How to Tell If Your Dog Has Finished Giving Birth
When your dog is expecting puppies, it's natural to feel both excitement and concern—especially as labor approaches. Knowing when whelping is truly complete helps ensure the health of both mother and pups. Let's walk through the signs, stages, and what you should watch for during this important time.
The Stages of Dog Labor
Dog labor unfolds in three main stages:
- Stage One: Uterine contractions begin, the cervix dilates, and your dog may act restless, pant, nest, or seem anxious. This stage can last from 6 to 36 hours.
- Stage Two: Puppies are delivered. Each pup usually arrives within 30 minutes to two hours of the previous one. The mother removes the sac from each puppy so it can breathe.
- Stage Three: The placenta (afterbirth) is expelled—sometimes after each puppy, sometimes two puppies share a placenta or two placentas follow two pups.
It's normal for a mother dog to pause between deliveries. She may rest up to half an hour (and occasionally up to two hours) before the next puppy arrives. If more than two hours pass between puppies or if strong contractions last over 30 minutes with no delivery, call your veterinarian.
Key Signs Whelping Is Complete
The clearest indicators that your dog has finished giving birth include:
- No more visible contractions: Her abdominal straining stops.
- All expected puppies delivered: If you had an X-ray or ultrasound beforehand, compare the number of pups born with the expected count (though these aren't always exact).
- The mother is calm: She settles down, begins nursing and grooming her puppies, and focuses on caring for them rather than showing ongoing signs of labor.
- No ongoing distress: Panting, restlessness, or straining should cease once whelping is done.
If you haven't had a veterinary count of puppies before labor began, it can be harder to know for sure if all are out. In some cases, gentle abdominal palpation may help—but this isn't always reliable depending on your dog's size and build.
What About Placentas?
You should generally see one placenta for each puppy born. Sometimes two puppies share a placenta or two placentas follow one another. The mother may eat the placentas—this is normal but can cause mild diarrhea later on.
Normal Post-Birth Behavior
Once whelping is over:
- The mother relaxes with her litter.
- Puppies nurse quietly; the mother licks and tends to them.
- Mild green to red-brown vaginal discharge (lochia) continues for several weeks but gradually lessens in amount and changes color from red to brown to clear. It shouldn't have a foul odor.
- The mother eats and drinks normally; her appetite may increase due to nursing demands.
Warning Signs That Labor May Not Be Finished
If you notice any of these issues after you think whelping is done, seek veterinary help right away:
- Persistent restlessness or panting after deliveries appear complete
- Visible abdominal straining for over 30 minutes with no puppy produced
- A gap longer than two hours between puppies during active labor
- A green or black discharge before any puppy is born
- Mama seems lethargic, feverish, loses appetite, or has foul-smelling discharge post-whelping
If you're unsure whether all puppies have been delivered—or if there might be retained placentas—contact your vet promptly. Sometimes an X-ray or gentle palpation can confirm if whelping is truly finished.
Caring for Mom and Puppies After Birth
Your job doesn't end once the last puppy arrives! Supervise the mother for at least two to four hours after what seems like the final delivery:
- Ensure all pups have broken their umbilical cords and started nursing promptly.
- Weigh each puppy at birth and daily; healthy pups should double their weight in the first week.
- If any pup seems cold, restless, underfed (crying or moving away from mom), check that they're warm enough and getting milk.
- The whelping area should stay clean; change bedding as needed. Offer mom food and water frequently—she'll need extra calories now!
If mom isn't attentive or doesn't care for her litter, you may need to step in temporarily until she recovers her maternal instincts or gets medical help if needed.
A Quick Checklist: Is Whelping Over?
- No more visible contractions or straining from mom
- The number of puppies matches prior vet estimates (if available)
- The mother settles calmly with her litter and starts nursing/grooming them
- No signs of distress in mom: she's eating/drinking well; no fever/lethargy/foul discharge
If you answer yes to these points—and there's no evidence of complications—you can feel confident that your dog has finished giving birth. When in doubt about anything unusual during or after whelping, don't hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian!
