| Just like human females, your dog has a pregnancy | | | | will have a visibly enlarged tummy, although there are |
| schedule, and a uterine calendar that can pinpoint | | | | some dogs - especially those giving birth to just a |
| which pregnancy stage she is in according to her | | | | few - whose abdomen won't enlarge noticeably. For |
| body's symptoms. | | | | these dogs, the pregnancy stage where they are |
| In a dog's first pregnancy stage, for example, when | | | | showing is about one week long. Dogs who deliver a |
| she is in the first two weeks of since copulation, the | | | | great number of puppies tend to deliver them |
| dog's nipples start to enlarge. When you notice this | | | | prematurely. |
| phenomenon your dog should see a veterinarian, to | | | | In general, your dog can deliver her own puppies |
| determine if there is a pregnancy and if so what | | | | without the intervention of a veterinarian. There are |
| pregnancy stage she is in. | | | | exceptions to this, of course, and it's important to be |
| The veterinarian will be able to tell if puppies have | | | | able to know what these exceptions are and when |
| been conceived just by feeling the dog's stomach. | | | | they are occurring. |
| Just as with human pregnancy tests, the dog's | | | | You should call the vet if your dog has been carrying |
| pregnancy or lack of it can be verified through a | | | | the puppies for more than 65 days, or has been |
| blood test. Of course, the pregnancy stage for a | | | | having contractions for more than two hours without |
| canine is shorter than that of humans because dogs | | | | delivering any puppies. If your dog has given birth to |
| give birth only sixty three to sixty five days after | | | | a puppy or puppies but not all, and now three hours |
| conception. | | | | have elapsed since the last birth, call the vet. This is |
| Each pregnancy stage for a dog, therefore, is only | | | | especially crucial if you see your dog pushing and |
| about 21 days long as compared with a woman's | | | | putting in a lot of effort. If your dog is very tired and |
| pregnancy trimester of three months. In the dogs | | | | her contractions are so slight that they don't bring on |
| sixth week of pregnancy her need for nutrition will | | | | delivery you should call the vet. |
| increase as will her appetite. At this point she is truly | | | | Once your dog has advanced to the stage of |
| eating for several little ones including herself, and | | | | pregnancy where she has given birth you'll need to |
| should be fed more food accordingly. Her food | | | | step in to give some care to the newborns. It's |
| consumption will increase approximately 50 percent | | | | important that the babies have heat. A puppy crib is |
| over what she normally consumes. It is very | | | | ideal, somewhere away from any circulating air. As |
| important that her diet be balanced. For this you | | | | puppies are still being delivered those that have been |
| should take the advice of your veterinarian. | | | | born can be pushed towards their mom for warmth |
| A dog that is going to have a litter of many puppies | | | | and comfort. |