Pregnancy

Pregnancy in dogs usually lasts 57-69 days, with the average being 9 weeks. The best time to fell if she is pregnant is at 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 weeks after mating.after this it can be difficult to detect accurately and a blood test or xray may be required. an ultrasound scan athe specialist can alo be performed.

It is important to record dates of the start and end of your dog's heat, as well as dates of all matings ( if these are known). Dogs which have not started labour by the 69th day of pregnancy usually need a caesarean (pups delivered by surgery).

During pregnancy, a normal diet and moderate exercise can be followed. Smaller, ,more frequent meals may be required late in the pregnancy. a puppy food (complete should be fed from week 9 and this can be supplemented with extra calcium after birth.amounts fed should being gradually increased to 3 - 4 times normal when the pups are 3 weeks old.

Extra calcium is especially important at this time for small breed bitches with large litters, to help prevent milk fever (eclampsia).food should be available at all times of the day form birth.

Birth

The bitch's body temperature drops 1 degree celcius about 8 - 12 hours before labour starts. So twice daily rectal temperature measurement from about day 54 is important to help pick "the time" things will start. The normal birth process consists initially of incoordinated contactions and nesting usually.once these become forceful straining movements (contractions- which are somewhat similar to those seen when passing motions. Once this has started, the first pup is usually born within 1 - 4 hours, and further pups may take 15 minutes to 2 hours each to be born.

Select a quite area for your bitch to have her pups. Throughout the labour observation should be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Your bitch may be happier if you are there to reassure her, only experience can tell you whether you presence is required. however - no bitch, whether an 'old hand' or a 'first timer' can concentrate on the task at hand with a crowd of fussing, pushing , well meaning onlookers.

The afterbirth (membranes) may be delivered after each pup, or several at a time. These should be counted and removed if possible, as the bitch may otherwise eat all of them, resulting in a mildly upset stomach or mild diarrhoea the next day, in some cases. at the end of birth, contractions stop, and the bitch will be tired but relaxed.

Both bitch and pups should be checked by your vet in the next 12 - 24 hours to determine that the uterus is empty of both pups and afterbirth, that there is adequate milk, and that all the pups are healthy.

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Problems during Birth

Please contact the surgery if any of the following occur:

• after one hour of strong, hard contractions, there is still been no pup delivered.
• after seeing a large amount of watery discharge ( the waters breaking) of a greenish-black discharge, a pup is not delivered within 1 hours.
• contractions become much weaker and less frequent over more than a hour. (the bitch may also look extremely tired).

Care of the newborn pups and bitch

Newborn pups cannot keep themselves warm, so it is most important to keep the mother and pups in a very warm, sheltered place. Ideally, have a low barrier around the area so that it is possible for the bitch to get to and away from the pups, but not possible for the pups to wriggle away from the warmth.

Some bitches will not want to leave the pups at all, so encourage the mother to come away for short breaks several times a day to eat and go to the toilet.

Pups must be wormed weekly from 2 to 8 weeks of age. The bitch should be wormed at 6 weeks pregant. First vaccinations for the pups are at 6 weeks of age. These should be given before the pups go to their new homes at 8 weeks old. Pups should be started on solid foods at 3 weeks of age. Dry puppy food moistened with warm water and/or puppy milk or divetelact (if desired).

Emergency formula for feeding pups

• 600mls cow's milk
• 2 tablespoons cream
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 heaped teaspoon calcium powder (eg balanced ca)
• 1 heaped teaspoon glucose (eg glucodin)
• 5 drops on infant multivitamins (eg pentavite)

or preferably

Divetelact powder availble from your veterinarian should be fed with an eye dropper, syringe or nurser, as much as each pup will take, every 2 - 4 hours.

Please note some pups can have a lactose intolerance, divetelact powder is lactose free.