If your Jack Russell Terrier is about to have puppies, congratulations!
You can soon look forward to the fun and play of several little Jacks. But how many will there be?
How many puppies do Jack Russell Terriers have, typically? And, what’s the maximum amount of puppies a Jack Russell Terrier is known to have? In this article, we answer these questions and more.
So, read on to find out more about what happens when a Jack Russell gives birth, and what you can do to prepare and help them.
How many puppies do Jack Russell Terriers have on average? Typically, when a Jack Russell Terrier gives birth, they would have around 5 or 6 puppies. Usually, your Jack Russell Terrier’s childbirth should last from around 2 to 3 hours.
This low amount of puppies is because, though the Jack Russell Terrier is a fairly small dog, the breed’s puppies are still fairly large. So, there is not much room for loads of puppies.
How many puppies can a Jack Russell Terrier have?
Jack Russell Terriers have been known to have up to 12 puppies in one litter! And what’s more, when this occurs, your Jack Russell’s childbirth could end up lasting anywhere from 12 up to 24 hours!
This is right on par with larger dogs like the Dalmatian, who can routinely yield 10 pups.
How can I prepare for my Jack Russell Terrier to give birth?
If you have decided to birth your Jack Russell Terrier’s puppies at home, there are a few things you will need to make sure that you have to hand.
One of the most important of these items is the contact details for your veterinarian, which should be prominently displayed and easily accessible throughout your pooch’s birth.
Next is clean napkins, important for you to be able to catch each Jack Russell puppy as they are born since Jack Russell Terrier puppies’ fetal membranes make them very slippery when they are born. You will need a lot of napkins, as many as you can get!
You’ll also need clean towels, to quickly wipe each Jack Russell clean as they are born, and to avoid hypothermia.
As well as this, an antiseptic handwash solution is equally imperative, for you to use before handling such young Jack puppies. Your standard hand soap won’t do, though – you’ll have to use something like Sterilium.
Maybe your Jack Russell Terrier has a large litter and is struggling to keep the entire litter warm, or you just want an easy way to maintain a constant temperature for the Jack Russell litter. If this is the case, an electric heating pad is a great, simple way to do this.
Another very important item to have handy is small, rounded tipped scissors, ideal to cut your Jack Russell’s umbilical cord. Make sure that you boil these scissors for at least five minutes, shortly before you use them.
Silk thread also helps with tying off your Jack Russell Terrier’s umbilical cord, so have some close by.
And of course, you will also need a large box for the newborn Jack Russell Terrier litter to live in. This can be anything, from a cardboard or plastic storage box to a proper large dog’s basket. This box will need to house one or two larger, soft, clean towels.
Jack Russell Terrier home birthing kit
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It is also a good idea to decide on a dedicated space in which you want your Jack Russell to give birth. A quiet, warm, and cozy corner is ideal.
When you have decided, place the box in this area, and show the space to your Jack Russell. You may find, though, that she has her own idea about where to give birth. If this happens, try to respect this, and move the box to this area.
How will I know when my Jack Russell Terrier is about to give birth?
When your Jack Russell Terrier is almost ready to give birth, you may notice changes in her behavior. She may, for example, become needier, and will paw at you more, trying to get your attention. Your Jack Russell may also refuse to eat.
However, you will also probably notice some changes in your Jack Russell Terrier’s appearance. Her belly may sag noticeably more, while her back may also bend.
Your Jack Russell’s genitals could also increase in size, with discharge coming from below, and your Jack Russell Terrier’s nipples should swell and grow.
But the surest sign that a Jack Russell is imminently giving birth is a fluctuation in her body temperature; around 48 hours before your Jack Russell Terrier will start to deliver, her body temperature will drop to 37°C.
The period has been known to last anywhere from 3 up to 12 hours. But, when you notice some of these signs, make sure that your Jack Russell Terrier isn’t left alone, even for a moment. Any of these signs may indicate that birth is imminent.
What can I expect when my Jack Russell Terrier gives birth?
Soon, your Jack Russell will be giving birth. But, what can you expect to happen during this stage? How long will it take, and what should you do?
As we mentioned previously, your Jack Russell Terrier’s childbirth could end up taking 24 hours! So, make sure you are ready to be on hand for this long.
On average, the interval between your Jack Russell’s births should be from 15 to 30 minutes. This could end up stretching to two hours by the end of the birth, however, if your Jack Russell gets tired out!
If your Jack Russell Terrier is very exhausted, having difficulty giving birth, or the interval between giving birth gets to more than 90 minutes, contact your veterinarian immediately.
How can I help my Jack Russell Terrier give birth?
The Jack Russell puppies will all be born in a fetal amniotic sheath, which the mother Jack Russell should bite off by herself. However, if the litter is large, she may be too tired to do this. If this happens, you will have to do this.
Make sure the sheath is removed, and wipe the Jack Russell Terrier puppy clean using the towel as much as possible. Be sure to remove any mucus from the Jack Russell puppy’s mouth and nose. Then, cut the umbilical cord away from the abdomen, leaving around an inch. After this, tie the cord off, using the silk thread.
Then, try to place the Jack Russell pups near the mother Jack Russell Terrier’s nipples. This is very important. Attaching the Jack Russell puppies to their mother’s nipples will help to stimulate the birth of the next puppies, and will speed up the birth overall.
As the next Jack Russell puppies are born, move the older Terrier puppies into the box – which should be warm, or heated with a heating pad – and place the younger Jack Russell Terrier pups near their mother’s nipples, instead.
What should I look out for when my Jack Russell Terrier gives birth?
When your Jack Russell is giving birth, and after, watch out for any foul-smelling, dark brown or green discharge. As well as this, make sure the surrounding temperature does not rise above 40. Also, check that the number of placentas is the same as the number of puppies.
So, how many puppies do Jack Russell Terriers have?
So, as we detailed, the average litter size for a Jack Russell Terrier is 6 puppies. This is a good amount, that is easy for the Jack Russell mother to support by herself, without needing you to bottle feed them. After all, Jack Russell Terriers actually have 8 to 10 nipples, on average.
