Stages of Dog Pregnancy

Stages of dog pregnancy What you need to know before allowing your dog to mate BEFORE THE PREGNANCY 01 The process of mating and how to increase chances of fertilization MATING 02 What happens with the embrio during every stage of pregnancy PREGNANCY: WEEK 1 TO 9 03 Things to consider once the puppies are whelped 04 GIVING BIRTH - WHELPING GIVING BIRTH - WHELPING

01 Big Breeds Small Breeds 5 months 18 months – 2 years STAGE Be sure your dog is the right age BEFORE THE PREGNANCY Small Breeds Big Breeds 5 months 18 months – 2 years

Prepare Your Dog for Mating Have copies of all relevant medical information from both parties in advance Ensure the dog is mature and with a stable temperament Take advantage of genetic testing, with a particular focus on common breed issues  Have your dog assessed by a vet to ensure they are physically ready for pregnancy Optional testing for aesthetics, such as testing for the bobtail gene and coat color in order to match to an ideal mate Plan to have them give birth and stay afterwards Find an ideal mate, and ensure they have also had genetic testing done Be prepared for the first mate/mating not to be a success!

Once she is in heat, you will find their encounter can be quite quick STAGE 02 No guarantee that any two dogs will get on well enough to mate, but you can increase the chances in a few ways MATING Meet them for the first time on neutral ground to reduce territorial aggression Once she is in heat, you will find their encounter can be quite quick  Successful mating does not guarantee successful or instant fertilization. The sperm can survive for nearly a week, so it may take a while! 

Pregnancy lasts about 56 to 70 days depending on the breed STAGE 03 Pregnancy lasts about 56 to 70 days depending on the breed WEEK 1-9 At this stage the embryos embed in the lining of the uterus. Continue feeding and walking the dog normally, but monitor her for an increase in appetite. Week 3 It’s time to visit the vet to confirm the pregnancy. The structure of the basic eyeball is formed with the primitive cornea, lens and redtina in place. Legs and paws also begin to form. Week 4 This is still early days. Once out of heat, you can continue as usual with your dog – you can groom, feed and walk them exactly as you would if they were not pregnant. Week 1 Week 2 The first stage of gestation (embryogenesis) ends around day 35, and the second begins. At this point, the organs begin to form and it is now known as a ‘fetus’. Week 5 The fetus’ hair will start to appear and the skeleton will increase in solidity. At this stage, a vet checkup is vital to ensure no parasites are around – worms and similar issues can infect the puppies at birth, so you want to ensure that this will not be an issue. Week 7 Week 6 Day 42 is where it all starts to speed up, with your dog entering the third stage of gestation. This is also the final stage, and it’s where the fetus starts to look like a dog – the skeleton starts to become solid, claws grow and the weight gain increases. It’s very close now! Your dog will begin to seek out a quiet place to settle an nest, and may seem anxious and irritable. If she seems calm enough, you can begin to take her temperature regularly, as a drop of around 1°C/1.8°F on average means labor is likely to start. Week 9 By day 50 the fetus’ skeletons should have solidified completely. It is also around this point that your dog will begin lactating. Week 8

04 WHELPING Possible issues STAGE For some dogs, labor can be over in a few minutes – for some, it can be a matter of hours.  WHELPING Labor starting too early (before day 57) or too late (after day 68) Possible issues Puppies getting stuck in the birth canal Multiple puppies coming out at the same time Signs of distress from the mother Once they have delivered the first puppy, they should tear open the fetal sack. If they don’t, you can do this yourself whilst wearing disposable gloves. Make sure you wash your hands properly before and after!  It can take anything from minutes to hours for the rest of the puppies to follow, but it’s usually within 1 or 2 hours.

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