dogs in labor

Question
my dog is a mini dachshund and she is going to have puppies any day now. i need to know what to do when she is going in labor. because this is her first time having puppies. she is 2 1/2 years old. she lost her plug today. please let me know ASAP please and thank you.

                Marion Boyer

Answer
Hi Marion

First thing to do is not panic.   Mother Nature has a way of taking care of her own.

You should have a whelping box or area where your female can safely and quietly whelp her litter.

Make sure she's comfortable and calm, she will be able to pick up a lot of your energy, so if you're nervous, chances are, she will be too.

Ideally, reading and researching what to expect prior to whelping day would have been beneficial.  You don't really have to DO anything. You may be required to clean a pup, making sure that their airways, (mouth & nose) are clean of the sac and that the dam does eat or reject the pups in the confusion.

Keeping calm is the best thing you can do.

Good luck