A pregnant dog should be introduced to a nesting box before her due date. Line the bottom of the box with warm material such as towels, newspapers or clean rags [source: Gubbins, O'Shea and Bramley], and placed it in a warm, private and quiet place. The week before your dog is due to give birth, take her temperature every day. It should be 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.6 degrees Celsius). You will know that labor is beginning when the temperature drops to about 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 degrees Celsius) [source: Hilltop Animal Hospital]. Once your dog is ready to give birth, you can assist with the delivery. Here's how to deliver puppies from a pregnant dog.
- First stage In the first stage of labor the uterus and cervix are getting ready for delivery. Your dog may become restless as contractions are starting, albeit not very strongly.
- Second stage During the second stage of labor, the contractions get stronger. This stage can last up to 24 hours. The first puppy should be born within 45 minutes after the first strong contraction [source: Gubbins, O'Shea and Bramley]. You may see a greenish/brown discharge during this stage, which indicates that the placenta has separated from the pup. Puppies are born in a sack. The mother will lick the pup to remove the sack and bite the umbilical cord off. If your dog needs help removing the sack, help her out and dry the puppy with a dry cloth. Rub the puppy with a warm cloth to stimulate the breathing and use a suction bulb to clean the nostrils. Tie a piece of thread around the umbilical cord close to the dog's body and cut it with scissors.
- Third stage During this stage, the dog will release the placenta. A placenta is passed after each puppy is born. If there are more puppies than placentas, you know that not all the placentas came out. These placentas may be discharged during the days following the puppies' birth.
- After birth Have your dog examined by a vet soon after she gives birth [source: Hilltop Animal Hospital].
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