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Pregnancy - What to Expect!
by Geoffrey A. English
(With permission. Originally published on www.gundogsonline.com)
The gestation period for dogs is typically between
58 to 68 days from the day of ovulation, with most pregnant bitches giving
birth on or around the 63rd day. Many breeders use the day of the first
witnessed “knot” to determine when they can expect puppies.
This is typically a good “rule of thumb”, however, a bitch may
not ovulate on the first day she stands for a male, causing the puppies
to arrive later than the date calculated. Remember, a dog’s sperm
is able to survive for up to seven day in the bitch’s oviduct. The
only accurate way of predicting the due date of a litter is to use progesterone
assays to determine the exact time of ovulation and adding 63 days to that
date.
Often a bitch that has a large litter will whelp earlier than bitches carrying
fewer puppies. Puppies born before the 58th day are considered premature
and often physiologically undeveloped, which can cause extreme difficulties
with survival of some or all of the dogs in the litter. It’s always
a good idea to have a veterinarian check over your bitch during the pregnancy
to make sure there are no complications.
During the first few weeks of pregnancy there are few signs that a bitch
is carrying puppies, except for a slight weight gain, that is often undetectable
by the breeder. Some bitches will experience morning sickness between day
21 and day 30. Much like humans, this involves occasional vomiting caused
by the sudden increase in hormones during pregnancy and the uterus being
distended. If morning sickness occurs, it is a good idea to give your expecting
mother numerous small meals throughout the day rather than a few larger
ones.
An ultrasound may be used to confirm pregnancy as early as 25 days (it is
at this point in the pregnancy when the embryonic heart is detectable).
However, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately count the number
of puppies using this method. On or about the 45th day, the skeletal system
of the unborn puppies will begin to be developed enough to be visible by
radiograph (x-ray).
On or around the 35th day of pregnancy, the bitch’s caloric requirements
will increase, typically requiring twice the normal amount of food. There
are mix schools of thought in regards to supplements like calcium and vitamins.
Some vets believe that a pregnant bitch should receive supplemental calcium
and vitamins during the final month of gestation. While others believe calcium
supplements can be harmful to the pregnant bitch by causing metabolic imbalances
and excess vitamins may be harmful to the puppies. The one thing both sides
agree on, however, is that there is no substitute of a well-balanced dog
food formulated for growing puppies.
Appropriate feed typically contains 1,600 digestible calories / pound of
food and at least 21 percent protein. Some commercial dog foods on the market
are labeled complete and balanced nutritionally for the maintenance of adult
dogs. These diets typically do not provide the nutritional balance for a
pregnant bitch and you are often better served with a formula for growing
puppies.
By the sixth week, the nipples of a pregnant
bitch begin to enlarge and become darker. However, this should not be
used as the sole means to confirm a pregnancy, as this is common with
bitch after a normal heat cycle. Later in the pregnancy, the lower half
of a bitch’s abdomen becomes larger and pendulous. The puppies can
often be seen or felt “kicking” during the last two weeks
of pregnancy. The expecting mother will typically lose her appetite in
the last week to ten day before whelping occurs. Once again, it is a good
idea to give her numerous small meals throughout the day rather than a
few larger ones.
As the date approaches, begin taking your bitch’s rectal temperature.
If her temperature drops below 99.5 F (a normal canines’ temperature
is 101.3 F), labor may be expected within 24 hours. Other signs to look
for include: shivering, pacing, panting or becoming withdrawn from normal
family life. During this time, she may begin walking around nervously,
hiding in various areas of the house, or start looking for a place to
nest. If she does begin to nest in a place other than where you intend
for her, gently introduce her to the whelping box. Lining the bottom of
the whelping box with newspapers will encourage her to stay in the box
and continue to nest and shred the newspaper. The expecting mother will
likely want some privacy during the delivery process. It’s often
a good idea to locate your whelping box in a semi-dark area, free of loud
noises and/or interruptions that will make her nervous or concerned for
the well being of her puppies.
It is also a good practice to continue monitoring your bitch’s temperature
for the first week after delivery. If her temperature does not return
to normal within 24-48 hours or becomes elevated, notify your vet immediately,
as this may be a sign of a secondary infection or other problems.
In part two of this series, we will be discussing the steps you should
take as a breeder to prepare for whelping; including whelping box design,
what you should have on hand, and precautions to take in case of an emergency.
Read more JUNE/JULY 2005 online articles
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