This overview is divided into three parts: Pre-Birth, Birth and Other important warnings.

Pre-Birth:

It is good to mark the date of mating, or even the day when the season started. According to this, it is possible to determine quite precisely the expected date of birth, and therefore to prepare it accordingly. Parturition can be expected sometime around 63 days from the day of mating (range is 59-72 days).

Signs of impending birth: a few days before the birth we can observe restlessness, enlargement of the mammary glands, more frequent urination, searching for the presence of the owner and plucking hair in the abdomen (bitch trying to build a nest).

A very important sign of impending parturition is a decrease in body temperature by about 1 degree, approximately 24 hours before labor!

Recommendation:

•     inform veterinarian about impending parturition in advance of several days (so that in case of complications he / she is prepared to intervene professionally)
•     measure the body temperature in the rectum a few days before giving birth (see information regarding impending birth)
•     have a suitable place for the female (place clean, dry, warm and a place where the bitch will have peace and privacy)
•     have a disinfection ready for parturition (eg Betadine) and clean scissors, sewing thread or other thin string - in case of assistance in cutting the umbilical cord
•     clean towel to dry puppies after birth
•     heating blanket, thermo bottle, bottle of hot water or anything warm to warm the born puppies

Birth: 

Birth takes place in 3 stages:     

First phase - lasts about 3-12 hours (sometimes up to 24 hours for first mothers)     

• coordinated uterine contractions    
• the female is restless, can shiver, look back, often lying in a lateral position    
• significant contraction of the abdomen is observed 

Second phase - lasts approximately 2-6 hours     

• the fetus is expelled from the birth canal - often expulsion of the fetus stored in the fetal containers, which the female eventually bites, as well as bites the umbilical cord    
• bitch licks puppy, which is stimulating spontaneous breathing    
• the birth of another puppy starts in about 15 minutes 

Third phase - this phase often blends with the second phase     

• the placenta is expelled 

Birth is usually terminated by the fact that the female gets up, goes to drink for example and quite often urinate.  

Other important warnings: 

• In case of any uncertainties, contact your veterinary surgeon immediately!
• sometimes we can observe the outflow of amniotic fluid at the beginning of the second phase (before expulsion of the fetus), which may be green to brown
• if the fetus is not expelled within 30 minutes after the amniotic fluid has drained, there may be a problem and immediate consultation with the veterinarian is required!
• in the case of parturition (birth pangs, contractions) and the fetus is not expelled in 2 hours, a quick consultation with the veterinarian is necessary again!
• if the fetus is wedged in the birth canal (we see only the head or legs), we try to pull the fetus very carefully - but beware! In case of careless handling when pulling out the fetus, it can cause serious injury and even death!
• If the female after expulsion of the fetus does not bite the fetal containers and umbilical cord, these containers can be carefully (manually or with scissors) tear and unpack the puppy, the umbilical cord must be ligated about 1 cm from the puppy's navel and then cut it off (above the knot!) - disinfect the umbilical cord stump!
• it is important to calculate the number of expelled placentas, which must match the number of puppies!
• NOT LATER THAN ONE DAY AFTER DELIVERY TO VISIT YOUR VET CLINIC WITH YOUR FEMALE AND PUPPIES, to check the health of the female and the puppies, thus eliminating the possibility of postnatal complications.