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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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Whelping Preparation, West Highland White
A comfortable area in your home, should be set aside for whelping and raising the puppies. The
female should feel at home there and should be able to come and go as she likes
while the puppies must remain secure.
The gestation period of the dog is considered to be in the range of 58-68 days,
average 62 days.
Labor
When the time approaches, you should begin monitoring her rectal
temperature. Normal dog temprature is between 100?F
to 102?F, When her temperature drops below 100?F labor may
start within 24 hours.
First Stage
Uterine contractions begin, the female will look very
restless and may pace back and forth, scratch the floor or pant, She may also be
sick.This is all normal and
all you can do is see that the female has water available should she want
it. This stage can last 12 hours while the
full dilation of the cervix happens in preparation to expel a puppy.
Second Stage
The second stage is the "hard labor" stage, in which the puppy is expelled.
Third Stage
The expulsion of the placenta and afterbirth, each pup may
not be followed by afterbirth. She may pass 2 pups and then 2 placentas.
Membranes |