Pet Blog > Caring and Paying for Pregnant Dogs

Caring and Paying for Pregnant Dogs

Taking care of your canine companion is hard enough, but when she’s expecting a litter, you’ve got quite the job on your hands. So if you're looking for the best guide to care for your dog, you’re in the right place. While it entails a lot of responsibility, taking care of a pregnant dog is a rewarding experience. And who doesn’t love puppy breath?!?

You get to learn new experiences such as changing appetite, weight, hormones, and behavior. But, like humans, pregnant dogs go through the same changes. Therefore, you need to give your beloved pet the best care. 

If you think your dog is pregnant, start looking for the signs. You won’t notice many signs during the first month, but it's essential that you continue tracking the changes. During this challenging time, your pet requires more attention and affection. Because pregnant dogs are going through many changes, please don't force them into strenuous activities. When you notice the clear signs, visit a veterinarian to get recommendations on food and medication for your dog. The best practice is to take your pregnant dog to the vet, but you can also follow the information mentioned in this article.

What Should I Do When My Dog is Pregnant

You might think that there is a lot you need to consider when your dog is expecting puppies, but the information in this comprehensive guide can be helpful. Here is the list of things you should consider to take care of your canine:

1.     Diet and Nutrition

Your dog rapidly starts growing after 42 days of pregnancy. During this time, you need to take care of their nutrition. Ensure that they have enough energy to deal with the situation. Give them puppy food for better nutrition. Three to four small-sized meals would be enough because little puppies pressing on the stomach will make it hard to digest big meals.

2.     Vaccinations

Regardless of whether or not your dog is pregnant, you need to track and give them annual vaccines. After giving birth, puppies will feed on their mum’s milk. Therefore, it’s important to preserve the puppies’ health by getting the herpes vaccine. So, to make sure that the babies are healthy, you need to get them vaccinated without any delays.

3.     Worming

When your dog is pregnant, you need to give them a wormer called Fenbendazole starting from 40 days until they give birth to the puppies. As a result, the puppies won’t develop worms from their mum. 

4.     Exercise

While your dog is pregnant, they need exercise to stay healthy. However, keep in mind, that over-exercising can make them weaker. Furthermore, there are numerous other health consequences if they get tired too often. Therefore, take them on short walks after they pass 30 days in pregnancy.

5.     Preparing for Whelping

Take a whelping box and keep it in a comfortable and quiet place. Make sure that the nest you make can accommodate mum and puppies. The nest should include a large box with puppy pads and fill the boxes with towels and blankets.

6.     Whelping

The room where you keep newborn puppies should be warm as they require a nice and cozy environment. When the mum is panting and feeling restless, it is time for labor. With the contractions, a fluid will come out of the vulva, followed by the puppies. Labor can take up to few minutes to hours. The interval between puppies can take 20 to 60 minutes. Many pet owners stress out when the second puppy takes time to come out. But, that is normal.

7.     Puppy Care

When the puppies get two weeks old, you need to worm them. Take a kitchen scale and write down their weights. You can determine the amount of wormer they require by checking their weight. When the puppies are six to eight weeks old, they are ready for weaning. Give them the first vaccine when they are eight weeks old. Take them to your vet, so they can check their health.

> Learn about the Tips & Cost of Raising a Puppy

Large Breeds vs. Small Breeds

Large and small breed dogs have minor differences while they are pregnant. Below, we will share some differences:

· Litter size can be different in small breeds than in large breeds. Furthermore, the litter size may also differ due to the quality and timing of the breeding. The age of the mother also matters.

· The challenges that the dog goes through while giving birth may also vary depending on the dog’s size. Regardless of the procedure, smaller breeds require more veterinary interventions when compared to large breed dogs.

· The nutritional requirements may also differ between large and small breeds. When it comes to managing the nutritional need of their puppies, smaller dogs require more calories per pound. While giving birth, the female dog should consume 15 to 25% more as compared to their non-pregnant intake. During lactation, the dog requires three times more food for milk production and maintaining its body weight.

Brachycephalic Breeds

The rate of complications is higher in brachycephalic breeds as compared to other breeds. These breeds have a wide and flat skull. Some common examples of brachycephalic breeds include Shih Tzu, Boston Terries, French Bulldogs, Pugs, and Pekinese. If you have any of these dogs, you need to provide medical assistance while they are whelping.

Risk of Eclampsia

Small breeds and toy breeds likely develop a seizure-like disorder called Eclampsia. This condition can be life-threatening if left untreated.

What is Eclampsia?

Eclampsia is a condition that a dog develops in the final pregnancy stages. They may also develop this condition during the first three weeks of given birth. Their body depends on high calcium levels for milk production and fetal skeletal maturation. When their body does not receive enough calcium, they develop this deficiency. To cope with this situation, the hormonal mechanism releases calcium from the bones. As a result, intestinal absorption increases.

Conclusion

There are various signs of pregnancy in dogs that you need to consider after mating. If you get a clue that your dog is pregnant, you need to take them to the veterinarian. Similar to humans, dogs also experience hormonal change while they are pregnant. Therefore, they require complete care and comfort until they give birth.

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