Dog Breeding - Information On Dog Pregnancy

Do you want to know what the tell-tale signs are for pregnancy in dogs? Perhaps you are also interested about what special arrangements you have to make for a mother-to-be? If you have a pregnant dog on your hands, think you might or are looking to breed in the near future - the information you find here could be very useful indeed.

In the first stages of a dog's pregnancy, you might not notice any major or specific changes in her appearance or behavior. Like us humans, the changes are very gradual at first. If you know your dog well, then you might be better at spotting some signs that she is carrying. She might not be her usual self, preferring not to finish her meals and maybe even vomiting. She will slowly gain some weight and if you take a peep at her nipples, you may find that they have begun to swell. Going back to her behavior, she might begin to press for more attention and love too. These signs, although very muted, are quite typical of the first few weeks in to her pregnancy.

Of course, you will be feeling anxious now as to whether she really is going to be bringing a litter in to the world. Head over to your veterinarian who can clarify. As they will tell you though, a pregnancy test will not function successfully until around twenty six days in. The pregnancy test will involve a blood sample which, if she is pregnant, will have a hormone in it called relaxing.

It can take around five weeks before the vet can actually feel the presence of the puppies by touching around the abdomen of the mother. Ultrasound can be done from three weeks of pregnancy, which is yet another method of clarification. So when can you find out how big the litter is and how the puppies are developing? Veterinarians say seven weeks is all it takes to know the answer to this question. Even if you don't want to know the size of the litter, it is worth having this routine check to make sure that the puppies are growing well and that there are no signs of possible complications for the birth.

A typical dog pregnancy will last between 63 to 65 days in total. When you have learnt about the pregnancy, it is time to make some special arrangements for your pooch. Ideally, her meals will need to be less in volume but offered frequently. This is because, as her puppies and abdomen grow, her stomach will become somewhat smaller in size. Forget about her wearing her small dog clothes.  Her dietary needs will change too and you must pay special attention to this if you want your dog to be healthy throughout her pregnancy and to allow plenty of nutrition for the little ones inside her.

Your veterinarian can guide you on diet changes, but one thing that is crucial is not making the mistake of giving her calcium supplements. You might think this is helpful for Mimi - but it will interfere with her natural intake of calcium and production of milk. So serious this is, it can be fatal - so please be aware!

Mimi will grow in size and weight as the days go on. In the final weeks, you can gently place your hand on her swollen abdomen and possibly feel baby Rovers and Mimis moving around! Don't be surprised either if some milk begins to leak from her nipples - this is quite normal towards the end of the pregnancy.

She can still go out for walks but make sure she doesn't over exert herself. Think more 'stroll' on your unique dog collars than 'sprint' and if you think she is tired then bring her home. If you have a large back yard, it might be just as good to take her around the perimeters so that she is near to her home when she has had enough. You will notice that in the very last days of her pregnancy she will become a little restless as she searches a good nesting area. Give her a helping hand and prepare a whelping box so that she can deliver her pups in comfort. Regularly check her temperature as when it drops into the 90s - her litter is no more than a day away!