10/06/2026
After all the joy of the puppies born safe and happy last week, thanks to an owner who knew when to ask for help, we felt it was important to touch on what to watch out for when your dog is having puppies.
Firstly, our brachycephalic breeds such as pugs and french bulldogs often require assistance in the form of a C-section due to the broad heads of the pups and the narrow pelvis of the bitch. If you are breeding these types of dogs, then it is quite likely help will be required from your vet and this should be considered when deciding if you are emotionally and financially prepared for the responsibility of producing puppies.
Once whelping begins, watch for the following:
1. If your bitch is straining but produces no pup after 20 minutes of hard contractions
2. If the gap between the last puppy being born is reaching 1.5-2 hours and no sign of any others.
3. If your bitch is extremely unsettled, unwell or uncomfortable
4. If no puppy comes out but there is a lot of green discharge
5. Large amounts of blood
6. If you still expect puppies to come but your bitch has stopped straining and it has been 1-2 hours since the last pup
7. Any sign of illness, collapse or high temperature in the bitch
8. Any sign of a puppy being in breach position (coming tail first) or being stuck
⚠️ All of these scenarios are reason to call your vet and a timely visit will increase the chances of survival for both puppies and their mum.
We would much rather you call and everything actually be okay rather than reaching a point where there is a real possibility of losing everyone.
