The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs should have quality food and rations should be increased in proportion with the approaching date of the delivery. The phrase “in proportion” is quite crucial in this case, since an overweight female dog may have issues during delivery.
Nourishment
If you’re using a quality pet food, it isn’t necessary to change it in any way during the pregnancy. Only at its very end, which is from about two weeks up to ten days before the planned delivery, it is appropriate to transfer the female to the food that you then want to feed to the puppies. On one hand, foods intended for puppies contain greater amount of nutrients that will help the puppies in the uterus to finish growing, and on the other, these nutrients will come in handy for the female during nursing. Not in the least, after the lactation is over, the puppies will get used to the pet food that bears a familiar scent and taste more easily.
A female dog at a higher stage of pregnancy should be rather fed several times a day with smaller rations, since growing puppies in the uterus may repress other organs in the abdominal cavity including the digestive tract and logically, then it can only hold smaller amount of food at one time.
Exercise
Immediately after mating, the female dog should have a more relaxed regimen. The fertilized eggs aren’t quite firmly attached in the uterus yet and as a result, they are vulnerable. About three weeks from the mating, it isn’t appropriate for the bitch to jump excessively or to engage in any more extreme physical frolicking. However, this does not mean that you should lock her inside. Regular walks are naturally ok. After the stated three weeks have passed, the female can be put under normal stress.
As the term of delivery is getting closer and the female is getting rounder, the walks are becoming more demanding for her. The female is slower, less agile and she doesn’t feel like frolicking as much. She should avoid e.g. running up and down the stairs or jumping and other activities where she could be threatened by a fall or an injury.
Preparation for the delivery
About two weeks before the end of pregnancy, the female starts getting ready for the delivery. She seeks calm places, her mammary glands are getting bigger, she drinks more and she needs to pee more often. Few days before the delivery, the female may show signs of nervousness and she may show lesser interest in food. Immediately before the delivery, she may refuse to go out, she wants to be with her master, she may start digging and preparing the bed for the delivery of the puppies. I am going to write more on how such a delivery looks like and what you should know about it in one of the future articles :-).
If you’re using a quality pet food, it isn’t necessary to change it in any way during the pregnancy. Only at its very end, which is from about two weeks up to ten days before the planned delivery, it is appropriate to transfer the female to the food that you then want to feed to the puppies. On one hand, foods intended for puppies contain greater amount of nutrients that will help the puppies in the uterus to finish growing, and on the other, these nutrients will come in handy for the female during nursing. Not in the least, after the lactation is over, the puppies will get used to the pet food that bears a familiar scent and taste more easily.
A female dog at a higher stage of pregnancy should be rather fed several times a day with smaller rations, since growing puppies in the uterus may repress other organs in the abdominal cavity including the digestive tract and logically, then it can only hold smaller amount of food at one time.
According to some estimates, around 5-10 percent of all dogs can be partially or completely deaf. Apparently, dogs with white coats are more prone to deafness. Even though it does not affect only older dogs, it is not a topic that is often discussed....
Nowadays, it is common for town cats as well as village cats to be castrated. The reasons are understandable and people have fortunately moved away from the old-fashioned tradition of drowning kittens. But what to expect from castration, especially in...
It is said that a dog is a man's best friend Recent research therefore tends to focus on how dogs think and what they perceive during specific moments. The diversity of their thinking is based on the fact that dogs have gradually become involved in...
Fetching is a favourite activity for many dogs. Some dogs have it in their genes. Others must be shown how it is done before they start enjoying it. As with all other commands, positive motivation and rewarding are important. How to go about it?
The Czech Republic had the honour of taking on the host role and providing a venue for the World Dog Show organised for exhibitors, breeders and dog breed enthusiasts. It was agreed among the visitors that the event was successful. As a venue for the...
Do you find it hard to decide when there's so much to choose from? If you're like me, it's best to try out the harness first before you buy it for your four-legged friend. Today, the selection of dog harnesses is truly varied. There are harnesses for...
Autumn is here. And with it comes the flu season. Colds and other ailments associated with this time of the year do not only affect people, but also their four-legged friends. Especially widespread and highly dangerous in case of non-treatment is the...
Breed registry, pedigree, bonitation, bonitation card or bonitation commission, exterior, breeding certification - these are all terms that you will inevitably encounter if you want to have a 'certified' dog, namely a dog with a pedigree. What...
These little creatures, which we have adopted as full-fledged pets, the same as cats and dogs, are much more interesting than seems at first glance. What are the five peculiarities associated with the most numerous order of mammals, which every...
Gastric torsion is the nightmare of all dog owners. According to statistics, in three out of five cases gastric torsion happens at night. This is a very serious illness with a mortality rate of 30-40 percent. In order to prevent gastric torsion, it's...
The events of recent weeks have reaffirmed the importance of cynologists in rescue teams. The rescuers' four-legged partners help search not only in rubble after natural disasters but also track missing or injured persons in inaccessible terrain. Now...
How to give first aid to your pet? We often don't find out until something happens. Fortunately, there are more and more courses for complete laypersons. During these specialized seminars or webinars, owners of four-legged friends can find out the...
