Care of the Pregnant Dog

HOW CAN I TELL IF SHE'S PREGNANT? The optimal time to feel puppies in the abdomen is around the 25-30th day of gestation, but even in a small dog or cat, the fetuses can be very difficult to feel and almost impossible to feel in an overweight or large breed dog. X-rays can be taken around 45 days after breeding when the fetal skeletons can be identified. This is helpful for counting the number of fetuses and in some cases, to correlate the size of the fetus with the width of the pelvic canal in anticipation of possible problems during delivery. This often can be done with just one view, and the exposure to radiation is minimal. Ultrasound can detect a fetal heart beat around day 28-30 of gestation and is useful to count the number of fetuses and determine viability. HOW MANY PUPPIES WILL THERE BE? In general, the larger the dog, the larger the litter size. Litter size is generally 1-4 puppies in toy breeds while larger breeds can average 8-14 puppies. WHEN WILL SHE DELIVER THEM? Because of the variation in the timing of ovulation, multiple breeding dates and the inconsistent length of the heat, it is difficult to precisely know the due date of the litter. While it is usually 63 days from the time of breeding, it can vary from 58-68 days. In general, dogs with larger litters tend to have shorter gestations while dogs with only a few puppies have slightly longer gestations. SHOULD I GIVE HER MEDICATIONS? In general, all drugs should be avoided throughout pregnancy and lactation. This is especially true for steroids (even with topically applied medication for ears, eyes and skin), anti-fungal medication and certain antibiotics and any other drugs known to have negative effects on fetuses. The same is true of vaccines, and the mom should be current with all vaccinations BEFORE being bred. Ideally, she should be dewormed for roundworms and hookworms before pregnancy. Pregnant dogs can be safely treated against roundworms in the latter period of pregnancy, but since this may not eliminate all stages of the worm, the litter should still be treated for these parasites. Pregnant dogs can safely be on monthly heartworm preventative (Heartgard or Interceptor) and monthly flea preventative (Advantage). Frontline/TopSpot is not approved for use in pregnant and lactating dogs. WHAT SHOULD I FEED HER? During the first 4 weeks, normal amounts of a good quality commercial dog food is sufficient. By the 5th week, more food can be offered- up to 50% more by the last few weeks and into whelping. She will usually tend to eat small amounts frequently. After birthing, her food intake will be the greatest, and it is best to feed the mom a good quality puppy food to increase the amount of protein and calcium in her diet to keep up with milk production. About the 4th week into lactation, the quantity of food can be tapered until she is back to normal amounts by the week after weaning (usually when the puppies are 6 weeks of age), and she can gradually be changed back to her adult food. A vitamin supplement (Pet Tabs or Pet Tabs Plus) can be added to her feeding regime, but calcium supplements should be avoided during gestation in most dogs. However, these should be considered for small breed dogs since they can have a calcium deficiency in the latter stages of pregnancy and during lactation. WHEN SHOULD SHE GET A CHECK UP? It is a good idea to plan a general health check with your veterinarian around day 30-45 of gestation. An ultrasound can be done in the early stages or an x-ray can be taken later to confirm pregnancy. This should be done since some dogs will be pseudo-pregnant, that is, show all the signs of pregnancy (abdominal distention, nipple enlargement, even milk production) and yet, not be pregnant. Ultrasound and radiographs can also determine the number of puppies and sometimes tell if there may be any complications during delivery. A normal level of exercise, but not strenuous, is recommended for pregnant dogs. It is also a good idea to have mom checked after birthing to ascertain that there are no retained fetuses and evaluate the puppies' health. HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THE BIRTHING? In preparation for the big day, a whelping box can be built to provide privacy and a clean, safe environment for the puppies. The box should be large enough to allow mom to stretch out with the young ones; the sides should be high enough to prevent the puppies from jumping out when they become more active later. The wall of the box should have a ledge to prevent mom from accidentally crushing a puppy between herself and the wall. Suitable bedding are towels on top of newspapers. The ideal environmental temperature should be maintained about 75F. THE BIG DAY! The dog's temperature can be used as a gauge to anticipate labor. You should start to take her temperature twice daily, starting the week before the due date. Normal body temperature for a dog is between 101-102.5 F. In the period of 10-24 hours before the contractions begin, this can drop below 100 F. Labor includes 3 stages. Stage 1 lasts 6-12 hours, during which time she may appear nervous, restless, pant, shiver or vomit; she often will seek seclusion. Stage 2 involves cervical dilation and delivery of the puppy. Stage 3 involves expulsion of the placenta. The length of time of these stages is variable since she may deliver pups over a 2-36 hour period. Usually, a puppy is delivered within 10-30 minutes, and mom may rest up to two hours in between delivering puppies. Some puppies will be born head first; others feet first in a breech position; this is not abnormal and does not seem to complicate delivery. Usually right after birth, mom will lick the puppies to remove membranes from the face and encourage respiration and will cut the umbilical cord with her teeth. If she doesn't do this within 5 minutes, you should clean the puppies with a towel and tie off the cord