Woman's Reaction to Great Dane Giving Birth Leaves Internet in Stitches

A woman's hilarious reaction to a friend's dog giving birth unexpectedly has the internet in hysterics.

TikToker Kelly Love (@loveandchaos.co) was dog-sitting her pal's Great Dane when the mom-to-be gave birth much sooner than planned.

Footage of a squeamish Kelly Love, unprepared for this scenario, trying to support the mama dog won users' hearts.

Since being shared to the platform on October 10, the clip has received over 120,000 likes and 1.5 million views.

How Should I Prepare For My Dog to Give Birth?

Dr. Louis DelGiudice—national emergency specialty director at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners—said there is plenty owners can do to prepare for their dog to give birth.

First of all, he recommends that owners visit their primary care veterinarian for a prenatal evaluation, including radiographs and an ultrasound.

"These diagnostic tools will assess the number of fetuses to expect and provide an evaluation of fetal size," he told Newsweek.

"[These tests can also] help to determine if there is the possibility of dystocia (a difficult birth)."

Next, owners should also prepare an area for their pet to give birth, with DelGiudice recommending a "quiet area in the house with a whelping box."

Also known as a "nesting box," a whelping box creates a small safe zone for a dog to give birth and can be purchased online or made at home. The box needs to be warm, so fill it with comfy bedding and avoid materials (such as straw) that can irritate dogs' eyes. The puppies will spend most of their first month in this box, with the heightened sides keeping the little guys safe.

DelGiudice also advised owners to talk to their vet about nutrition for the mother, to ensure she is getting a healthy calorie-rich diet both during pregnancy and lactation.

How can you tell if your dog is ready to give birth? DelGiudice said that the early stages of whelping can last between six and 36 hours.

"Signs you may notice are nesting, restlessness, panting, and no interest in eating," he said.

What if you end up in a situation like Kelly, where your dog gives birth unexpectedly? DelGiudice advised owners to "leave them alone."

"Most of the time, it is best to leave the dog alone and allow them to proceed with whelping undisturbed, but to be educated on some signs that indicate dystocia or difficulty in birth necessitating intervention," he said.

"Black, bloody or green vulva discharge prior to whelping could be a sign of dystocia. During the birthing process 20 to 30 minutes of strong contractions, without a puppy being born, is a sign of concern."

He said that generally, puppies are born every 30 to 60 minutes, but up to two hours can be normal. If your dog is still struggling after three hours, it's a cause for concern, so reach out to an emergency vet for help.

"If you notice a puppy stuck in the canal and not coming out, you should also have your pet seen," he said.

"Make sure that a placenta is delivered with each puppy. If the pup was not delivered with a placenta, it is generally delivered about 5 to 10 minutes after."

Once the birth is complete, allow the mom to clean her babies, and check that she is feeding her litter every two to three hours during nursing.

'Oh my Goodness'

In her video, Kelly Love explained that her friend's Great Dane was staying with her after her friend's house flooded during Hurricane Ian. The mama dog wasn't expected to give birth until the weekend, but the puppies decided to come a few days early—while Kelly was in the middle of a client meeting in her home studio.

"Oh my goodness," Kelly Love shouted upon discovering the dog had given birth to her first puppy. "Lick the puppy, yes! Good girl."

Narrating the footage in the captions, Kelly Love wrote: "[This is] the most beautifully awkward thing because I'm clueless when it comes to whelping dogs."

Love explained the situation to her clients and rescheduled the appointment. Her roommate went to get her friend, while Love stayed to watch over the mama dog, rubbing her back to comfort her.

However, her strong stomach was tested when the dog ate the placenta.

"Holy f***** s***," she said in the clip as she turned away, trying not to vomit. She then hilariously looked straight into the camera for support.

As the mama dog began to clean her pups, Kelly started to wretch.

"This is where the mom was cleaning her baby and the umbilical cord and sack was crunching in her mouth," she wrote in her play-by-play.

"It's all downhill from here," she said, as viewers watch her throw up in a nearby sink. She then paced around the room, trying not to vomit again.

"At this point I gave up on trying to keep to together," she wrote.

In another clip added a few hours later, Love updated users on the puppies' progress. The mama and all three babies are fine, with one Harlequin puppy (black and white spotted), one black puppy and one blue.

TikTok users applauded Love's efforts, even if she did end up vomiting.

"You handled it so well," said Christi Butler in the comments. "I don't think you should be a labor and delivery nurse with that gag, but you still killed it!"

"The emotional roller coaster you just went through," joked Gabriel Martinez.

"I'm sorry I laughed harder the time you gagged," wrote @havinfun.

While MandiRie commented: "It was my dog and I was ready and I still did EXACTLY what you did LMAO. You did AMAZING."

Newsweek has reached out to @loveandchaos.co for comment.

Update 01/11/22 04.49a.m. E.T.: This article was amended to update the name of AmeriVet Partners Management Inc. to AmeriVet Veterinary Partners.