Birth Of Puppies

One of the high points to being a companion animal veterinarian is that initial examination of a new puppy. The owners are so happy and excited. The puppies are all cute little fur balls. It is a time of great potential. But with all of that being said, unless you are a professional breeder, I don't recommend allowing your pets to reproduce.

If you decide to allow your dog to become pregnant, a thorough physical examination before the breeding is just what the doctor ordered. She should be current on all of her vaccines and be free of internal and external parasites. Have your dog tested for the sexually transmitted disease, brucellosis.

Gestation, pregnancy will typically span 62 to 65 days. Morning sickness does affect some dogs. Your dog may be nauseous in the 3rd to 4th week of pregnancy. Swelling of breast tissue may be evident around 40 days after conception. A month after breeding, most veterinarians can palpate the growing puppies. It is always recommended to either have an x-ray or ultrasound performed on the expectant mother to assist in determining how many puppies to anticipate.

Nutrition is very important for the pregnant bitch. You will want to discuss what she should eat and how much with your veterinarian. Just as with human pregnancy, you need to monitor how much weight is gained.

Within a few days of whelping, delivering, your dog's breast tissue will swell and her mammary glands will fill with milk. This is the perfect time to construct a birthing box. A cardboard box will usually suffice. Line it with newspaper and clean linens or towels. Find a cozy spot away from curious spectators.

About 24 hours before she delivers, a bitch's body temperature will drop from its normal 101 to 102. 5 degrees Fahrenheit to 99 degrees.

A dog will have several stages to her labor. The first may last from 12 to 24 hours. She will pant, appear restless and may experience bowel upsets. The second stage is the actual birth of the puppies. Vaginal discharge precedes the birth. A puppy should be born within 1 hour after the commencement of strong abdominal contractions. If it is not born, take the bitch immediately to your veterinarian.

Puppies can be presented tail or face first. Shortly after its appearance, the bitch will pass the placenta. It will resemble a dark green bubble. The new mother often consumes it.

After the birth of each pup, the mother will lick it in order to clean it and to stimulate its breathing. She will also bite and sever the umbilical cord. All puppies should be born in within 24 hours. It is common for a dog to take a break, sometimes lasting several hours between each delivery. The day after all the puppies are born, make an appointment with your veterinarian to examine the bitch and the litter.

Breeding is a science and art. To insure that only the best of each breed is promulgated, it should only be undertaken after thorough consideration.