All about Pregnancy
wPregnancy lasts for about 63 days on average but the length of gestation depends not only on the bitch and when she was mated, but also on the breed. Some breeds have a tendency for a longer, or shorter gestation period.
wFifty-seven to 68 days is considered to be a normal range. It is possible to determine pregnancy from as early as 28 days by careful palpation of the abdomen.
wAt this stage, the foetuses feel like golf balls. From 35 days, these structures will be less easily felt as their weight pulls them down into the abdomen and after this time it may not be possible for another 2-3 weeks to determine whether the bitch is pregnant.
wThe growth rate of the foetus is very slow for the first 6 weeks, but after this stage should become increasingly rapid. This should allow you to tell if the bitch is pregnant, but again it has been known for bitches not to'show' until a week before they are due, when they seem to expand overnight!
wUltrasound by your vet is an accurate way to determine whether a bitch is pregnant or not but, although it is possible to see the puppies at about 3 weeks, partial reabsorption of the litter may occur and you may not get as many puppies as you thought.
Antenatal Care
wYour bitch should be treated as normal for the first few weeks. After this time, the amount of food should be gradually increased so she is having about 1 1/2 times as much as usual by the time of whelping. It is also advisable to split the food into several smaller meals throughout the day.
wDuring mating or prior to mating, the bitch should be given a booster vaccination. This will raise the amount of maternal antibodies that she will pass to her puppies in the colostrum or first milk.
wShe should also be treated with a good quality wormer to prevent the transmission of roundworm from across the placenta into the developing foetuses. See my article on worms.
wIt is essential that your bitch is given gentle exercise right up to the time of whelping so that she can retain the muscle strength necessary for a straightforward birth.
wFrom about 6 weeks, as we would in humans, you can give your bitch raspberry leaf supplement morning and night and from 8 weeks, you can give Caulophyllum thalictroides twice daily. Both these supplements are claimed to allow a more straightforward whelping as the Caulophyllum is a homeopathic oxytocin.
wYour bitch's pregnancy may continue past the 66 day range (from the progesterone hormone levels measured from a blood test ). A daily ultrasound examination at your vet can determine the level of foetal stress and together you can decide whether a caesarean section is needed or not if you are very concerned.
wUsing a stethoscope on your bitch's abdomen around this time, allows you to determine foetal distress by listening to their heart beats. Normal foetal heart rates are between 175-200 per minute. Stressed heart rates will drop. Rates below 150 mean that you need immediate surgical intervention by your vet .
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