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Pregnancy Guide PRE-Natal Care
SO, your Dog was in heat and successfully
bred with a few ties. You can be pretty sure that you are having puppies. Even
without a successful Tie your Dam could still be pregnant.
WHAT TO DO NOW...
I strongly suggest reading lots of information and get prepared.
--Keep an accurate record of first breeding.
--Go ahead on your Calendar to 56days from the first breeding and highlight.
Plan the time to stay home and start taking temperature etc. NEVER leave your dam alone after day 56, unless you are taking regular temperatures, including during the night, and you know she is not going into labour. Better yet, if you have to run out, take her with you.
Do NOT feed calcium rich foods during
pregnancy, ESPECIALLY in the last 10-14 days. Do NOT supplement with calcium
during the time they are pregnant. Some dams need the extra weight, and you can give puppy food, but stop the puppy food at least 10 days before the expected whelp. Then after pups are born, go back to puppy food. This is needed for the uterus to contract properly.
They still need normal amounts of calcium in their diets, and they can get that with a good quality dog food. You can give them yogurt, and cottage cheese, and if you feed raw, they get their raw chicken bones, but you must stop these calcium rich foods for the last 10 days and do NOT supplement extra.
Extra calcium is given only after pups are born, and during active labor, to
help with contractions for another reason, other than teeth and bone growth of
pups. Calcium during the pushing stage of labor will make the muscles contract
at that specific moment.
*********** 1st week ***********
Fertilization: You may notice mild morning sickness and personality changes in
the Dam. Watch for vaginal infection from breeding. Some Dams will have a pink discharge, like a very light period.
Suggestions: (Remember, take your Vets advise always over
anything you read on the web.)
-- Keep feeding as you were (hopefully high end foods)
A recommended food Additive (approx
25%) mix to high-quality kibble is
tripett :
"pronounced tri-pet" - green tripe -
a premium, all natural pet food made from only the highest quality green tripe.
Green tripe is filled with digestive enzymes and promotes good overall health
among other things.
-- Keep exercising as you were (hopefully she has been exercised and in good
shape prior to mating if not start moderate daily exercise)
Do not give any medications without vet approval. If you did not worm her prior
to mating (which is standard), then get a mild wormer that is made for pregnant
dams. Stop flea treatments and any other insecticides. Do NOT give any live
Vaccinations.
*********** 2nd week
***********
Day 7 to 14
Between days 7 and 14 days, the cell will start being a 4 cell, and will
separate into 64 cells. At this time the Embryo's enter the uterus.
(same care and suggestions as week one)
************ 3rd week *********
Days 14 to 21
On about day 18-20, the embryos will implant in the uterus
(same care and suggestions as week one)
************ 4th week **********
Days 21 to 28
(Vet can Palpate (feel) and possibly
detect pregnancy. Between days 27 and 31(after day 32, fluids increase to
protect pups and making palpating not possible.
--Fetus's grow from 5-10mm to 14-16mm, faces take shape, eyes and spinal cords
developed.
--At this stage the embryos are most susceptible to defects and it is said that
even eating a toxic substance at this stage can cause
eyes to not form properly, or cause 'Cleft Palate'
FACT or FICTION, I am not sure. Many congenital defects, and genetic defects
have the mode of inheritance still unknown.
But for the sake of your Dam and pups, make sure your environment is a safe one.
--The Dam may have a clear, odorless vaginal discharge, and her teats may begin
to develop.
Suggestions:
-- Limit working dogs and refrain from Strenuous activity like jumping and long
runs. For small Companion Dogs, slightly reduce activity, especially in agility.
-- Some like to add 1/4 cup of cottage cheese + 1 scrambled egg every other day.
Or mix (refrigerate) + add a tbsp to daily food.
-- I like to start a Vet recommended multi-vitamin at this stage, but do not
give calcium pills. The Dam needs to build up her own reserves still. You do NOT
want to put her parathyroid gland to sleep, by giving an abundant supply of
calcium.
************ 5th
week ************
Day 28 to 35
At this time the fetuses begin to look like dogs; their toes, whiskers, claws
all are developing. They have become boy and girl puppies, eyes that were
open-now close. (When eyes are developing in the uterus, the eyes are developed
in an open position and then they close and remain closed until about 10 days
old or so.)
Embryos are MUCH more resistant to development problems.
The Dam's weight will begin to increase, and swelling will begin to be
noticeable. If you have given a maternity haircut swelling will be easier to
see.
Suggestions
--Increase food slightly, & start change-over to puppy kibble gradually. Feed
morning and evening and start with a healthy lunch snack, including a
multivitamin and an optional: 1/2 egg every day for small breeds and full egg
every day for large breeds.
You CAN do an ultrasound at this time, if
you wish.
*********** 6th week ***********
Day 35 to 42 (Pregnancy should be obvious)
Puppies become colored (skin pigment develops) the Dams nipples darken and grow,
and tummy continues to swell. ''Swelly Belly"
Suggestions:
--If you haven't yet... start adding cottage cheese and an egg. Continue with
multivitamin, but not calcium supplement yet.
--Increase food to max she will eat.
--whelping area and box (see whelping) should be put
up in a quiet area (not the kitchen if active) and she should be encouraged to
sleep there. For an active kitchen the whelping box can be moved to the kitchen
when pups are 3 weeks old. (Large breeds at 2.5 to 3 weeks, and toy breeds at 3.5 to 5 weeks).
Whelping box should be big enough for your Dam to stretch out in, and have a door way to go in and out. You do not want your Dam to have to JUMP
in and squish a puppy, Whelping Box should have a guard rail to help eliminate
suffocation and trapping behind Dam. (see photo of guard rail).
Guard rail inside whelping box - (design
MistyTrails Havanese).
Also, if the whole front of your whelp
box, is removable, then this makes whelping, WAY easier. (design MistyTrails
Havanese).
Corner of the Whelping Box - (design
MistyTrails Havanese).
*********** 7th week
***********
Day 42 to 49
Developed puppies continue to grow. Dams will start shedding her tummy hair. If
you haven't shaved your dam you may start finding lots of hair on the carpets.
Suggestions:
Increase food... avoid home cooked unbalance foods. Try to make them eat a
balanced diet, not just meat. But if your Dam starts getting fussy, doctor up
her meals with cooked chopped beef heart, liver, chicken hearts etc... some
extra meat is good... too much can cause problems.
Stop all rough play and jumping
At the end of this week, day 48 to 50, take the dam off of the puppy food and put her back on regular kibble. You can change gradually over a couple days, but you have to limit the calcium intake you are feeding, so the dam's body goes into store calcium mode.
*********** 8th week ***********
Day 49 to 57
When Dam is resting you can sometimes see and feel the pups moving. Pups can be
born at any time now, but keeping them in for another week is much healthier, so
avoid rough-play.
But >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BE PREPARED
pups could be born at
anytime!!!!!!!????????
Milk may be squeezed from the nipples by the end of the week. Some dams, can get milk, (colostrum) as early as day 45. but normally they do not.
Suggestions:
Call your Vet to book x-rays to determine size and number of pups. I like to do
this on day 56 (54 to 58), but all vets differ, so call and ask. Also call and inform of
Dams Due Date.
Gather Whelping Kit, and gas up your vehicle.
Give the dam NO calcium, no puppy kibble, no raw bones, no sardines, no cottage cheese or cheese, or calcium pills this week. they will get an ample amount in their regular kibble. If they are really fussy, and you feed Eukanuba kibble, try the canned version, but not the puppy version. Many dams in the last week are fussy, and will eat the canned food.
*********** 9th week ***********
Day 57 to 65
IT IS TIME >>>>>>>>> Are you Ready ????
Nesting behavior may start or she may seek
out a quiet area. Start taking her temperature 3 to 5 times a day.
Day 57 3x a day
Day 58 4x a day
Day 59 5x a day, and once middle of nite.
Day 60 every 2 hours, in day, and every 4 hours at night. >>
MAKE SURE THE THERMOMETER is put in all the way each time, 4 inches inside the rectum using Vaseline.
Appetite may disappear
Whelping - 1st Stage of Labor
(left) Pregnant dog (right) Not Pregnant
- Both dogs Havanese
Courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
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Although this section is based on a
whelping of an English Mastiff, it also contains good general whelping
information in large breed dogs. You can find more whelping information in the links above. The links below
tell a story about Sassy, an English Mastiff. Sassy has a wonderful temperament.
She loves humans and Adores human children. An all around mild mannered,
wonderful Mastiff. Sassy however is not the best mother towards her puppies, she
is not rejecting them, she will nurse them when a human places them on her to
feed, however she will not clean the pups or pay any attention to them. It is as
if, they are not her puppies. This litter is getting moms milk, with major human
interaction, manually giving each and every pup what they need. In return, the
pups will be super socialized and will make remarkable pets, however the work
involved is astounding. It takes one dedicated breeder to keep this situation
healthy. Thankfully this litter has just that, a dedicated breeder. Read the
links below to get the full story. There is a wealth of info that everyone can
appreciate and benefit from.
C-Section in a Large Breed Dog
Newborn Puppies... What you need
Whelping Mastiff Puppies One to Three Days Old
Things do
not always go as planned (imperforate anus)
Orphaned Litter (not the plan)
10
Days Old Plus ++
3 Week Old Puppies
Puppies 3 Weeks - time to start
potty training
Puppies 4 weeks old
Puppies 5 weeks old
Puppies 6 weeks old
Puppies 7 weeks old
Socializing the Puppies
Mastitis in Dogs
Whelping Large Breed Dogs Main
Whelping, a new
found respect
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