dog pregnancy

At what age can you knit a dog?

You can knit a dog when it reaches 2 – 2,5 years. If the bitch is older than 4 – 5 years, pregnancy and childbirth may be associated with complications. 

Pregnancy for dog health – fact or myth?

“Pregnancy for health” is one of the most dangerous myths!

 Pregnancy is not a healing process. This is a strong stress and burden on the immune system and internal organs. Therefore, only a perfectly healthy dog ​​should give birth.

How is the dog’s pregnancy going?

Typically, a dog’s pregnancy lasts 63 days. The maximum run-up is from 53 to 71 days, in which case the puppies are born viable.

1. At an early stage (the first 3 weeks after mating) it is impossible to determine if the bitch is pregnant.
2. At the 4th week, with the help of ultrasound, you can estimate the approximate number of puppies.
3. At the 5th week, the sides become more prominent (sometimes the sign is absent until the 7th week), the skin of the nipples becomes lighter.
4. Puppies can be felt at 6 weeks. After that, the size of the fruit increases, the nipples become softer and larger.

It is better if the veterinarian conducts palpation, you can damage the fruits yourself, especially in dogs of small breeds.

 During pregnancy, the dog should move, but not overwork. The expectant mother should not be disturbed without extreme necessity, make long trips by car or public transport, keep in a noisy cramped room. If during pregnancy the dog’s condition suddenly changed, she began to refuse food, her temperature rose, or discharge from the genitals appeared, you should contact your veterinarian. The second half of the dog’s pregnancy may be characterized by slight mucous discharge. The discharge becomes abundant, yellowish or greenish – which means that the birth is approaching. 1 – 2 days before the birth, the dog begins to worry, whine, lick the genitals, scratch the walls or floor. Pulse, respiration, urination become more frequent. The dog refuses food and constantly drinks.