When you are breeding a dog there are pregnancy issues that can come up. You will know if the dog needs help because there will be a number of warning signs. Much like humans, the canine mother needs to keep up with her nutrition. You should feed the expectant mother a high quality puppy food. This will give them the protein she needs. This is a very crucial element in the pregnancy. If for some reason you discover your dog is not eating or drinking it, is time to go to the vet. Improper nutrition may be an indication of a serious problem. However, if your dog is getting proper nutrition there still could be other problems.
Know What to Look For
Of course as with the human mother, the dog should be checked for any bleeding. If your dog is bleeding see the vet right away. He will check to see whether or not she has a uterine infection. This is nothing to fool around with. It could end up being fatal to the mother. You certainly don’t want to lose your dog.
You should prepare a spot for your dog to give birth in. The area should be clean and disinfected. It should also be easy to clean. Try to use an area that is not carpeted. Your dog may even show you where she wants to go as she usually keeps going to where she is relaxed. Once you have determined the spot you can have a box there for her. Also have plenty of towels around. Make sure the mother has plenty of water. After the puppies are born you can use a clean playpen for them. This way the mother can stay with the puppies, feed them and have some time away.
If everything is going well and you are getting near delivery you may want to start monitoring the mothers temperature. Write down your results so you can tell if there is a significant drop. If there is a drop in the temperature your dog may be going into labor.
Not Nine Months
Dogs are usually pregnant for nine weeks. If this is surpassed and it goes past 65 days she may need help. Once again canine mothers may need to be induced like human mothers counterparts. Unfortunately, when you get to the vet you may find out that the puppies are no longer alive.
If you know how many puppies your dog is having, you will be able to tell if there are any problems. If she does not give birth to all of them and is having problems, which is a sign that you must return to the vet. He may be able to deliver the rest of the pups.
The best case scenario will have your dog doing everything herself. It comes natural for her. However, make sure that you have your vets phone number handy in case anything goes wrong. There are some issues he can help you with over the phone. If the issue is more significant he will have you bring her to the office.