Resuscitating a Puppy and the end of Parturition

The most common cause of death in newly-delivered puppies is hypoxia or low oxygen levels. It is essential when you resuscitate a puppy that you complete the following steps:

1. Clear the puppy's airway immediately and free it of any membranes, fluid and meconium (a pup's first faeces).

2. Swab any excess fluid from the mouth and opening of the throat using a lint-free swab or the corner of a towel.

3. If any fluid remains, get rid of it by gently 'swinging' the puppy in a downward path headfirst while supporting its head and body securely in a towel. Remember, newborn puppies are VERY slippery and a towel must be used to hold the pup, not just your hands. Be very careful with this procedure as I have seen cases of cervical (neck) dislocation, so ensure that you support the head properly and not allow it to swing free.

4. If breathing does not begin, then you must mimic the action of the bitch when she licks the puppy and you need to massage the face and chest of the puppy.

5. My advice here (from personal experience) is 'never give up'. Even after quite a few minutes when you may feel all is lost, it is not unusual for a puppy to start breathing. Just keep massaging with a rough towel.

It has been known for breeders to give up after a long period of massage, to put the puppy down (possibly on a cold floor); only to find that the puppy seems to revive. Whether it is the shock of the cold surroundings that starts the breathing, is not known, but with all the advice in the world, you will get these oddities!

Once your puppy is breathing ,keep it warm, either with the bitch or in a box warmed by dry towels placed over a lukewarm hot water bottle or heat pad - hypothermia is a killer.

The end of Parturition

wYour bitch will usually indicate when she has finished whelping and will appear to be more settled with her litter.

wAt this stage, it is important to give your bitch a thorough examination and palpate her abdomen between your hands; making sure that you feel no more pups inside. Do not confuse the uterus with another pup - it feels like a hard lump at this stage and has yet to reduce to its normal state.

wOnce a puppy is born, it will crawl around to find a teat and then begin to suckle. This may happen while others in the litter are still being born, or you may remove the puppies to a warm box and return them to the bitch when parturition is over.

wIt is vital that the puppies receive the first milk or colostrum within the first 24 hours of life. Colostrum is rich in maternal antibodies that provide protection against disease for about the first 8 weeks.

wAfter whelping is complete, your bitch will need to go out to go to the toilet. You may need to put a lead on her to get her to leave the pups for the first few times.

wShe will be tired and thirsty and probably hungry too. For her first meal, offer her something tasty but not too rich eg cooked chicken and boiled white rice and a drink of milk with added glucose.

wShe should be allowed to rest at this point and apart from keeping an eye on her, there should be as little interference as possible.

wFor a few days after whelping, there will be a vaginal discharge known as lochia, which is greenish-black to start with and changing to a watery red/brown discharge for quite a while after the birth. If you notice any offensive smell from the discharge or if your bitch appears unwell in any way, have her checked by your vet.

wIt is important to check your bitch's teats for any sign of swelling with pain and heat as this could be mastitis. See your vet immediately if this concerns you.

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