Dogs and cats have gestation periods of approximately 58 to 64 days. After 45 days, you could have an x-ray taken to see how many puppies or kittens to expect. By this time the skeletal tissues have calcified enough to be seen on a radiograph. At the time of birth, the animal will usually nest and will seek an isolated, quiet and private area. Expect one pup every 45-60 minutes with 10-30 minutes of hard straining. If she is seen straining hard for over one hour or if she takes longer than a four-hour break and you know more pups or kittens are present, a veterinarian should be consulted. Cats tend to queen a little faster, although they can occasionally take up to 24 hours to birth the entire litter, especially if the queen is young or nervous. Help clean the airways of the new puppies and kittens and place them back with their mother to start nursing.

Seek veterinary attention immediately if:

• The mother appears to be in pain
• 30-60 minutes of strong contractions occur with no newborn being produced
• Greater than four hours pass between newborns and you expect more
• A fetus seems to be stuck in the birth canal
• More than 65 days of gestation (since the last breeding) have passed
• The mother passes a green-colored or foul-smelling vaginal discharge