Pet Dogs Information

The gestation period differs in dogs from breed to breed. In the last two weeks of pregnancy an odorless vaginal discharge occurs. This indicates that it is time for the mother to be fed with puppy foods that are higher in calories and protein. If the vaginal discharge is accompanied by an odor its better to consult the veterinarian to check for any possible uterine infections.

A pregnent dog should never be fed with a diet high in fibers and less caloric density. During this period the diet should contain low fiber, high protein and high calorie, this works best for the dogs during this period. The requirement for proteins in a pregnant bitch is about 20% more than normal. In the later period that ranges from the fifth to sixth week, the requirent for energy density becomes quite essential for proper nourishment of the bitch along with the puppies inside her. The diet given to the bitch should be easy to digest. The lactation diet should be started at the start of the heat period so that the bitch gets adjusted to the dietary changes well in advance before she actually gets pregnant.

The caloric intake of the bitch should only be increased in the fifth to sixth week of the pregnancy and during the last three weeks of pregnancy several small meals a day are easier to assimilate by the bitches. Until the delivery, the amount of food should be gradually increased from 25% to 50%. During pregnancy the body weight of the dogs increases only by 15% to 25% and if the bitch gains weight beyond this, the bitch may be accounted as overweight. Immediately after delivery, the body weight of the bitch should not be more than 10% over the normal body weight, while vitamin supplements may be deeded, calcium supplement is not necessary in case the bitch is fed with a good quality commercial diet. If the bitch faces nutritional deficiencies, it may result in uterine inertia problems during delivery of puppies.

Bitches which are overweight have more problems delivering puppies. The case is similar in case of a severely underweight bitch. It is better to keep necessary information about the accurate gestation processes and stages of labor for the particular dog breed at hand. The body temperature of the bitche should be measured twice during the last week of pregnancy and in case it drops to 99 degrees Fahrenheit or less, labor should ideally begin within 24 hours of the drop in temperature. The drop is followed by nesting behavior, uterine contractions on a minute level, panting, restlessness and a decrease in appetite in the first stage that lasts less than than 24 hours. In the second stage we see hard contractions which should not go on for more than an hour without a puppy being delivered. This gets repeated for each puppy delivery. The third stage indicates that, the delivery time between th puppies should not exceed 4 hours, and after the last puppy, other fetal membranes are expelled out of the body after some rest.
 

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