How to help a female dog give birth
0 Jul 26,2025
1. Behavioral changes
Before giving birth, female dogs have a loss of appetite, are restless, panting, and breathing quickly. They look for a hidden place to give birth. Some female dogs have nest-building behavior. Dogs raised indoors often surround their family members for help. Most dogs frequently enter and leave the predetermined delivery room starting 12 hours before delivery, and the time in the delivery room is long, and the number of outings gradually decreases. One hour before delivery (2 to 3 hours before delivery for a few dogs), the female dog uses her forelimbs to pick up the bedding, grab the towels, rags, etc. in the delivery room, and bite them off and tear them into pieces with her mouth, causing a low moan or scream. During this period, the vagina often exposes the fetal cells.
2. Physiological changes
Three to five days before delivery, the vulva gradually becomes soft, swollen, and congested, the skin of the labia becomes red, and mucus flows from the vagina. At this time, the pelvis becomes enlarged and the ischial tuberosity of the buttocks collapses significantly. The cervix opens 3 to 10 hours before delivery.
When she is close to giving birth, the female dog will show very obvious changes and her behavior will be characteristic. The uterus, cervix, vagina and other reproductive organs and their surroundings are congested, the ischial tuberosity of the female dog’s buttocks is sunk, the hindquarters are soft, and the vulva and labia are swollen and flaccid.
3. Body temperature changes
The normal body temperature of dogs is 38.3℃, and the body temperature of female dogs before giving birth drops significantly to 36.5~37.2℃. The body temperature of most female dogs is 36.4 to 37.2°C (the lowest body temperature) 9 hours before the first fetus is born, which is more than 1°C lower than the physiological body temperature. Therefore, the accurate time of delivery can be predicted based on the significant body temperature changes in the third trimester of pregnancy.