Is this normal?

Question
My 7 year old standard poodle gave birth this morning to 7 babies. She insists on waking me up in the middle of the night and brings her baby into my bed? Also it has been several hours and she is still breathing very heavy. Is this normal, how will i know if she is finished giving birth?

Answer
Hi Carole

Does she have a whelping box with towels and old sheets?  It's important that she have a save, quiet and comfortable place to rear her pups. If she's allowed in your bed, she must get that feeling from it.

If she is still breathing heavily she may have a retained placenta or a pup still inside.   Did you do x-rays so you had an idea how many to expect? If she's still panting, I would think she's not done yet.

It's important to give a female a shot of oxytocin after they whelp to clean out any "left overs" and prevent infection.

Good luck.