savf whelping

8/2/2019 SAVF whelping

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South African Veterinary FoundationSuid-Afrikaanse Veterinre Stigting

presents

Is your bitch whelping

normally, and how may yourveterinarian assist?


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Mandate of the SA Veterinary Foundation

Promoting an informed public

To promote and advance veterinary and relatedbiological sciences in all their aspects. This

includes supporting veterinary research at alllevels, to fund bursaries and loans for veterinary

studies and to invest and administer various

financial portfolios in order to promote theknowledge, image and status of the Veterinaryand Paraveterinary Profession and practicewithin Southern Africa resulting in improved

quality of life for animals and humans.


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Normal birth in the bitch


Bitches usually whelp about 63 to

65 days after mating, but it may

be as few as 57 days or as manyas 68 days.


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Ask your veterinarian to examineyour bitch while she is still onheat, so that he may more

accurately predict when whelpingis due and advise you on how to

observe the whelping process.


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Provide the bitch with a whelpingbox with absorbent bedding about

one week prior to whelping. Placethe box in a warm dry place.


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The bitchs own blanket or pillow

will help her to initially become

familiar with the box and accept itas her domain.


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The bitch normally starts

becoming restless, scratching herbedding and panting before she

starts straining to deliver the firstpup. If the signs persist for morethan a few hours without

straining, consult yourveterinarian.


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If the bitch strains for more than30 minutes, a pup may be stuck

and you should immediatelyconsult your veterinarian.


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If the bitch does not tear the bagaround the pup, a person should

do so and rub the pup dry with acloth in order to stimulate

breathing.


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It is normal for the bitch to eat the

placenta: there is no need to

prevent her from doing so.


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It is normal for the bitch to be as

rough with the pup as seen here.


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If the bitch does not put the pupto the teat you should do so, as it

is essential for each puppy tostart ingesting colostrum as early

as possible.


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The bitch should start strainingagain within four hours after the

birth of the previous pup, in orderto deliver the next pup.


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If the bitch has not startedstraining by four hours after the

birth of the previous pup, consultyour veterinarian immediately.


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Once the last pup has been born,dried and helped to the teat, the

bitch will be placid and peaceful,caring for her pups.


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The bitch should start eating anddrinking during the same day that

the pups are born. If not, consultyour veterinarian.


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Most importantly, if you areunsure about anything regarding

your whelping bitch, that issufficient reason to consult your

veterinarian.

t


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c now e gements


Video material:

Val de Grace Animal Hospital& Mr V Jacobs

Text:Prof J NthlingFaculty of Veterinary Science

University of Pretoria


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South African Veterinary FoundationSuid-Afrikaanse Veterinre Stigting

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savf whelping

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