| Yesterday, one of our Yorkshire terriers or | | | | The mother dog will get quite restless as the time |
| Yorkies had a litter of puppies. All went well and | | | | nears. She may choose to run back and forth and |
| she had two girls and two boys. My wife and I | | | | appear confused. Her instincts will almost always |
| always sit with the mamas when they deliver. We | | | | take over and she will finally stretch out and begin |
| help deliver and are there in case of problems. I | | | | contractions. The contractions may go on for an |
| would like to outline some things you can do to | | | | hour or so before the first baby arrives. The |
| help with the delivery. | | | | puppy will, in most cases, begin to appear and |
| Be observant of the mother dog's behavior in | | | | make take a few more contractions to fully |
| order to know when the birthing is about to | | | | emerge. Reassuring the mother dog that she is |
| occur. Careful records of the breeding dates will | | | | doing fine and she is in a safe place helps her to |
| help you to generally know when to expect the | | | | resume the contractions. The puppy usually is |
| puppies to be born. A mother dog will behave | | | | born with a sac or membrane enclosing most if |
| differently just before she starts having her | | | | not all of his little body. Break the membrane and |
| puppies. She may try to hide herself from any | | | | clear the puppies nostrils and mouth so he can |
| other dogs. This is why many dogs that are | | | | begin to breath. Very carefully, pinch the umbilical |
| outside will go under houses while inside dogs may | | | | cord near the puppies body and then cut the cord |
| just have to get under a couch or other furniture. | | | | about 3/4 inch from the puppy's body. Still |
| Neither are good places to have her puppies. A | | | | pinching the cord, tie a piece of dental floss |
| couple of days before the expected delivery, you | | | | around the remaining cord attached to the puppy. |
| should provide a place that is secluded from other | | | | This is to avoid bleeding. If the cord in not |
| animals for her to rest. A quiet place that feels | | | | bleeding, you may be able to just monitor it for a |
| safe is what she needs. The puppies will need to | | | | few minutes. You will be quite busy, stop any |
| stay warm for about 10 to 14 days until they are | | | | bleeding and make sure the puppy is breathing on |
| able to regulate their own body temperature. A | | | | his own. |
| small heating pad designed for puppies is best. | | | | If breathing is difficult, their may be some mucous |
| Keeping the mother's size in mind, a box with no | | | | blocking the nostrils. Use a small suction bulb to |
| bottom, constructed with 4 equal pieces of 1"x12" | | | | clean the nostrils and rub the puppy to encourage |
| lumber is best for the mother and her babies to | | | | breathing. In most cases, the puppy will be |
| lay in for the first 3 or 4 weeks. For a Yorkie, I | | | | breathing normally within a few moments. A |
| construct the box about 28 inches square. For | | | | puppy that is not breathing may require you to |
| larger breeds, resize accordingly. Sand away any | | | | place the puppies nose and mouth in your own |
| rough edges that could cause injuries. Just place a | | | | mouth to give him artificial resuscitation. Just be |
| couple of layers of old towels on the floor and | | | | gentle, he is very small in lung capacity. |
| set the box over it. Just use larger towels, and | | | | Place each puppy in a clean warm towel together |
| you will see that the box uses its own weight to | | | | with his mates while each is being born. In |
| pin the towels down. Easy to keep clean, and the | | | | between contractions, it is good to place them |
| setup keeps the puppies from getting tangled | | | | with their mother. She will lick them to encourage |
| around the puppies. We use disposable medical | | | | circulation and breathing. Keep an eye on the |
| pads as a top layer over the towels. Easy to | | | | bedding in case the puppies begin to bleed again |
| maintain. | | | | from the umbilical cords. Tie another piece of |
| So now, you have the bed ready for the mother | | | | dental floss to the short umbilical cord if bleeding |
| and puppies. How to help with delivering? Start | | | | occurs. Some mother dogs aggravate the |
| with a large firm box or basket for the mother to | | | | bleeding with too much licking. |
| use to deliver. Line it with disposable pads. Have a | | | | Give the mother dog some water periodically |
| few things on hand. Plenty of paper towels and a | | | | during the birthing process. Keep the bedding clean |
| couple of old cloth towels. The towels are there | | | | and dispose of placentas and other fluids that are |
| to keep the puppies warm as they are born. | | | | expelled. Your dog will do most of the work |
| Have a roll of dental floss on hand along with a | | | | herself. You are there for support and to |
| sharp pair of scissors and a small suction bulb. | | | | reassure her. Other breeders may have their own |
| Also, you will need a package of the bed pads | | | | procedures for helping mother dogs give birth, but |
| that are sold to line beds of incontinent people. | | | | these guidelines have given us great results for |
| They are superior to puppy pads. | | | | the last 10 years of raising Yorkies. |