Background

The vast majority of dogs and cats that give birth to normal, healthy puppies and kittens can do so without any assistance. Rarely, one may have trouble that will require a veterinarian’s intervention. The goal is to provide help to the mother when necessary, but to avoid getting in the way, adding discomfort, or harming the newborns.

Once the puppies and kittens are born, it is important to monitor their health. The top priority is to ensure that each newborn is receiving adequate...