Stage 3 labour is the expulsion of the afterbirth (placenta). It may not arrive until shortly before the next pup is born. Make a note if it's not expelled with the pup and observe if expelled later on.
The bitch will relax a little and spend some time cleaning and nursing the puppy. It is important that the puppies are fed by the bitch as soon as possible after the birth so they get maximum benefit from the colostrum, the first milk. Although colostrum may be present in the teats for a few days, puppies can only utilise it properly for a limited time, perhaps as little as 12 - 36 hours after whelping. The colostrum contains antibodies to all the diseases that the bitch has encountered in her life as well as those she has been vaccinated against.
After a variable time (10 min to 2 hours), stage 2 labour will begin for the next pup. You should not allow more than 2 hours in between delivery before contacting vet
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