Dog Pregnancy Calendars Personalize How You Track a Pet's Pregnancy

People aren't the only ones who need calendars for tracking their pregnancies and knowing what to expect. Dog breeders and owners may find making a personalized dog pregnancy calendar is the best way to track their dogs' pregnancies. I breed my Chihuahua once or twice annually and I always make a personalized dog pregnancy calendar for my baby Priscilla Rae Quest or Prissy for short. It is import to track a dog pregnancy to know what to expect and so special arrangements can be made about proper food, vitamins and ensuring the dog has extra water.After much research and the years of experience I have in dog breeding, the gestation period for dogs is between 59 and 63 days. My Chihuahua normally has puppies 62 or 63 days after the initial breeding take place. In making my calendar, I start by visiting CalendarsThatWork.com. This Web site offers free downloadable calendars that you can decorate and fill in any way you choose.I choose to download one blank calendar so I can add the months and dates manually to continue through a three month cycle. This way, there is no charge for using the product. I make three copies of the blank calendar and wait for my dog's menstrual cycle to begin. I begin the calendar the day my dog begins her menstrual cycle. This is the day I will put the month at the top and number the days. On the tenth day of her cycle I put a great big smiley face or special sticker. This is the best day for conception to occur. Anywhere between ten and fourteen days after the menstrual cycle begins are optimum conception days for dogs.From the day of the conception, I will number the other two blank calendars by filling in the days and the months. Not counting the day of conception, I count sixty two days and in date box I will write puppies due and draw a line to the sixty third day as well. If all goes well, the puppies will be born on one of those two days. After this information is marked, I go back and fill in the basic what to expect information for my benefit as well as the benefit of my dog, the mommy-to-be.

On the tenth day after the dogs mated, I mark on the dog pregnancy calendar "Blastocytes implant into the uterus walls". Blastocytes grow into embryos that will turn into puppies. Around the fourteenth day after mating I will make a note on the dog pregnancy calendar to expect to notice swelling of the nipples. Since dogs have more than two nipples, swelling should begin occurring around all of her nipples.On the twenty day after mating, I make a note on the calendar to keep an eye on the hair surrounding the nipples of the dog and the belly. This hair will start to become thinner. The reason for this is so the puppies can feed easier.Around the twenty eighth or twenty ninth day, I make a note on the dog pregnancy calendar to expect to notice swelling of the belly. At this time, you should start to notice you dog's belly expanding as the puppies grow. Morning sickness may occur around this time just like it does in women. I also make a note to make sure I offer extra food for my dog along with a daily prenatal vitamin.Between the thirty fifth and forty fifth day on my calendar I will mark double in size and feed small meals several times a day. At this time, I make sure to note I need to offer small meals rather than large meals. The puppies are getting larger and larger. There is not as much room in for large meals to be eaten so smaller meals are often better. The next part of the dog pregnancy calendar is more of a waiting game until the puppies are due. The mommy-to-be will begin searching and digging to find the perfect place to deliver her litter. Prior to delivering the puppies, the rectal temperature of the mommy will change from 101 degrees to 98 degrees. This lets you know to expect puppies within twelve to twenty four hours. I choose to end my dog pregnancy calendar at this point. You can continue the calendar if you like so you know what to expect once the puppies come day by day. I suggest doing this prior to the arrival of the little ones as once they get here you will be really quite busy. Best of luck with your new litter!

By Breidi Caparatta