How do you know a dog’s water has broken?

When a dog’s water breaks, you will see fluid from the vulva. Some owners mistake it for urine, but amniotic fluid lacks the fishy smell of urine.

If the water has broken and the abdomen shows rhythmic contractions, labor is beginning. If more than two hours pass after the water breaks without a puppy being born, the dog likely has dystocia and should be taken to the veterinary hospital for induction or a cesarean section.