Pregnancy of a dog is a period of your increased responsibility for the animal that lives next to you. We must try to do everything possible for the favorable course of the entire period of pregnancy in the dog.
Duration of pregnancy in dogs
From 56 to 72 days - this is the time period of pregnancy in dogs, when you can get puppies. Usually childbirth occurs on 60-62 days of pregnancy. If you know the exact time of mating, it is easier to determine the time of delivery. But if the mating was carried out repeatedly, then determine what period of pregnancy the dog will be more difficult. And there are also unplanned pregnancies. Here you need to closely monitor all the signs of its current to determine the timing.
What determines and how much pregnancy takes place in dogs?
From many factors. From the breed, the size, weight and health of the dog, whether it's her first birth or not (more difficult to determine the timing of the first-born), how many puppies are in the litter.
Normal pregnancy in future mothers of small breeds (terriers, levreets, griffins, lap- dogs , Pekingese ) takes 62 days. The number of puppies can be determined by ultrasound at a short term. At long terms of pregnancy in dogs they can be palpated. Large dogs (mastiffs, mastiffs, Dobermans, St. Bernards, etc.) have a smaller number of puppies, so puppies are larger. Pacing can complicate labor, which usually occurs on the 60th day. It is advisable that the dog be inspected by the veterinarian.
Pregnancy Periods in Dogs
There are graphs of periods of pregnancy in dogs. They help control what period of pregnancy in dogs. In the early stages, we still can not determine whether there are puppies or not, although the behavior of the dog may already change.
Experienced breeders already on the 21st or 22nd day can feel the puppies in the dog's stomach. In the period from 24 to 35 days, puppies should be probed as dense lumps. But the smaller the puppies, the harder it is to do. Especially when it comes to one or two puppies. It must be borne in mind that the abdominal muscles of the primipara are strong, which makes it difficult to identify puppies. Puppies are probed up to 35 days of pregnancy. After this time, it will be more difficult to determine.
What period of pregnancy in dogs can be determined and whether or not a puppy has begun to move in the womb. In the second half of pregnancy, the puppies should already start to move. Before giving birth, they calm down. From 4-5 weeks the dog's stomach will begin to be rounded. Although some breeds are not very well distributed in volume, and this can be confusing at a later date.
It is necessary to closely monitor the progress of pregnancy in the dog. In the late stages of pregnancy, the nipples swell, and the skin around them brightens. Swelling and breast gland. Even in pregnancy there are mucus discharge from the loop, colorless and odorless. Before birth, the discharge from the loop can become slightly yellowish or greenish and plentiful, although not in all. But if the discharge becomes dense and intensely colored, contact your veterinarian. It can be a pathology.
We can make mistakes when determining the time, but the onset of the birth is determined by nature and, under normal course of pregnancy in the dog, nature observes it by the same deadlines. And you need to help your pet during this period. Especially, it is important for a large breed dog, giving birth to large puppies. Their births are more complex.
Eating a pregnant dog
Eating a pregnant dog should change. Especially, in the second half of pregnancy. From ready-made foods, one should buy food for pregnant dogs. If there is no such line in the lines of the usual feeds, choose the food for the puppies. With a natural diet, the amount of protein should increase in the diet, but somewhere around the week before the birth, the quantity of meat products is reduced if the dog does not stubborn. There must be calcium preparations, but not in excess. The food should be fractional, since the increasing uterus supports the stomach. Do not overfeed the dog. This can lead to either its obesity, or the feeding of puppies, which will complicate childbirth.