Tips for Responsible Dog Breeding A Comprehensive Look at Pregnancy, Whelping, and Caring for Mom & Pups After Birth
By AKC Staff
An ideal whelping environment is warm, dry, quiet, draft-free, and away from all other dogs when possible. Confinement and whelping location of your bitch is relative to her breed and size. A good whelping box is roomy and has low sides so you can easily reach in. It should also have a small shelf or roll bars running halfway up along the sides so the pups have something to crawl under to avoid getting rolled on by the bitch. Many breeders prefer to line the box with newspapers until after delivery because paper can be changed quickly when it becomes soiled. After whelping, newspapers are typically replaced with non-skid bath mats, outdoor carpeting, or something else that provides better footing for the puppies.
Pregnancy and Whelping Preparation
should be increased gradually, so that at the time of whelping she may be eating 35 to 50 percent more than usual. As her weight and food intake increase, begin offering small, frequent meals to spare her the discomfort that larger meals can cause, especially in a small dog. If you have been feeding your bitch a well- balanced, high-quality diet, you should not need to add anything to her food during her pregnancy. However, some breeders advocate supplementation with a protein source such as evaporated milk, eggs, meat, or liver. These supplements should never represent more than 10 percent of the bitch’s daily food intake. Accustom Your Bitch to the Whelping Box It is a good idea to build a whelping box well in advance so the bitch has time to become accustomed to it. Unless you have already accustomed her to a whelping box, she may choose your closet or another inappropriate place for a delivery room.
Watch for Signs of Pregnancy Canine gestation lasts approximately 63 days. Signs of pregnancy include an increase in appetite, weight, and nipple size. However, a bitch with false pregnancy may also show these signs. A veterinarian can usually confirm a pregnancy through abdominal palpitation at 28 days, or by using ultrasound or X-rays. Once pregnancy is confirmed, you should talk to your vet about special feeding requirements and what to expect during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. You should also be briefed on how to recognize and respond to an emergency. Provide Proper Nutrition for Your Pregnant Bitch A female dog (bitch) in good condition should continue into pregnancy with the same caloric intake that she had during adult maintenance. Her food intake should be increased only as her body weight increases, beginning about the last five weeks before whelping. Daily food intake
Suggested Whelping Supplies:
Newspaper Bedding for bitch and puppies; line whelping box before, during, and after whelping Bath Mats Bedding for bitch and puppies after whelping Clean Towels Clean puppies during whelping Paper Towels Clean up the whelping area Thermostat Check bitch’s temperature prior to whelping Un-waxed Dental Floss Tying puppies’ umblicial cords Heating Pad Keep puppies warm. Be sure that it does not get too hot. Scissors Cut puppies’ umbilical cords or the placenta Iodine After umbilical cord is cut (either by
Missouri Pet Breeders Association | Page 47
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