Pregnancy in dogs

How to understand if a dog is pregnant or not

The first symptoms of pregnancy in dogs can be noticed about 10-14 days after mating. In most cases, you can notice the following signs:

• decreased appetite. The animal can completely refuse food or eat less than usual. This phenomenon is explained by hormonal changes in the body, gradually the appetite will recover;
• nausea and/or vomiting. These are signs of toxicosis, which are also caused by changes in the endocrine system. No special actions are required from the owner, it is enough to provide the dog with access to clean water. Manifestations of toxicosis pass approximately by the end of the first month of pregnancy. If they continue, and especially increase, then you need to consult a specialist to prevent intoxication;
• changes in behavior. They manifest themselves in different ways: some bitches become more affectionate, others fall into drowsiness and apathy, others may become more sensitive, they do not allow themselves to be touched;
• nipple changes. Swelling and darkening of the nipples in the early period of pregnancy in dogs is observed among those who have already been married. In firstborns, this process usually occurs later.

You can check whether the dog is pregnant or not at the veterinary clinic. If offspring are waiting for you, a laboratory blood test will show an increased level of relaxin. However, this test is reliable only after at least two weeks have passed since the mating.

Ultrasound will also help determine the presence of embryos. Already at the beginning of the fourth week, the veterinarian will be able to record the beating of hearts. At a later date, for example, at the 6th week, a specialist will accurately determine not only the number of puppies, but also the level of their physical development.

Duration and features of pregnancy in different dogs

How long a pregnancy lasts in dogs depends on the physiological characteristics of the animal. On average, the duration of the gestation period is 8-10 weeks (56-70 days). In the presence of pathologies (injuries, physical exhaustion, stress, diseases) or due to age, childbirth may begin earlier or later than the specified interval. Knowing this, the owner should prepare in advance for possible complications.

Pregnancy of small dogs lasts about 60 days, and large breeds can give birth in 67-70 days, and this will be the norm for them. If more than 70 days have passed, and the dog has not yet foaled, then you need to contact a veterinarian. Such a delay may be due to confusion in the timing, but it may also indicate the development of any deviations.

The number of puppies in the litter also depends on the size of the breed. According to statistics, a large dog has fewer of them than a small one. The development of complications during pregnancy is not affected by either the number of newborns or the size of the mother. However, overgrowing of fetuses is of great importance – puppies outgrow, and this makes it difficult for the mother to give birth, and for newborns it turns into hypoxia and intoxication. The early appearance of offspring into the world threatens babies with problems with the respiratory system.

Pregnancy periods in dogs

You can navigate by the timing of the pet's pregnancy using a special calendar. It is made up by the days of gestation or by weeks. The latter option is presented in the table below.

How to take care of a pregnant dog

It will be necessary to provide proper care for the dog not only after mating, but also 2-3 months before it. A four-legged friend will need to be shown to a veterinarian to exclude contraindications to pregnancy, discuss possible vaccinations (including those that fall during the time of bearing puppies), pass tests for various infections, undergo anthelmintic therapy.

After pregnancy has occurred, the owner needs to pay special attention to physical activity, nutrition and hygiene of the animal. In addition, the upcoming addition to the family will require some rearrangements in the house from the owner.

Walking

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is not necessary to protect the dog from long walks. A sufficient amount of oxygen will reduce the manifestations of toxicosis during its development, as well as have a positive effect on appetite, the development of offspring. However, it is also not necessary to force the animal to physical activity. If the pet is sluggish, wants to sleep, turns around home, then it is better to take her for a walk more often, but not for long.

Nutrition

Nutrition should be caloric within reasonable limits. The reference point is the appearance of the dog: with obvious weight loss, the caloric content of the diet is increased and vice versa. Toxicosis should also be taken into account – it can cause weight loss of the animal. It is necessary to add more protein products to the diet, and reduce food containing carbohydrates. In the second month of pregnancy, excess carbohydrates and fats can provoke the development of obesity, which is fraught with problematic childbirth.

If the dog prefers dry food, then you should choose a product specifically designed for this period. Do not forget about vitamin and mineral supplements. With natural nutrition, they are added to food or given separately from food.

Attention: dry food for pregnant dogs, as a rule, already contains the necessary components; information about their quantity can be found on the packaging. An excess of vitamins can harm both the expectant mother and puppies.

In the first month of pregnancy, the diet remains the same – twice a day. In the future, the frequency of meals is increased to 3, and then up to 4 times a day. Fractional nutrition makes it possible for more complete assimilation of food, prevents stagnation in the intestines, since growing puppies put pressure on the stomach and interfere with the normal movement of food through the digestive tract.

Hygiene

Hygiene procedures are reduced to washing paws after a walk, the usual treatment of eyes, ears. Experts do not recommend bathing the dog during pregnancy and lactation. This can only be done if absolutely necessary. The owner must make sure that the animal does not get caught in a draft: it is necessary to dry the wool as soon as possible.

Changes in the house

The owner will have to make changes to the interior in the second half of the pet's pregnancy. By this time, the dog's body weight increases, it becomes less active, it rests more. To make it comfortable for her, you need to make a new, large-sized litter.

Closer to childbirth, the animal is looking for a suitable place for this. It is advisable for the owner to choose a secluded corner in advance, equip it accordingly, and then gradually accustom the animal to it. Sometimes the dog itself determines the desired territory and does not want to change it to another. In this case, you will have to make concessions (within reason).

The room in which the newborn puppies and the mother will be located should not be too cold or excessively hot. Optimal conditions: average air temperature, no drafts, the ability to move. For the first time, the corner should be protected from the rest of the space in such a way that the puppies could not leave it, and the adult animal passed back and forth without hindrance.

Pathology of pregnancy in dogs

The pathological course of pregnancy in dogs can be caused by many factors:

• diseases;
• helminthiasis;
• anomalies of internal organs;
• age-related features;
• stress;
• incompatibility with the male.

Among such pathologies, false, frozen and ectopic pregnancy can be distinguished.

False pregnancy in dogs

6-8 weeks after estrus, the dog may show signs of a false pregnancy:

• increased appetite and thirst;
• swelling of the nipples, the appearance of colostrum;
• nausea and vomiting;
• apathy, drowsiness.

A pet may show an increased interest in soft toys, "caring" for them.

False pregnancy poses a certain danger to the physical and mental health of the dog. Among its consequences, tumors of the mammary glands, cancers of the appendages and uterus, infectious diseases of the genitourinary organs, mental disorders are noted. If the animal has the above symptoms, the owner should take the bitch to the clinic for ultrasound as soon as possible.

The treatment of false pregnancy at the beginning of the development of pathology is to change the living conditions of the dog. The frequency of feedings is reduced to once a day, while significantly limiting liquid, dairy and meat dishes. All items that remind the dog of her "motherhood" should be removed. The amount of time allotted for a walk is increased to the maximum possible, trying to stimulate the pet's physical activity in all available ways.

If after 3-4 days the situation has not changed, and even more so it has become more serious, they begin medical treatment. Hormone-based medications and homeopathic remedies are indicated as therapy. In the absence of a result, surgical intervention is performed.

Frozen pregnancy in dogs

This pathology is characterized by the death of embryos (all or partially). A stop in the development of embryos can occur for various reasons. What to do in this case depends on how the dog's body reacts to what has happened.

• With the death of all embryos, you should wait until a miscarriage occurs. With a long wait, it is stimulated artificially, since frozen embryos can mummify and begin to decompose.
• If live embryos are preserved (ultrasound is mandatory), pregnancy is preserved. During childbirth, the dead embryos will come out with the newborns. After childbirth, a control ultrasound examination of the animal is carried out: in the presence of dead remains in the uterine cavity, they are disposed of by stimulating the contraction of the walls of the organ. In the absence of a result, the dog is sterilized.

There are other scenarios. For example, a partial miscarriage of dead embryos may occur with the preservation of normal or all embryos (both dead and alive), purulent inflammation may begin or there will be no symptoms at all, and so on. The owner should be extremely attentive to the dog, and contact the clinic at the slightest changes in the animal's condition.

Ectopic pregnancy in dogs

Ectopic pregnancy can also occur in dogs. It occurs due to various reasons: the pathological structure of the uterus, trauma, endocrine disorders. The first signs are spotting, pain (the animal may whine). Such a pregnancy is most often interrupted with the help of medications, if the period is short, or by an operative method.

Vaccinations during pregnancy and lactation of a dog: is it possible or not

Pregnant and nursing dogs are not vaccinated. Vaccines can cause serious harm to developing puppies, ranging from developmental abnormalities to the death of embryos. You need to vaccinate before mating. The passport of the animal will help determine the term: the owner should look at the date of the next vaccination and compare it with the period of the upcoming pregnancy and breastfeeding. If they coincide, you need to contact a veterinarian and get vaccinated either before mating or after the intended lactation.

When to deworm a pregnant dog

It is necessary to get rid of worms before binding, in 2 weeks. At the same time, it should be taken into account that anthelmintic therapy is carried out no more than once every 3 months. Pregnant animals are not given medicine for parasites. As a rule, by the time the time comes for the next deworming, the puppies are already transferred to regular food.

Termination of pregnancy in dogs

In some cases, there is a need to terminate pregnancy in dogs. This may occur for medical reasons, for example, due to an ectopic pregnancy, or the mating was not planned. The earlier the interruption is performed, the greater the chances of preserving the animal's ability for the next conception. Surgical abortion often leads to complete sterilization.

Medical abortion is performed using hormonal drugs, such as mesalin. Injections are given twice, and if necessary – three times a day.

Important: dog owners need to know that such an intervention entails disorders in the endocrine system, disorders of the functions of the genital glands, inflammatory processes in the uterus, abnormal course of subsequent pregnancies.

Last days before giving birth

You can find out that childbirth is approaching by the specific secretions of the animal from the vagina. Most often, they appear after the dog wakes up or when urine is excreted. At this time, you need to monitor the temperature indicators of the body. Approximately 20-24 hours before delivery, the temperature will drop by 1-1.5 degrees. In addition, a change in the behavior of the pet will also tell about the beginning of childbirth: she begins to look for something, dig a "hole" in the floor. When the dog starts to sit down, starts fussing, then you need to prepare for the reception of newborns – no more than an hour and a half remains before their appearance.

Pregnancy in a domestic dog should take place under the tireless supervision of the owner, who has first aid items at hand, as well as the phone number of the veterinarian. Attention and care are the key to the successful bearing and birth of healthy puppies!