Understanding the Different Stages of Dog Pregnancy

Normally the pregnancy lasts for about 9 months i.e., 63 days in dogs. However, it differs with each breed of dogs. The period of 58th to 68th day is the time when the puppies are delivered. There is no test available to determine pregnancy in dog. The vet is only able to confirm pregnancy by touching the abdomen of the animal after 26-35 days of breeding. An X-ray can be performed after 45 days and also the number of puppies that are to be born can be determined.

The animal shows show physical changes in the fifth week of gestation. It gains some weight with the litters growing large in size. The weight it gains varies with the number of puppies present. If there are only one or two puppies, it gains little weight. An increase in the size of the abdomen is noticed in the last 3 weeks.

The symptoms observed in a dog pregnancy can be decreased physical activities and laziness as it may experience hormonal changes due to the development of the embryo. Decrease in appetite, nipple growth and changes in behavior are noticed as the early pregnancy symptoms.

A whelping box can be of great help in helping the bitch to deliver the puppies in it. The bitch becomes restless before giving birth and starts scratching the floor as it experiences labor. There are three stages of labor in a dog pregnancy; they are the pre labor, active labor and the post-partum.

Pre Labor begins in bitch a day before she gives birth, there is lot of restlessness in her behavior. Then there is the onset of active labor where the bitch tries to push the pups out. Puppy’s sac is seen at the bitch’s vulva when it tries to expel the pup out, however the sac should not be broken till the pup is out. There is a naval chord attached to the pub, which is known as the placenta. Every pup has a different placenta, the bitch removes the umbilical cord on its own and no interference is required in this matter

. When the pup is born or expelled out it needs immediate attention, as it should be rubbed with a towel in a vigorous manner, as there can be some fluid remaining in its lungs. The bitch takes a rest of about 10-15 minutes before expelling another pup but few times it is observed that the bitch tries to expel the pub unsuccessfully for over an hour, then a veterinary doctor should be called immediately. The last stage is the post-partum when the bitch nurses her pups. It should be given some food and water as its energy is completely drained. After the birth of the pups the bitch’s vulva bleeds for several days and then returns to normalcy gradually decreasing the amount of blood shedding.

Daily cleaning of whelping box should be done to avoid any infections in the pups. The bitch and the pups should be examined by the vet, and then they should be administered with antibiotic shots to prevent any infections later on.