Pregnancy Calendar for Dogs

This information gathered from http://www.schaferhund.com/pregnancy.htm

 

Sire:

Skipper

Dam:

Alda

Thu 7 Oct 2004

  • First day of mating.

  • 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilization taking place.

  • The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix

Fri 8 Oct 2004
  • Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.

Fri 8 Oct 2004 -
Sat 9 Oct 2004
  • Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.

Sat 9 Oct 2004 -
Sun 10 Oct 2004
  • Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Sun 10 Oct 2004 -
Tue 12 Oct 2004
  • Fertilized eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns.

  • The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos.

  • During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocystes.

Mon 18 Oct 2004 -
Wed 20 Oct 2004
  • The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.

Mon 18 Oct 2004 -
Sun 31 Oct 2004
  • The blastocystes will grow into an embryos.

  • During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.

Thu 21 Oct 2004 -
Thu 28 Oct 2004
  • Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge.

  • The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.

Wed 27 Oct 2004 -
Tue 2 Nov 2004
  • Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time.

  • Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help.

  • Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.

Sun 31 Oct 2004 -
Thu 4 Nov 2004
  • An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant.

  • It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.

Wed 3 Nov 2004
  • Start to increase the dams food ration.

  • Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided.

  • The foetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs.

Tue 9 Nov 2004
  • The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.

Fri 19 Nov 2004
  • It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.

Mon 22 Nov 2004 -
Tue 30 Nov 2004
  • Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming.

  • Her breasts become even more swollen.

  • She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.

Wed 24 Nov 2004
  • The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies.

  • It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day.

  • You can easily detect abdominal movement now.

Wed 24 Nov 2004 -
Thu 9 Dec 2004
  • Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.

Sat 4 Dec 2004 -
Tue 7 Dec 2004
  • Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.

Sun 5 Dec 2004
  • You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.

Wed 8 Dec 2004
  • Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees.

  • Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.

Thu 9 Dec 2004
  • Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.
 

Schaferhund.Com the German Shepherd Information Source
http://www.schaferhund.com/pregnancy.htm

      
 

<Back to Pregnancy webpage

      
  Website links
- Guide Dogs for the Blind Breeding Program
- Contra Costa East Guide Dog Raisers
- University of Cal article about being a Breeder Keeper		      
           
  website updated on Oct 9, 2004        
 
 
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