Any advice for upcoming pups in 1 WEEK

I have miniature dachshund puppies due in about 1 week.The mom is only 1 1/2 years old. We know what room that we want the babies to be in, I just need advice on preparations, what to do during the labor, and what to do after they are born. Thanks!

Prep: have blankets, water, a pair of sterile scissors, some latex gloves, a cell phone and the phone number of your local emergency veterinary service available. We think the igloo thing may be too confining for her. She'll need room to stand up, turn around easily, and walk around without stepping on the pups.

About 12-24 hours before the births the dam鈥檚 temperature will drop a couple of degrees. If her normal temperature is, say, 101掳, it may drop to about 99掳 or 98掳. The only way you鈥檒l know if her temperature is dropping, of course, is if you regularly take her temperature. Twice a day 鈥?once in the morning and once in the evening during the latter part of her pregnancy 鈥?is usually suffi-cient.

The onset of labor is usually accompanied by heavy panting, pacing, and 鈥渘est building鈥?behaviors. The dog may whine throughout the process, shriek at the birth of each puppy, or be completely silent. When hard labor starts, the contractions become more severe. The dam鈥檚 panting will escalate a bit, and she may 鈥渉unch鈥?over and/or lift her tail with each contraction. Just before the birth of each pup, you鈥檒l see the puppy as a 鈥渂ulge鈥?just under the dam鈥檚 tail.

Don鈥檛 impose yourself on the birth area or get 鈥済rabby鈥?during the birthing process. Female dogs can be rather unpredictable when they鈥榬e giving birth. Take your cues from your dog. She鈥檒l let you know if she needs you (or wants you there) or not.