My two dogs are pregnant with close due dates, what should I do?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! The first thing is to be sure that Soska is up to date on all her vaccinations, is heartworm negative, in on heartworm prevention and has been dewormed. You can discuss monitoring her progesterone levels and vaginal cytology to optimize the correct breeding dates with your Vet. I will attach a handout on stages of pregnancy and when to worry during labor. Be sure to have a bulb syringe, hemostat, thread to tie umbilical chords and scissors. Here is a good website for whelping boxes:https://gordonsetterexpert.org/2015/10/29/design-yourself-the-perfect-whelping-box-set-up/ Whelping and When to be Concerned Stages of Labor: -Stage 1 tends to start 10-24 hours after temperature drop (usually below 99 F). -Stage 1: nesting. Can persist for 3-24 hours before abdominal contractions begin -Stage 2: Visible abdominal contractions. FIRST PUPPY SHOULD ARRIVE WITH IN 1-2 HOURS. -Stage 3: passage of placenta. Usually occurs within 15 mins of passing puppy. If it does not happen, don’t worry. When to worry/Call: -Strong contractions > 45-60 mins without birth of a puppy -Weak and infrequent contractions >4-6 hours without birth of puppy ->4-5 hours between puppies (after birth of first puppy without birth of the next puppy). On average a puppy is born every 45-60 mins. HOWEVER, the mother can often rest for several hours between puppies. This rest period is NOT associated with contractions and usually doesn’t exceed 4-6 hours. -If one puppy is born and she is having VISIBLE contractions for >2 hours without 2nd puppy. Recommend calling around 1 hour mark to talk to someone. -Failure to enter active labor (contractions) 24-36 hours after rectal temp falls below 99 F -Mother is in obvious pain: biting at vulva, crying) -No puppy within 2 hours of seeing green vaginal discharge -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing clear fluid from vulva (rupture of allantochorion) -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing a clear/water filled balloon at vulvar lips (puppy is in birth canal) I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She should have all her vaccines and be dewormed prior to getting pregnant. Things to think about are if Virguie's breed has any trouble giving birth naturally so you can be financially prepared for a surgical C-section. Record all breeding dates accurately. Discuss measuring Progesterone levels with your Vet to time breeding. Look in to whelping boxes and watch videos on whelping so you can help during birth with removing the placentas from the puppies faces and tying umbilical chords. Purchase a bulb syringe to remove mucous from the puppies noses. Virguie should be fed puppy food while pregnant and while nursing. At day 50 pregnant have your Vet take an X-ray of her bally to estimate the number of puppies to expect. Start measuring Virguie's rectal temperature daily around day 58 pregnant to watch for a temperature drop that indicates the start of labor. Always keep your Vet prepared so they can assist you if you have problems. Be prepared to financially deworm and vaccinate the puppies when they need it and to take care of any unexpected illnesses in the mother and with the puppies. I hope this helps!

I would strongly suggest to keep her monitored during pregnancy as c-section may be needed to deliver the puppies. Radiographs at 40 days of pregnancy will be very useful to assess the size of the puppies and make sure they can be naturally delivered. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. A new puppy in the home will provide a lot of stress to a pregnant queen. If you decide to do so, I would ensure that they can be kept completely separate. I would also plan ahead financially. If there is a problem with delivery, a C-section can cost several thousand dollars. In addition, there are checks up for the kittens to consider. I hope this information helps!

Once labor starts it can be up to 4 hours in between puppies. If there are heavy contractions and pushing after 30 minutes with no puppy then you need to seek help for her. If there is a black or brown discharge, you need to seek help. She is very young to have puppies but most have good maternal instincts and their bodies take over when it all starts. once the puppies come, make sure she cleans them and nurses. They need to stay warm. If she is not sitting with and nursing then you will need to bottle feed. it is best to start preparing a place for her to deliver that way she gets used to it. You can set up a small bed with blankets in a quiet spot that way she can have privacy when it starts.

If your [pregnant dog](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/) is having some fluid discharge and she is at or near her due date, expect her to have her pups soon. Confine her to an area that is quiet (if she isn't already in a whelping box) since noise or stress can cause her to delay the delivery. If you've been [monitoring her temperature](https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-take-your-pet-s-temperature-in-7-easy-steps/) and it has fallen below 100 degrees, the pups should come in the next 24 hours. [As labor nears](https://www.petcoach.co/article/whelping-giving-birth-in-dogs), she may become agitated, getting up and down or licking herself. Once you see firm signs of labor, simply monitor her. Most dogs will deliver a litter without human intervention. If she does not begin pushing within 2-4 hours of the start of labor, a call or visit to your local emergency vet to ensure everything is still going fine is strongly recommended.

You don't necessarily have to separate them, I'd only do it if you see any signs of aggression between them. If one of them does give birth to a litter, then I would give that dog her own room and her own space, and keep them separated while the puppies are little. I hope this helps!