pregency

Question
how can you tell if a dog is going to have puppies

Answer
Hi Carol!Here is some more information!

If the dog becomes pregnant the gestation time is 58-63 days.

Signs of pregnancy include increased appetite, enlarged nipples, after 30 days she will start to get a little fatter, less activity after about 30 days.  Two weeks after breeding she may experience morning sickness. It can last a week or so. Give her saltene crackers before she gets out of bed and a few throughout the day

In the 4th week you may notice thickening of her sides, between her ribs and hip bone.  She may start to show any time after 5 weeks. Larger breeds may carry the pups up in her rib cage so it might not be so easy to notice.  Most dogs show at 6-7 weeks. You may notice a normal discharge somewhere in the last couple of weeks. The discharge is clear and has the consistency of thick vaseline and is oderless.
If you notice a discharge that is green or bloody and fowl smelling see a vet.

In the 8th week you can feel the puppies kick and turn around. If you own a stethoscope you can hear heartbeats in the 8th week. It sounds like short quick tic,tic,tic,tic,tic.

In the 9th week her belly will start to change shape. It appears to lay lower to the ground. This is caused from the pups lining up in the uterine horns. In a human is called when the belly drops. By the 9th you should have started recording her temperature, and have all your whelping supplies on hand. Her bed needs to be ready for the big day.

During the pregnancy, encourage the mother to be as active as normal. She isnt really in a delicate condition. By running and keeping fit, she will be much more capable to handle a long, drawn out labor.

Pregnant and nursing dogs have very different nutritional needs than normal adult dogs. In fact, nursing is the most nutritionally challenging period a dog will ever encounter. There are special considerations for the feeding and care of these dogs.

For the first six or seven weeks, food intake shouldn't be that much higher than normal. Between weeks six and seven, the female's weight will increase. At this time, put out 25 percent more food.
In week nine, her appetite may slip or disappear. This is often a sign that the babies will be born in the next day or two. Be sure to consult a book or your vet on what behaviors or events to expect and what signs signal trouble.

After the puppies are born comes the most nutritionally challenging time of the dog's life: lactation. Expect her diet to steadily increase over the next 20 to 30 days as the puppies grow and nurse more.

By the time the first month is through, the mother may be eating two to four times the amount of food she ate before pregnancy. Give her all she wants and encourage her to eat by moistening the food.

In the third or fourth week, the puppies will probably start nibbling at her dish, which is a good way to introduce them to solid food.

I hope this helps more!
Nicole.D.