Dogs during Labor
Breeding dogs is an
exciting experience. From
the time a proper mate is
found to the point that the
puppies are born, it is
crucial to take careful
steps to make this
successful.
Professional breeders do
not breed frequently and
will only do so when a pair
is found to be healthy that
will ensure the birth of
healthy offspring.
The ideal breeder should
have the pair of dogs
tested for every possible
disease as well as have all
the information regarding
the pairs ancestors and
health records on file.
Should a breeder find no
problem in the history of
the pair, then the process
can begin.
Dogs normally come into
heat twice a year which is
every six months. Larger
dogs can come into heat
every eight or ten months
which usually lasts about
three weeks. Vaginal
bleeding is a sure sign
that the dog is in heat as
well as swelling in the
vulva.
A dog's pregnancy or
gestation period lasts
between 60 to 67 days. Most
dogs give birth after 63
days.
The only way to
determine the stage of the
dogs pregnancy is by
keeping the track of time
from the day of the
breeding. Keeping a record
of this on file is
advisable for reference
purposes.
Exactly three weeks
after breeding, the mother
must be examined to confirm
the pregnancy.
The dog must be given a
formulated and premium
brand of dog food for the
duration of the pregnancy
and throughout the nursing
period preferably with
strong nutritional
foundation.
During pregnancy, the
mother's food consumption
will almost double compared
to the pre-pregnancy level
so increased feeding must
be given to ensure that
there is enough for both
the dog and the
puppies.
Behavioral changes are
to be expected during this
time. The dog will demand
for more affection or may
experience a few days of
vomiting.
Later on, the expectant
mother will search for a
secure place to deliver the
puppies. So, one must
ensure that a proper place
is ready when the time
comes. An ideal place for
an expecting mother is a
box. Depending on the size
of the dog, it must be
spacious enough for the dog
to move around and must
have layers of newspaper
inside it that will absorb
birthing fluids. This
should also have low sides
for the mother to look
outside and for the breeder
to easily check if
assistance is needed to
make it easy to remove
soiled papers without
interrupting the mother and
the newborn puppies.
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