Happy Mother’s Day!!!
It is one of those Hallmark holidays, but a very special day where moms, grandmothers, and anyone who closely resembles a mom, is honored for their love and devotion to their children.
Because it is such a special day, I thought I would dedicate to this entry to the dogs we love, who become moms. For a dog to go through gestation, it takes about 63 days, or approximately 9 weeks. Up to the 5th week, over 1/2 way through the pregnancy, there is little notice externally of the dog’s upcoming delivery. From the 5th week on, changes in the dog become apparent. The nipples and the mammary glands begin to enlarge, as they are getting ready to serve as the main source of nutrition for the soon to be born puppies. Dogs may become more quiet around this time, but it isn’t until their 7th week or beyond that the abdomen of the dog begins to get larger. Obviously, as the puppies begin to grow, there is more pressure on the bladder of the dog, which will cause the dog to have to urinate more than usual (very similar to human mother-to-bes).
Usually you don’t have to change the dog’s food as long as the dog has had good food with proper nutrition before and during the pregnancy. During this time the dog’s appetite will increase dramatically to meet the need of the growing pups inside of her. The type of food provided should be high in protien and the dog should be fed small meals several times a day.
Approximately two weeks before the birth, a place and equipment should be set up to insure smooth deliveries. The gestation period is fairly accurate and will probably only vary by 1 to 2 days. A calm place that is quiet where the Moma dog will feel comfortable and not distracted is very important.
All in all, this is a natural process that should go without complication. It is truly a miracle to see those puppies come into the world. So on this Mother’s Day, I would like to leave you with this video, so you too can see the birth of beautiful puppies.
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