The first pregnancy of the she-dog

2021-04-14T03:25:36+01:00

If you decided your favorite pet to have an offspring, be responsible in such a case. To do this, follow simple rules that will help her to get healthy offspring without problems, and do not forget to visit the vet.

Estrus and mating

During estrus you need to show extra care of the hygiene of the dog. You cannot punish the she-dog because she had spoiled something. Usually estrus has to appear every 5-6 months, often in the spring or in the autumn. The standard duration is 2-4 weeks. Your dog, before approaching the peak of the estrus (it's 10th-16th day), starts in all ways to attract the attention of he-dog flirting with him. To determine its readiness for mating is simple: discharging will be light, and vulva will become softer.
The mating, carried out in the spring, will give strong and healthy offspring, grown in the sun and grass. Autumn mating better preserves the health of the she-dog, which received over the summer a lot of vitamins and fresh air.
Typically, the mating is carried out in an area where the he-dog lives (it gives him more confidence). For mating, she-dog should come to he-dog twice (the second time for control mating). During this period (from 10th to 16th day) you have to follow the she-dog to make sure that other stray dog does not cover her, because fertilized by different male dogs she-dog will give "motley" offspring.







Pregnancy

Pregnancy for your dog is a very important time, and she needs your greatly increased care. She-dog needs an active lifestyle and a lot of walks, but do not forget about the male dogs that will be interested in it for approximately 10 days. Be careful and do not let her off the leash.
The pregnancy of dogs usually lasts 60-63 days. If your she-dog will have a lot of puppies, the parturation will be on the 57th day of the pregnancy.
Presence of pregnancy determination of she-dog:
There are no reliable signs in the early stages, they appear no earlier than after two months of pregnancy. The appearance of toxicity and vomiting is possible, but it is important to know if this was not a manifestation of poisoning. Over time, the she-dog will become calmer, apathy and fatigue are possible. Hair around nipples disappears wool, and they increase in size. Then her belly increases and becomes round. The first pregnancy can be different from the next by that its symptoms show up much later than they should have to show up, until a couple of weeks before the parturation, so do not be surprised if there is their absence.
If the she-dog's pregnancy is important event for you, and you are responsible, then during the course of it, the dog should visit a specialist, he will help to determine whether there is a pregnancy and the number of pups with the help of ultrasonography.
The dog, in the second half of pregnancy has bigger appetite, but do not overfeed her. Increase her diet about two times, but be careful, do not give her too much sweets and it will not allow the dog to put on weight, it could complicate the parturation. Do not forget to leave a bowl with fresh drinking water. Consult with the vet about the need to give vitamins: he will tell you what and how many vitamins are useful, and will not harm your dog. Also, ask him what kind of feed to give a pregnant dog.
Make sure that at least the expectant mother behaves cautiously during walks; it did not jump and run on uneven places, such as stairs. Any careless fall or blow may harm puppies.


Preparing for parturation

Parturation is a responsible event and requires preparation. Two weeks before the parturation, prepare a place for the she-dog (a box in which she will parturate). The size of the box for large dogs - at least 120x150 cm, for small dogs - at least 60x90 cm. The height of the walls must be such that the puppies could not crawl out of the box, and the mother could easily enter them. At the bottom of the box, lay clean newspapers and put on it printed mattress, covered with a clean towel or bed sheet (they need to be changed frequently). The litter should not often stray while the puppies are moving, and newborn puppies would not suffocate. If the floor is cold, the bottom of the box must be insulated, also exclude all possibilities of drafts. It is important that the dog get used to the box in advance and stay there all night.
For future puppies prepare a box with a heater at the bottom, covered with a towel, so puppies do not burned (newborn puppies are placed there before the end of the parturation so their mother by chance does not press them).
In addition you will need:
• small pear (syringe) for sucking mucus from the mouth and nose of newborn puppies;
• a spool of thread for the ligation of the umbilical cord (white thread №10, previously boiled);
• 5% solution of iodine for cauterization of the umbilical cord;
• sterilized scissors;
• several boiled bed-sheets and clean rags.



A few weeks before parturation, you need to cut she-dog's hair around its nipples and vulva, and if it is longhaired dog, you need to cut its hair on the back side of the thighs.