This may seem like a lot to ponder over when your dog is pregnant, but it’s a handy guide to help you through your dog’s pregnancy. With proper plan and care, your dog can experience a healthy and happy gestation period. Here’re a few important things that you’d like to consider while your dog is expecting – Diet and nutrition From the 42nd day of pregnancy, the pups in the belly start to develop quickly, meaning the Mum is going to need more pups foods from that point on. You are advised to offer the Mum 3-4 small meals a day since the pups tend to press on her stomach, making it difficult for her to eat bigger meals. Vaccinations As your dog is trying to get pregnant, you need to make sure that she is up-to-date on her yearly vaccines. When the pups are born, they get protection from the mum’s milk, which is only possible if she has been thoroughly protected during pregnancy and post whelping. Puppies may contract herpes virus from their Mommies, thus it’s imperative to get your expecting dog vaccinated from time to time while she is pregnant. This way you can stop them from getting sick at birth. Worming When your dog is pregnant, she will need a wormer, known as fenbendazole daily from the 40th day of pregnancy until 2 days post-delivery. Worming stops the pups from getting worms when they feed on their mum. Exercise Pregnant dogs are in a dire need of exercise, however, you need to make sure they don’t overstrain themselves during a session. After the 30th day of their pregnancy, they must be taken out for short walks, but you should carry a 3-in-1 detachable dog stroller along because your pregnant dog can’t afford to get too exhausted. Preparing your dog for whelping Start by making a whelping box for the Mum and keep it safe in a quiet corner, where you can make a nest big enough for the pup and his mum. The whelping box must be large, so you can easily line it up with puppy pads (to prevent accidents) and also fill it with clean towels and blankets. Making a perfect whelping box is no rocket science if you try with love, care, and planning. What to do at the time whelping? Be sure the place is cozy and nice – newborn pups will need to stay warm and cozy at all times. Labor often begins with the mommy panting or getting restless. Contractions usually start with a clear fluid coming out from the vulva and subsequently the first puppy. Dog labor lasts from a couple of minutes to several hours. It is absolutely normal if your dog’s labor is taking 20-60 minutes between the puppies being born. Puppy care tips Puppies will need to be wormed as soon as they get 2 weeks old. You will want to keep tabs on their weight gains and let the vets know about it, so they can calculate how much wormer each puppy will need. Pups are supposed to start dissuading between 6 and 8 weeks, and then they will need their first vaccine. Vets will check them to ensure that they are healthy and no side-effects are in sight. A pregnant dog needs much more care than you think!
