How Do You Care For Newborn Puppies & Their Mother?
Care for a pregnant dog requires a lot of time and preparation, and it does not get easier after the puppies are born. Having a healthy dog in good weight prior to breeding and during the pregnancy will help with the health of the puppies when they are born. It is helpful to work closely with a veterinarian. Create a whelping box that is big enough for the mother and the puppies and has high enough sides that the puppies can’t get out. Line it with newspapers and put towels and old blankets or sheets over the newspapers. The box should have a heat lamp near it to help keep the puppies warm. Look for signs of a difficult birth in your dog: straining for an hour without birth, four hours or more between the puppies’ births, weak labor for over two hours, a puslike or bloody discharge or production of dark green or bloody fluid before the first puppy. Call your veterinarian if you see any of these signs. Break the amniotic sac, clean mucus out of the puppy’s mouth and nose with the towel
