessible and to keep her as clean as possible around her rear and belly (wrap her tail if necessary).
• Ready the whelping box well in advance.
• Collect dozens of towels.
• Find a flashlight, camera and film, and a clock or watch to time the birth (be sure to have extra batteries).
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, or have the charger nearby.
• You’ll need a notebook and a supply of pens, a laptop, or a smartphone to log arrival times, color and markings, sex, weight, and if the placenta came out.
• Gather all the necessary tools that might be needed to help with the births.

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