Birth Of Puppies

Keywords:
Puppy, birth, neuter, vaccines, brucellosis, gestation, nauseous pregnant, ultrasound, whelping, delivery, pant, appear restless, labor, placenta, green bubble, umbilical cord, dog

Birth Of Puppies

Birth Of Puppies

One of the high points to being a companion animal veterinarian is that initial examination of a new puppy. The owners are so happy and excited. The puppies are all cute little fur balls. It is a time of great potential. But with all of that being said, unless you are a professional breeder, I don't recommend allowing your pets to reproduce.

If you decide to allow your dog to become pregnant, a thorough physical examination before the breeding is just what the doctor ordered. She should be current on all of her vaccines and be free of internal and external parasites. Have your dog tested for the sexually transmitted disease, brucellosis.

Gestation, pregnancy will typically span 62 to 65 days. Morning sickness does affect some dogs. Your dog may be nauseous in the 3rd to 4th week of pregnancy. Swelling of breast tissue may be evident around 40 days after conception. A month after breeding, most veterinarians can palpate the growing puppies. It is always recommended to either have an x-ray or ultrasound performed on the expectant mother to assist in determining how many puppies to anticipate.

Nutrition is very important for the pregnant bitch. You will want to discuss what she should eat and how much with your veterinarian. Just as with human pregnancy, you need to monitor how much weight is gained.

Within a few days of whelping, delivering, your dog's breast tissue will swell and her mammary glands will fill with milk. This is the perfect time to construct a birthing box. A cardboard box will usually suffice. Line it with newspaper and clean linens or towels. Find a cozy spot away from curious spectators.

About 24 hours before she delivers, a bitch's body temperature will drop from its normal 101 to 102. 5 degrees Fahrenheit to 99 degrees.

A dog will have several stages to her labor. The first may last from 12 to 24 hours. She will pant, appear restless and may experience bowel upsets. The second stage is the actual birth of the puppies. Vaginal discharge precedes the birth. A puppy should be born within 1 hour after the commencement of strong abdominal contractions. If it is not born, take the bitch immediately to your veterinarian.

Puppies can be presented tail or face first. Shortly after its appearance, the bitch will pass the placenta. It will resemble a dark green bubble. The new mother often consumes it.

After the birth of each pup, the mother will lick it in order to clean it and to stimulate its breathing. She will also bite and sever the umbilical cord. All puppies should be born in within 24 hours. It is common for a dog to take a break, sometimes lasting several hours between each delivery. The day after all the puppies are born, make an appointment with your veterinarian to examine the bitch and the litter.

Breeding is a science and art. To insure that only the best of each breed is promulgated, it should only be undertaken after thorough consideration.

  Go back

Daily Pet News


Take caution when choosing a weight loss food for your fat cat
I’ve said before and I’ll say it again… An animal that is not overweight will live 30% longer than an overweight animal. So if you have a fat cat, do it a favor and put it on a diet. But before you do, know that 50% of weight control cat foods cannot do what they claim to do. The report from the American Veterinary Medical Association suggests that the best way to help your pet is to design a weight loss program with the help of your veterinarian.

Does the thunder roll your dog into a cold dark corner?
If your dog is like mine, then he crawls under the covers or into a cold dark space when the thunder rolls. Experts say the best way to battle these fears is with love and treats. The fear of loud booming noises usually develops as a puppy and can worsen with age. However, positive reinforcement such as petting your dog or offering a treat can help to rewire the circuit. That is, they will now associate the thunder with pleasant events, rather than fear of injury. Between storms, playing loud sounds and using positive reinforcement, can help to desensitize your pet to the real thing. If things do not improve, you can ask your veterinarian about anti-anxiety drugs.

Some foods that are toxic to dogs
Some foods that are considered healthy or harmless to humans can be toxic to dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends keeping these items away from your dogs… Alcohol, caffeine, garlic, onions, avocado, and chewing gum. It is also advisable to limit intake of salt and sugar.

Babies can read facial expressions in dogs
A study at Brigham Young University has concluded that human babies as young as six months can tell the difference between an angry growl and a friendly bark. The study included showing two different pictures of the same dog to the infants, all of which lived with dogs. One picture was an angry looking dog with a scowl. The other was a playful looking dog with a nice smile. When playing a recording of a growling dog, the subjects tended to stare at the picture of the angry dog. When playing audio of a playful bark, the infants then focused on the happy looking dog. A BYU professor said that emotion is one of the first things babies can pick up on in their social world. Pets, in turn, are also very aware of emotions of their surroundings.

Rabies enters Colorado neighborhoods
Rabies cases in Colorado are increasing and moving from rural to urban areas. Rabies is a deadly disease and is transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. It is most common amongst raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. The number of cases has nearly doubled compared to last year. Rabies is a major concern to all species including humans, especially if it spreads to domestic animals. Keeping your pets up to date on rabies vaccinations provides the best protection against the deadly virus.

Foxtail can pose a serious threat to your dog.
Cheatgrass or foxtail weeds can pose a danger to your dog. As they dry out, the weeds become sharp, like arrowheads, and can penetrate deep into a dog’s skin. If they are stuck, they can form serious infections. Either way, they cause severe pain. Foxtail weeds have been known to penetrate into blood vessels and even into the spinal cord when a dog rolls in them. Most commonly, the weeds are stepped on and thus penetrate deep into the pads of the feet. It is a good idea to always check your dog for foreign bodies after every walk or adventure into potentially dangerous areas.

Pets need blood transfusions too
Like humans, certain medical conditions in our pets may require blood transfusions. A healthy pet can safely donate several times per year to a local blood bank. In some programs such as the one offered at LSU, a pet who donates enough blood can qualify to receive blood for free, if needed. If you are interested in having your pet donate blood, check with your veterinarian for a location near you.

Further research is necessary to find out why cats are dying
Feline infectious peritonitis is one of the most devastating and least understood infectious diseases that affect cats. The disease is caused by a virus in the coronavirus family. However, while some cats develop the fatal disease, it is unknown why others don’t. There is no cure and treatment for the disease only helps to make the animal more comfortable. The virus is transmitted through fecal contact and can actually be inhaled. There is a vaccination for the virus, but it is often given to a kitten after they have already been exposed. Research is being done to help protect our pets from this terrible disease.

Yogi Bear may have rabies?
Yellowstone County remains under a rabies quarantine. The quarantine means that dogs, cats, and other pets must be vaccinated against rabies at least two weeks before being moved outside the county. Yellowstone has been under eight quarantines in the past two and half years. Montana’s state veterinarian says that this is the time of year that pet owners need to be vigilant and take extra precautions.

Tips on getting Marmaduke off your favorite couch
Does your dog like to relax on your favorite couch when you are not home? Here are a few tips. Number one, make sure you train your dog when you are home. He needs to understand that this is not acceptable. Always be consistent. Number two, while you are training, don’t allow your pet access to your furniture if you are not there to stop the behavior immediately. Number three, if you have trouble, there are products that can be sprayed on your furniture that are safe to both your pet and your furniture. These sprays produce an odor that repels your pet. Other products will vibrate or produce a loud noise if your pet comes in contact with the furniture. Always check with your veterinarian before using any products around your pets.