When Your Pooch Gets Pregnant

   Posted: February 7, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 366 | Rating: Not Rated

Every year, veterinarians deliver the news to thousands of pet owners. “Your dog is pregnant.” If your dog gets pregnant, there’s no need to panic. There are some basic ways to help your dog have a safe, healthy pregnancy.

Dogs are pregnant for an average of 63 days. This means you will have about two months to prepare for puppies once your dog has conceived. Many symptoms of canine pregnancy are similar to human pregnancy. For example, dogs might experience nausea and loss of appetite, just like human moms with morning sickness. Pregnant dogs can also be irritable and moody, just like pregnant women.

Just like a human pregnancy, prenatal care is vitally important when your dog is having puppies. The vet will be able to confirm a pregnancy through a simple blood test. Then you will receive instructions on how often to bring your dog back in for follow up appointments.

You should feed your dog a good, nutritious dog food during pregnancy. Don’t give her table scraps or supplements. These can be harmful, particularly during pregnancy. You should also provide regular opportunities for exercise when your dog is pregnant. She will need to build up her strength and stamina for labor. However, exercise during pregnancy needs to be low key and stress free. Pregnancy is not the time to run a marathon with your dog as a companion. Just take her for gentle walks each day to keep up her strength and muscle tone.

Your vet will probably recommend keeping your pet inside during the last few weeks of pregnancy. This will protect her from contracting diseases from other dogs or running away to have the puppies alone. Labor is sometimes difficult and even life threatening for dogs, so you need to be present to supervise and take her to the vet in case of an emergency.

Pregnant dogs should not receive vaccinations during pregnancy because they could cause harm to the puppies as they develop inside her. You should also be cautious about other medications during pregnancy. Check with your vet before you give your dog any new medication or supplement.

You need to be prepared for puppies before they arrive. Puppies require a lot of care and mother dogs don’t always naturally adapt to nursing their puppies. If one of the puppies is neglected, you will need to step in and offer care or the puppy could die.

Ask your veterinarian to provide you with the information you will need to help your dog through her labor and delivery. Find out when the puppies need to see the vet for the first time and how to care for rejected puppies.

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