Just like in pregnant humans and other mammals, pregnant Dogs need special considerations. And a pregnant Dog is as fragile as any other expecting animal on the planet.
During the early stages of a Dog's pregnancy, the signs are indistinct and unclear. But the most noticeable changes are the increase of nipple size, weight gain, loss of appetite, some vomiting and changes in normal behavior. Some pregnant Dogs may also become more affectionate and clingy.
A visit to the vet will let you know for certain if your pet dog is pregnant or not. As early as 26 days after a female dog is bred, a pregnancy test can already be performed. The method that vets use to test dog pregnancy is by means of a simple blood test that would look for a hormone known as relaxin. The said hormone will stay in the pregnant dog's bloodstream for the entire pregnancy until up to 14 days after whelping.
With the aid of an ultrasound, a vet can determine the number of puppies inside the mother dog's womb as well as their sizes. It is very helpful because it will prepare both the owner and the doctor of any possible complications during delivery.
The entire pregnancy usually lasts 63-65 days. And pregnant dogs often prefer to eat smaller amounts of food in more frequent intervals. The main reason is that the puppies inside the womb would take up the abdominal space resulting to lesser stomach space. It is important to provide pregnant dogs with a balanced diet to keep the mother dog healthy as well as the puppies.
If calcium supplements are given to pregnant women, it should be the opposite in pregnant dogs. Calcium supplements should be avoided to reduce the risk of eclampsia during the period when the mother dog will feed her little pups. Calcium supplements given during pregnancy will most likely prevent the body's ability to regulate calcium naturally. When this happens, her body would no longer be able to meet the puppies' demand for milk. Sometimes it would result to seizures and trembling, severe cases can even lead to death.
Exercise is also very important during pregnancy but it should not be exhausting for the pregnant dog. During the final days of the pregnancy you will know when to provide the dog with a whelping box by the time the bitch show signs of nesting behavior and become very restless. And the sure sign that the puppies are about to say hello to the world is when the mother dog's temperature drops.
To learn more about your dog, visit our dog information site.
Looking for a great dog lover gift? Visit http://gonedoggin.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment