97 Tips for Raising Labs

Following are approximately 97 questions readers of BigYellowDog.com submitted in recent years. They were answered by a licensed veterinarian on the site as a general service to all Lab owners. This information is for general reference only. Always consult your veterinarian for any questions about your Lab's health. We hope this information is somewhat helpful. At this time, we are not accepting any more questions.

Question

Our 3-year-old Lab,Nikki, is expecting her first litter soon. How do we know she is in labor? Could you give us a rundown of what to expect, from start to finish please. Thanks for any help!!

Answer

You need to start now in preparing a whelping area for your dog. Make it some place comfortable, clean, quiet and familiar with plenty of clean sheets and blankets. They make specialized whelping boxes or you can use a baby swimming pool or something with sides for the puppies to stay together and for her to feel secure. Have her start sleeping there so she is comfortable when she starts whelping. A lot of problems that we see in whelping are caused by stress and anxiety caused by too many people around, too much activity, or new surroundings. It should be a quiet event. Not all two dogs are the same, but most dogs will seek out the place that you have prepared for them. Physically their body temperature will decrease when they get ready for labor and respiration will increase. You need to make sure you are prepared to help her with the puppies. If she cannot chew the umbilical cords, clean and dry them properly. You should speak to your regular veterinarian about when she is due in case of any unforeseen problems that may arise during labor.

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