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Breeding
Birth
Preparation
Membranes
Birth Problems
Inflammation
Welfare
Reproductive
Unexpected
Whelping
Whelping 2
Whelping 3
Whelping 4
Whelping 5
Chart
Heat
False Pregnancy
Mating
Problems
Home Breeder
Diary
The pups
Home Breeder 2
One Week To Go
Birthday
Birthday 2
Birthday 3
Birthday 4
Day One
Day Four
Week Two
Week Three
Week Five
Week Six
Week Eight
Westie Family
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Membranes, West Highland White
Puppies are born covered in membranes which must be cleaned away or the pup will
suffocate. The mother will bite and lick the membranes away. Allow her a minute
or two after birth to do this.
If she does not do it, then you must clean the
pup for her, simply remove the slippery covering and rub the puppy with a clean
towel. The umbilical cord may be tied in a knot about one inch from the pup and
cut with scissors on the far side of the knot.
Expect one pup every 45-60 minutes with 10-30 minutes of hard straining. It is
normal for her to take a rest partway through delivery and she may not
strain at all for up to four hours between pups. If she is seen straining hard
for over 1 hour or if she takes longer than a 4 hour break, a vet
should be called.
Call a vet if any of these things happen
- 30-60 minutes of strong contractions occur with no puppy being produced.
- Greater than 4 hours pass between pups and you know there are more.
- She fails to go into labor within 24 hours of her temperature drop.
- She is in obvious pain.
- Greater than 70 days of gestation have passed.
Birth Problems
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