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Dog Pregnancy: Everything you need to know

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Barking Mad Dog Care’s guide to dog pregnancy

Dogs For Good Puppies With Mum Brenda

Dogs for Good brood bitch Brenda with her litter of gorgeous puppies, one of which has grown up to be our sponsor dog in training, Prince

 

At Barking Mad, the UK’s leading dog sitting service provider, we are understandably very interested in all stages of a dog’s life cycle! We get very excited about about the pitter patter of tiny paws and decided to compile a guide to the fascinating topic of dog pregnancy. The creation of adorable, little bundles of fluff, who have the power to light up human lives with their capacity for love and devotion, is just incredible! Read on to discover more…

When can a dog become pregnant?

The time when a female dog can become pregnant is known as either a ‘season’, ‘heat’ or ‘oestrus’. Unspayed female dogs usually come into heat twice yearly. This normally lasts for three weeks but this can differ from dog to dog. Seasons usually begin when a dog is aged between 6-36 months but this can vary enormously.

It is advisable to have your dog checked by a vet if you are worried that they have not started their seasons by the usual time suggested for their breed. Dogs can’t get pregnant when they are not in season, although sperm can lie dormant inside their reproductive system for a week.

How long does dog pregnancy last?

Female dogs usually give birth around 63 days after conception. This can vary between 56-70 days, depending on the exact time of fertilisation in relation to mating.

What are the signs of dog pregnancy?

If your dog is expecting, you might not see any noticable changes until later on in the pregnancy. However, here are symptoms which your dog may display:

Early pregnancy symptoms

 

Later pregnancy symptoms

Can you get a home dog pregnancy test?

Unlike humans, who can just pop out and buy a home pregnancy testing kit from a chemist or supermarket, dogs need to have their pregnancy confirmed by a vet. You should try to give the vet your best estimate of the time of mating, because methods of confiming a dog pregnancy are time sensitive. Your vet may use a hormone test, an ultra-sound or a physical examination, involving palpating your dog’s abdomen.

What should dog owners consider when thinking about breeding from their dog?

The decision of if and when you should breed from your dog is not always a straightforward one. Here are some points you should consider:

Here is a dog pregnancy information page from Vet 4 Life which you may also find useful.

How can I avoid dog pregnancies?

If you are sure that you do not wish your dog to have puppies, you may wish to consider neutering or ‘spaying’. Spaying is a process where female dogs are surgically prevented from reproducing. The Blue Cross offers advice on neutering here.

The birth process

Although you should interfere as little as possible, it’s very important to be with your dog whist she is giving birth. You can support her and step in if there are any problems. Labour normally lasts 3-12 hours, and happens in three stages:

First stage

Your dog will show ‘nesting’ behaviour, may become picky about food and will experience a drop in body temperature. This may last for up to 24 hours.

Second stage

Your dog will start to strain. If this lasts for more than two hours, contact your vet immediately. There will be discharge and the presentation of a round membrane sac of water. The birth of the first puppy is usually about half an hour afterwards.

Third stage

Each puppy is enclosed in a sac which is part of the placenta or afterbirth. It is usually broken at birth and passed after each puppy is born. Your dog will usually chew at the umbilical cord and break it about an inch from each puppy.

What should I do to prepare for my dog giving birth?

  1. Build your dog a nest – Make sure that your dog has a private place to relax and give birth in. A good choice could be a large cardboard box lined with puppy pads and clean bedding. Adding your dog’s own (clean) toys and bedding can encourage her to use it.
  2. Know the signs of labour and what to look out for during birth – Talk to your vet beforehand and read up on what you can do to help if intervention is required.
  3. Be organised – Have your vet’s emergency number to hand as dogs often give birth at night. You will also need to ensure that you have transport available, should you need to take your dog to the vet’s practice during labour. Organise essentials such as clean, dry towels and nail scissors, well in advance. It is also a good idea to have microwavable bean bags on hand to provide warmth, if you have to move any puppies away from their mum.

 

  1. Barking Mad Dog Care have compiled a dog pregnancy guide with everything you need to know

    Are you ready for the pitter patter of tiny paws?

 

We love puppies at Barking Mad Dog Care!

If you are considering getting a puppy, or keeping one from your own dog’s litter, have you thought about what will happen when you want to go away on holiday? Once they have had all their vaccinations and made progress with house training, we will be happy to consider placing them with one of our experienced host families.

Every puppy is different and we would need to make sure that we have suitable host availability for your chosen dates. With this in mind, we would recommend that you don’t leave registering your puppy with Barking Mad’s dog sitting service until the last minute. Why not find your local branch and have a chat to them about your new furry friend today?

Please note:
Barking Mad, the UK’s leading home dog boarding provider, assumes no liability for the content of this page. This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet and is only intended as a guide. Please contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health – even if they are closed, they will always have an out of hours service available.

 

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