Pregnancy Calendar for Dogs

Sire: Ch. Bjönroas Pavlov
Dam: Ch. Silverforsens Party Animal

Sat 11 Feb 2012
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 fertilaziton taking place. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.

Sun 12 Feb
Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.

Sun 12 Feb - Mon 13 Feb
Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.

Mon 13 Feb - Tue 14 Feb
Fertilisation occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Tue 14 Feb - Thu 16 Feb
Fertilised 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.

Wed 22 Feb - Fri 24 Feb
The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.

Wed 22 Feb - Wed 7 Mar
The blastocystes will grow into an embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.

Sat 25 Feb - Sat 3 Mar
Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.

Fri 2 Mar - Fri 9 Mar
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.

Wed 7 Mar - Sun 11 Mar
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.

Sat 10 Mar
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.

Fri 16 Mar
The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.

Mon 26 Mar
It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.

Thu 29 Mar - Fri 6 Apr
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.

Sat 31 Mar
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.

Sat 31 Mar - Sun 15 Apr
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.

Tue 10 Apr - Fri 13 Apr
Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.

Wed 11 Apr
You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.

Sat 14 Apr
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.

Sun 15 Apr
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.

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