Your Dog and Your Cat 



eight to sixty-six days in individual bitches, but the 

 period is usually constant in succeeding pregnancies. 

 The first sign of the approach of whelping is a swell- 

 ing of the vagina, which may appear from twenty- 

 four to forty-eight hours before the actual delivery. 

 Ordinarily the dog will go through the act of mak- 

 ing a nest by tearing up her bedding, a paper, or 

 whatever else she may find that is suitable. Her 

 ordinary sleeping place is a convenient spot for fier 

 to have her puppies providing she has sufficient pads 

 or cloths for her bed. Soon after the nest is made 

 the labor pains commence. These somewhat re- 

 semble the straining that would occur if the dog 

 were attempting to pass a very constipated stool. 

 To deliver the puppies she usually lies on her chest 

 with her body slightly curved in the usual manner, 

 but when the pains become violent she may lie flat 

 on her side. She frequently gets up, walks around, 

 and lies down in a fresh place. 



As the vagina enlarges the water sack appears. 

 Labor pains keep forcing this backwards and as it 

 reaches the outer edge of the vagina it bursts and 

 the puppy may be seen presented just back of it. 

 The most common presentation is head first and 

 back upwards, although the puppy may come hind 

 feet first. The latter position, however, is more 

 difficult to deliver and unless accomplished quickly 

 the puppy may smother. When the puppy is up- 

 side down or the head is turned to one side, delivery 

 is difficult and in most cases is not possible without 



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