canine parturition stages
Canine Parturition/Whelping. The best way to know when the dog is going to whelp is to have ovulation timing and specific hormone and breeding dates. Often we do not have that information, and since the average gestation is 63 days but can be between 57 to 72 days from a single breeding, it can be difficult to tell when the dog is going to whelp. Canine parturition/whelping occurs in 3 stages. The first stage is when the uterus begins to contract and cause the cervix to dilate. Stage one can last 6 to 12 hours in the dog. Signs that you may see in the female are restlessness, panting, pacing, or nesting type behavior.