For those people who have a dog as a pet, it is very clear to them that it not only represents a domestic animal that accompanies them, but also a protector, a real friend, however, they do not know the care that should be given to it. Some of those questions are how long does a pregnant dog last, or when she may be stressed and even when she is sick.
Knowing the time of pregnancy of a dog
The gestation time in bitches covers a time interval close to two months, being on average around 63 days and two limit margins of 56 and 66. It is not possible, therefore, to indicate a precise date, although being close to 60 days is when the owners and the veterinarian should be warned. Certain female dogs will conceive days before and without a doubt those that gestate numerous offspring, and others will be delayed without leading to the existence of any pathology.
In any case, after a few days of the date indicated by the specialist, as more accurate for the birth, constant communication with him is necessary, mainly if a certain particular behavior is seen in the bitch or the eradication of some suppuration in the region of her vulva. Now, wanting to know how long a dog is expecting to conceive, it is vital to go to the vet to perform an ultrasound and after the examination, schedule a close date of pregnancy.
A quite notorious fact in this process is that the symptoms of a pregnant dog do not usually appear immediately, so it is not so easy to predict exactly what stage of the pregnancy it is. One of the tests that the specialist will carry out to calculate the real time of the dog's pregnancy, according to the stage of pregnancy in which it is found, turns out to be abdominal palpation and an X-ray and ultrasound test.
Taking into account, in the form of a guideline, it can be said that, towards the middle of the pregnancy time, that is, close to 30 days, the female dog would begin to express the symptoms, starting with a slight increase in the abdomen. As the days go by and her belly grows, it will be easy to notice the movements of the embryos through manual evaluation.
Their mammary glands do not usually expand until the time of birth is close to being, which is why it may manifest at the end of this process. Under this concept, if the dog exhibits a bulging abdomen but the breasts have not yet, it can be predicted or assumed that her pregnancy is between weeks 4 and 8 more accurately, although it is not an exact science.
Feeding a pregnant dog
It is essential, after knowing how long does a dog's pregnancy last, be informed about the correct foods to give her in that circumstance, starting with the fact that formulated foods for adult dogs do not give her the extra components that the bitch needs throughout pregnancy, so, in effect, they will seek to silver and carry out certain changes in your diet so that it is properly nourished.
In order for the bitch to remain as strong, happy and healthy as possible throughout her pregnancy, she will need additional support with energy and protein, which can be found in a common formula used with puppies. It is recommended to gradually modify the feeding of the bitch for a high quality compound for puppies, close to week 4 of gestation, giving it to her gradually during a time interval that goes from 7 to 10 days.
It is vital to continue this new compound long after the bitch has given birth and her litter has stopped sucking on the teats. Another important factor to consider in the feeding of the bitch, will correspond in turn to her current physical state, considering the health problems that currently afflict her or that she has suffered from some time ago, and it is advisable to consult the veterinarian beforehand.
In the same way as a woman, bitches are capable of experiencing dizziness and vomiting during pregnancy in the first weeks of gestation, recommending having enough time for the body to adapt, moments before the eating habit is affected. At the beginning of the fifth week of pregnancy, you can increase your portions a little more each week until you theoretically reach a third more than the normal portion at week 9.
At this point, the female's weight will increase by 25%, which is completely normal, and may even increase somewhat more if she is expecting large progeny. Care must be taken that the mother consumes plenty of water, which is as vital as providing the proper diet, especially if she is fed only dry and bland food.
As mentioned above, staying hydrated is essential to maintaining health throughout your pregnancy; In this way, you must always have enough clean water at your disposal, not preventing you from accessing it, especially in the last stages of pregnancy, placing some containers with water at your disposal in the places of the house where you like it. frequent mostly.
Essential care for a pregnant dog
When the question is answered about how long does a pregnant dog last, so that it can be a completely successful stage, it is good to take into consideration certain essential tasks regarding the care that should be given with some frequency, mentioning among them that the diet should be improved and replaced by one for pregnant females and for puppies, since in this phase bitches need to consume more nutrients.
Beyond the Dog breeds existing, which does not keep any exceptions, if the female dog is not dewormed, it is suggested that she be given a product for both external and internal harmful agents, but always according to the specialist's suggestion. It often happens that the caretaker does not know if she is capable of deworming a pregnant dog, the answer being positive.
It is recommended not to apply any medication without prior consultation with this professional, according to the fact that certain drugs can be harmful instead of beneficial, generating fatal consequences, such as fetal malformations. In general, leading a quiet life, with moderate exercise to prevent overweight and an excellent diet form the basis for a pregnancy without serious consequences. Close to the last few weeks, sudden activities should be avoided.
Stages and symptoms in a dog's pregnancy
For fertilization to take place, it is convenient for the bitch to be in heat, since it is at that moment that changes take place in her body, all with the aim of ensuring the implantation and development of the embryos. All these changes are not going to be perceived by us humans, except for a slight increase in weight, until the pregnancy is in a more advanced period. Some bitches show some symptoms such as nausea by the third week of gestation, they will vomit from time to time and lose their appetite for a few days.
After the first month of a dog's pregnancy, it may happen that the nipples darken and change their shape and size, as well as their abdomen, which will be more or less evident depending on the constitution of the dog. Discharge may also appear in the breasts, which will be enlarged. When the due date approaches, we can notice that the dog is looking for a place to make the nest, she stops eating and is restless.
Veterinary recommendations for the pregnancy of a female dog
Veterinary care should not be taken for granted. As soon as it is determined or there is a slight suspicion that the female dog is pregnant, it is time to attend the clinic. Indeed, in addition to being able to solve the problems, the specialist can carry out a general investigation in order to verify that there is no obvious problem. If there is any deworming pending, the owner may apply it when she believes it is appropriate.
On the other hand, you can request an appointment for an ultrasound. By the time it reaches the third week, the puppies can be observed; the main feature of the viviparous animals and of mammals, is that their fetus can develop inside the mother. This data, which is collected by means of an X-ray after a month and a half, is important to understand if the delivery has ended.
Moments before the proposed date of delivery, another consultation should be made. The specialist, and also the owners, at this moment, can notice the movement of the pups just by placing their hands on the abdomen. It is an excellent time for you to solve doubts about the delivery and to record the number of veterinary problems, just in case.
The minimum necessary visits must be made. There will be times when the veterinarian deems it convenient to carry out a more rigorous control, for example, if he perceives any difficulty or in small or brachycephalic breeds, because both may be in trouble at the time of delivery since the heads of the puppies At certain times, they are larger than your pelvis, which can even make natural birth impossible, requiring a cesarean section.
Pregnancy test for dogs
Today, there are various pregnancy tests for dogs available on the market that are quite similar to those designed for humans, since urine is necessary to guarantee a result. However, if the purpose is to also carry out home tests to determine if your dog is pregnant, it should be known that the only tests available are to monitor the symptoms. As soon as, the most suitable thing is to visit the veterinarian before any suspicion to execute an ultrasound.
dog birth control
From a more general perspective, knowing how long is a dog's pregnancy female, it can be estimated that each one is capable of conceiving a couple of litters annually. At the present time, there are more dogs than homes willing to adopt them; It's about, in a rather exaggerated way, they end up dumped, killed or injured. In this regard, as part of a judicious behavior, mating must be controlled, that is, it must not be carried out constantly.
