Breeding, Internal Parasites and Deworming, Whelping
3 Ways to Help Your Dog Prepare for Whelping
August 17, 2022
What three things should you do to help your dog prepare for whelping?
- Give Breeder’s Edge Oxy Mate Prenatal vitamins for the same reason your mom took them! This supports a healthy pregnancy and healthy puppy development (okay, you weren’t a puppy). During the last week of pregnancy, switch from Oxy Mate to Breeder’s Edge Oxy Momma to stimulate milk production. Start giving Oxy Momma seven days before a scheduled C-section, or three to four days before a natural birth. We want puppies born fighting to live and moms lactating from the first day.
- Use Fenbendazole dewormer (labeled for pregnant and nursing moms) after day 50 of gestation for 42 days in a row until the puppies are 14 days old. Fenbendazole is safe, and it gets five major parasites. If mom doesn’t give parasites to her puppies, we don’t have to worry about sick puppies!
- When the female starts nesting (early labor) or her temperature drops one degree, give mom the first dose of Breeder’s Edge Oral Cal Plus calcium gel. The goal is to get three to four doses in mom before the first puppy hits the ground. This supports consistent contractions that efficiently dilate the cervix and get the first puppy on the ground quicker. Getting the litter on the ground in less than 12 hours helps with puppy stress and mom’s stress. Slow whelping is uterine inertia and may lead to C-sections to deliver the last few puppies; this is not desirable and hard on mom. Slow-whelping puppies are short of oxygen at birth, show weakness and failure to nurse well. Being short of oxygen contributes to failure-to-thrive puppies, and we do not want to see that either!
Those are my top three things to help mom do her job. You may do more and should add prevention to avoid issues you are seeing in your puppies. It is all about getting puppies on the ground effectively and helping mom recover, nurse the litter and raise some healthy happy puppies! I truly believe if mom is not happy, no one is, and we don’t want puppies to pay for us not managing mom!
Get Puppy Whelping Supplies with the Revival Whelping Kit
If you have more dog whelping questions, call us at 800.786.4751.
Last updated by Marty Greer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
LEARN MORE:
Dog Whelping: The Complete Guide | Revival Animal Health
Revival Animal Health put together a complete guide on dog whelping to ensure you have the right information. Learn about how to prepare for whelping.
Vet Minute: Calcium for Whelping Dogs and Cats in Labor
Calcium for whelping dogs and cats in labor helps the mom have effective uterine contractions. Learn the right time to give calcium.
Dog Whelping Supplies from Around the House
What do you need for whelping puppies at home? You most likely have some of the whelping supplies already!
Helpful Whelping Supplies
What whelping supplies do I need? As the day of whelping approaches, learn what whelping supplies can be helpful during whelping and the weeks afterwards.
Written by: Donald Bramlage, DVM
Donald Bramlage, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, practiced veterinary medicine for 30+ years and is known for his work in managing parvovirus. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1985. He served as Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services from 2011 until his retirement in 2019.
If you need help, call us at 800.786.4751.