The normal duration of pregnancy in females 63 days, the small breeds - usually 60 days. Puppies are viable if born between 53 and 71 days after mating. The earlier of the estimated delivery date passed, the less viable pups. If puppies are not born in time, the reason probably is that the conception occurred much later than the owner thinks. If the female mated three times, the difference in days between the first and last bindings can make a week, and pregnancy could well begin only after the third mating. Conversely, the binding could be assigned too late and already the first of these fertilized eggs mature past, more than they already were not, but admit to himself dog female could a few more days. These puppies can be born much earlier than expected owner of the bitch.


 False pregnancy should not be confused with the invalid. False pregnancy - a physiological state of females that had not been bred, but is showing signs of pregnancy. Such a state is more common in females with an irregular breeding activity than breeding females in uniform during the life of the load. When a false pregnancy in bitches come all the signs, as if she is really going to whelp. Two months after the mid-estrus she may begin preparing a nest, and will have a condition similar to labor pains. But in the end to the misery females, especially if she has a lot of milk, it turns out that puppies do not. Bitch will probably require treatment sedatives, which may prescribe a veterinarian. After a while she'll be back to normal, but if it is tied to the next estrus, it would bring a normal litter of puppies. 

 Cause a false pregnancy is excessive or uneven allocation of a specific hormone. Normally, this hormone is produced in large quantities only after fertilization during mating. But sometimes the phenomenon of false pregnancy is associated with inflammation and accumulation of pus in the uterus, such as meters or pyometra. 

 Cancelled Pregnancy 

 Sometimes tied bitch has all the signs of normal flows of pregnancy, suddenly, about a month after mating, puppies, "resolve". But signs of pregnancy does not disappear, and that the puppy will not know the owner will not soon. Sometimes incorrectly called a state of "false pregnancy", although it is true it would say "failed" because the first term refers to the bitch that has signs of pregnancy without being tied. 

 Normal pregnancy 

 In the early stages it is impossible to determine whether a bitch to have puppies or not, neither in appearance nor in the probing. 

 It is possible that the first signs appear not to change the physical state and behavior of females. Very often, after mating female is calmer, gentler, and sometimes looks like a bit unhealthy. A more precise definition, with the puppies a bitch or not, largely depends on the breed, body shape, from the first is a litter or a female has had puppies, and often on the magnitude of dung. Some females remain a secret until the last day. 

 A normal pregnancy at 21-22 day a man with delicate fingers, who knows where and what to look for, can both sides of the abdomen females find tiny solid roundish lumps. By 24 day, these clumps get bigger and be felt up to 35 days. Later, they become soft and therefore difficult to be felt, but usually by this time the value of the abdomen shows that the puppies are expected. This is especially noticeable in the numerous litters. 

 When the bitch puppy 2.1, during the first month is very difficult to say anything, especially if it's first litter, as the stomach muscles in a female is much stronger than that of females, which had several litters before. However, it is not necessary at all costs trying to find is her puppies or not. Need a little patience and the symptoms eventually become apparent. Between the fourth and fifth weeks of becoming a noticeable bulge on the sides, the body will look much better round. True, some females do not manifest these symptoms almost to the seventh week. 

 Even the most experienced breeders can make a mistake in estimating the number of puppies. Sometimes a bitch is a giant, and eventually gives only 1-2 pups. On the other hand, the bitch may look as though she had no more than 2 puppies, and the affected dog breeder will take a huge litter of 12 or more puppies. 

 Usually around the fifth week increase somewhat nipples and the skin around them brightens. By the sixth week, when the female lies on her side, the puppies can be felt in the uterine horns. From the sixth week, the size of puppies grows very quickly, and the nipples become larger and softer. By the seventh week, significantly increasing, and mammary glands. At last week's stomach falls because the uterus is almost entirely fills its volume, whereas before it was located in the spine. 

 There is another unmistakable sign of pregnancy - is when you can feel the hand like a stir puppies. Sometimes, in the second half of pregnancy observed slight mucous discharge from the loop, usually without the smell and color. If the last week of pregnancy, the discharge becomes heavy, a little yellow or green - is the first sign of approaching labor. 

 Care of the bitch 

 Even before the viscous the bitch must expel the worms, but if for some reason it was not done, the worms need to kick until the third week of pregnancy. Removing worms in females after the third week of pregnancy can cause aborting puppies. For the health of the mother and puppies is essential that the bitch had no external or internal parasites. If the worms for some reason drove to no viscous or until the third week of pregnancy, then you have to wait for the bitch whelp. Veterinarian will give advice when it is it can be done after whelping. Here we must exercise great caution - anthelmintic through milk falls and puppies. 

 If a pregnant bitch is dirty, it should wash and simultaneously treat the external parasites. Wash the bitch after the fourth week of pregnancy is not recommended. Needless to say, if a bitch for some reason still had to wash, it should be thoroughly dried, do not let it sit in a draft or lying on the cold floor. It is best to wash it at night, keep in warm place until her hair completely dry and in any event not take out until the next day. 

 Particular attention should be given to females of teeth, if necessary, to clear them from the raid. In breeds with drooping ears need to regularly clean the ear canal and prevent against ear mites. 

 Feeding pregnant bitch 

 Strong, healthy puppies can be obtained from females only in the event that during pregnancy she is well fed, perfectly healthy and is in excellent conditions. 

 During the first month there is no need to change the diet females. If it is usually fed with concentrate for dogs, during pregnancy in her food should be added to the meat (beef, lamb, etc.) and raw egg yolks. Very little bitch enough two yolks per week, the big bitch you can add two yolks in one feeding. 

 Not always during pregnancy in females increased appetite. If a bitch is not too thick, it is necessary to give as much food as she wants, of course, within reasonable limits. In fact, the main challenge is not the amount of food and its quality. A pregnant bitch needs food with high protein content, since he is the basic building material. In a significant proportion of its food should be meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. The amount of food containing starch such as cereals, flour products, liver should not increase as compared to its normal diet. 

 By the fourth week of pregnancy, the amount of food should increase markedly, but only at the expense of products containing animal proteins. Furthermore, in addition bitch need cod liver oil and vitamins, especially A, B1, D and E, which should give all pregnant. It is important that bitch got calcium supplements, such as glycerophosphate and lactate, especially when the assumed large litter. Otherwise it may be too much leakage of calcium from the body bitch that hurt her much more than puppies because they are getting from all the females than in need. 

 As the female gets heavier, probably better than her daily ration divided into several feedings. First you need to feed it two, then three, then, maybe four times, if it is expected that the litter will be large. Not all the food the bitch should be soft, she definitely need to give something to chew, such as apple, carrot or give overeat meat with large bones (but not the bare bone!), Or on the teeth it will be deposited stone. From the earliest days of pregnancy the bitch should be given water to drink without limit - her body produces amniotic fluid contained in a water bubble that protects the puppies. 

 We too thick bitches are often difficult delivery, so if the bitch is prone to obesity, we must reduce the amount of cereal products in her diet. As a food supplement that does not cause obesity are good vegetables, especially important for the overfed dogs. 

 Dogs usually do not need to receive vitamin C from food, because it is synthesized from them in the body, the liver accumulates its reserve amount. But sometimes the content of vitamin C in the body the dog down, resulting in anemia or may be a variety of skin manifestations. In this case, of course, need to add in food vitamin C in any form. 

 Dairy products are rich in vitamins, calcium and phosphorus compounds, so they need to be a bitch to give as much as she wants, unless it upsets her digestion. Half-liter of yogurt or kefir contain as much protein as it in 85 g of raw meat. Boiled egg contains as much protein as 56 grams of meat of good quality. Raw dog needs to give only the yolk, if you give all the egg completely, then it need to cook or make him an omelet. Crude protein contains avidin, which binds one of the B vitamins produced by bacteria in the gut - biotin. Thus, if a dog to give a large quantity of raw eggs (or whites), then it will eventually, due to insufficient biotin, which in turn significantly affect the state coat. 

 Economical protein food is fish, such as fresh or frozen marine fish - herring or sprats. Pilchards can be given raw. Need to remove head and tail, the fish pass through a meat grinder and mixed with cereal or vegetable food. All the other fish to cook in a pressure cooker until seethe until all the bones. Of the cereal food for dogs is better to use wheat, as they contain vitamin B, without which the grinding feed almost useless. Complex of B vitamins most often lacking in the diet of dogs. Many of these vitamins in brewer's yeast - pharmaceutical preparation from brewer's yeast is well to add the feed a pregnant bitch. 


 Walking to the pregnant females are very important, and she does not need to change the mode of walking, until it becomes too heavy. If a bitch got used to a good hour walk, it is necessary to continue to make it healthy and in good sturdy condition. It is important that she had strong muscles and a lot of effort to push the puppies when they start labor. Bitch you should not protect the patient. When it becomes very hard, she does not want to go far from home.
It is very important to have a walk in the fresh air and, in particular, in the sun. Sunlight is very important for life. 

 At the end of pregnancy bitch does not want to make long walks. But in the short walks to her show several times a day, more than ever before. Long walk is not needed, the bitch can not overwork. She also should not be allowed to run up and down the stairs and jumping on chairs and sofas, and from them down. In late pregnancy, the bitch can not be a long haul in the car, and if it is still going, not a sharp turn at high speed. 
Bitch can not also be able to lie on the cold floor or in the wet grass. 

 How to raise a pregnant bitch 

 Need to raise slowly and carefully, making sure that your fingers are not limited to the stomach. Needless to say, that it is dangerous to drop it or allow it to jump from a height. Fine bitch you can pick up and hold one hand under his chest, pressing her elbows, and his other hand to maintain a large. Large female can lift with two hands - one hand supports the body under the tail, so that she would sit on the arm, another arm should hug the bottom front of the chest. Put on the floor bitch needed immediately on all four legs. Before I let her go, you need to check whether it preserves the balance.