Help

[Welshies]

Hey guys. So I DID post this in the wrong category but mostly because I need immediate help.
My labrador has been in labour for 5 hours or so, she's restless but having regular contractions. This is her second birthing. She is 3.
It is -23° Celsius outside right now. She is an outside dog and always has been, she has a full winter coat. Her dog house is insulated with straw and hay in it, covered with a tarp that extends over the roof to fall over the entrance (she can get in and out fine).
Her first little was 8 puppies and she delivered without complications. In about -3 to +4°C range.
What should we do? It's not super cold, -20°C is the average here, and her dog house is right beside the house... but should we do anything or wait to see how she does with birthing?

 

[sunflour]

Hey guys. So I DID post this in the wrong category but mostly because I need immediate help.
My labrador has been in labour for 5 hours or so, she's restless but having regular contractions. This is her second birthing. She is 3.
It is -23° Celsius outside right now. She is an outside dog and always has been, she has a full winter coat. Her dog house is insulated with straw and hay in it, covered with a tarp that extends over the roof to fall over the entrance (she can get in and out fine).
Her first little was 8 puppies and she delivered without complications. In about -3 to +4°C range.
What should we do? It's not super cold, -20°C is the average here, and her dog house is right beside the house... but should we do anything or wait to see how she does with birthing?

Even if the mother can tolerate the extremes of cold, she is fragile in labor. I would be most worried about the puppies, they won't last long in that temperature.

If you can move her inside it would be best, if not...then IMO stay up and check frequently, be ready to bring those puppies inside.

 

[Welshies]

Even if the mother can tolerate the extremes of cold, she is fragile in labor. I would be most worried about the puppies, they won't last long in that temperature.

If you can move her inside it would be best, if not...then IMO stay up and check frequently, be ready to bring those puppies inside.

I plan to stay up. The issue is my parents- they won't allow animals inside. My concern is for her and the pups. She is in labour, but she's curled up really tight versus getting ready to have pups. I don't know if moving her inside would be good either, because it'd be so hot for her.

 

[theoldchick]

Are you worried about her being in labor for five hours or worried the pups may freeze to death? You need to get her in a warm place. I have friend who brought his Lab in the house and let her decide where she wanted to have the pups. Fortunately the dog chose a bedroom closet that he promptly cleared out and turned it into a makeshift maternity ward. He closed the door and checked on her every hour, and things proceeded as they should. He lives in Illinois and he claimed there were 10 foot snow drifts on the ground. He never, ever bred a dog to give birth in the winter again. If you think the dog is having a difficult birth she needs to go to a vet. Good luck with her! I hope she does well.

 

[Welshies]

Are you worried about her being in labor for five hours or worried the pups may freeze to death? You need to get her in a warm place. I have friend who brought his Lab in the house and let her decide where she wanted to have the pups. Fortunately the dog chose a bedroom closet that he promptly cleared out and turned it into a makeshift maternity ward. He closed the door and checked on her every hour, and things proceeded as they should. He lives in Illinois and he claimed there were 10 foot snow drifts on the ground. He never, ever bred a dog to give birth in the winter again. If you think the dog is having a difficult birth she needs to go to a vet. Good luck with her! I hope she does well.

I posted above. As said, my parents don't allow inside animals. I'm worried about it being too hot for her too.
This was a sneaky heat- an accidental pregnancy. We didn't want winter pups.
Labour is 5-12 hours.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Your dog might be an outside dog, but the puppies are not. Under natural conditions canines welp in warmer conditions. I agree she needs a vet and a better place for the puppies. Outside in winter isn't good.

 

[Welshies]

Your dog might be an outside dog, but the puppies are not. Under natural conditions canines welp in warmer conditions. I agree she needs a vet and a better place for the puppies. Outside in winter isn't good.

Definitely not. Would a heat lamp help? Even suggesting bringing her inside makes my parents ansey, they don't want her inside.
Currently a vet isn't needed though. It's progressing fine, and we have the vet's number- both her and I have done this before, just not in -30°C.

 

[theoldchick]

Well, if your parents don't want the dog in the house, take her to a emergency vet. Mom and pups will have a better chance of survival there.

 

[Welshies]

Well, if your parents don't want the dog in the house, take her to a emergency vet. Mom and pups will have a better chance of survival there.

No emergency vets around.
We may be able to put her in the garage but I'm not comfortable with her off propertye. That's selfish, but we only have one vet in the area and there's no issues thus far.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Was this an accidental breeding? Outside is really not good conditions for wet puppies. It sounds like your situation will not change. She may be okay and she may not. I wouldn't use a heat lamp in a dog house, too dangerous. She really needs to be somewhere warmer, but it sounds like that isn't going to be an option.

Definitely not. Would a heat lamp help? Even suggesting bringing her inside makes my parents ansey, they don't want her inside.
Currently a vet isn't needed though. It's progressing fine, and we have the vet's number- both her and I have done this before, just not in -30°C.