What Should Your Pregnant Dog Be Eating

Many of you may think that our little pregnant dogs may have all kinds of strange cravings and want to eat like crazy when they're pregnant...but dog's are pretty controlled in all honesty. They may want a few more morsels than usual, but that's normal.

So, what should your regimen be when your dog is pregnant?

Well, a dog's pregnancy is typically 60-63 days long, roughly 9 weeks.

So, here is your food schedule:

1st 30 days -> The dog should be eating normally...nothing new, nothing different.

* Tip: You may supplement fresh meat into their diet on a daily basis if you are so inclined.

Last month -> The mommy dog should be eating a high quality puppy food.

Now, in my opinion, I think it's healthy to also supplement a mother dog's diet, and any dog's diet for that matter, with fresh fruits and vegetables when you can.

Now, grapes and raisins are a o-no for your dog, as is chocolate and macadamia nuts.

I also give my dogs a few healthy treats a day, which I bake myself, so that I know exactly what's in them.

* Tip: Don't worry if your dog doesn't feel like eating much around the 3rd-4th week of pregnancy, as they may have some morning sickness...This is normal...Make sure you ALWAYS have FRESH, CLEAN water out for your dog at all times.

* Tip: I've even started to have water in the bedroom, at night, when we sleep, so that they don't have to walk into the kitchen. You would be surprised how often you'll fill up this bowl, even throughout the day. Dogs like variety too you know!

by Kimberly Edwards

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How to Know Your Bitch is Pregnant

When it comes to keeping a female dog, owners are faced with an important decision that will influence her future greatly. I am of course referring to whether or not to have her fixed so she won't be able to throw litters. If you are not completely sure you won't be breeding with her at some point and want to leave that option open, you must get yourself familiar with the telltale signs of a pregnant dog.

I know you will think by yourself that you are a responsible dog owner and will make sure she won't go out when in heat, but if you have ever dealt with a dog in heat you will know how fast they can slip out of the house in just a split second so just be prepared.

In the early stages of pregnancy you can expect a decreased appetite. This normally happens in the first two weeks of pregnancy and they will make up for it during the rest of it. You can also see a decrease in activity; your pregnant dog will feel less energetic while her body starts to focus on gestation. A change in her nipples will also become visible. This is probably the biggest indicator of dealing with a pregnant dog, since her nipples will grow considerably and you will be able to feel some growth beneath the nipples as well in preparation of her milk production.

After the first few weeks you will find your dog's appetite will greatly increase and she will start gaining weight. Around the fourth week of pregnancy you can expect to see her belly will start to show and it will start to feel differently as well, firmer than before.

In the last weeks of her pregnancy her belly will be hard to miss and in smaller dogs can become so big that it actually starts dragging close to the ground when she is close to throwing her litter. You will know that birth is about to happen in a few days when her milk production is at full speed and small drops start to leak. At this same time you will already be able to feel the pups in her belly and sometimes even see them moving around.

The last signs that your dog is about to give birth to her pups is that she will be starting to prepare a nest for them. This will normally happen 1 or 2 days before she actually throws her litter and you will see her wanting to gather whatever she can find to build the puppy nursery.

These signs are of course indications of a normal pregnancy in dogs but if you want to make sure her trip around time during heat actually did get her pregnant you should consult with your veterinarian. Your vet can also give you all the proper information you need to know when it comes to caring for your pregnant dog and her future puppies.



By Danah Reed

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Do you suspect a dog pregnancy at your house

Do you suspect a dog pregnancy at your house? Doggies.com is happy to begin a 5-part series on pregnant dogs. This first installment deals with pregnant dog symptoms. Future installments will include a care guide for pregnant dogs and newborn puppies and a quick-reference FAQ on dog pregnancyCanine pregnancies are very unlike human pregnancies. For example, human females become fertile every month, while dogs typically go into heat only twice per year. Bitches (female dogs, not nasty female humans!) may start having heat cycles as early as 4 - 6 months of age for small breeds or at 12 - 24 months of age in larger dogs. Each individual fertile period lasts 7 - 10 days, depending on the breed of dog. Dogs never reach menopause, so you could experience a dog pregnancy even in a very old bitch.


Dog Pregnancy Test
There is no blood or urine dog pregnancy test that can be used, as the hormonal changes a dog goes through are relatively similar whether the dog is pregnant or not. Therefore, you have to rely on symptoms of dog pregnancy, at least initially. Knowing when the dog mated will help you a great deal, but if you did not see the blessed event, you can still use this guide to pregnant dog symptoms to get a good idea of if your dog is pregnant or not.

Dog Pregnancy Stages
For about the first month, you likely will not see many outward dog pregnancy signs, as the changes inside your dog are microscopic. About 2 - 3 days after mating, the eggs are fertilized on their way to the uterus. At 10 or 11 days, the fertilized eggs implant themselves in the uterine lining.

The first symptom of dog pregnancy you are likely to notice occurs at 14 to 15 days after mating. If you look closely at the dog's nipples, you will see that they are becoming larger and turning a darker shade of pink. At about 20 days, the fur around the nipples will begin to thin out to allow the pups easier access to them.

A brand new puppy nursing.One of the most visible symptoms of dog pregnancy is present from days 21 28, when the bitch goes through morning sickness, similar to what human mothers experience in early pregnancy. Although dogs don't typically vomit as much as humans, they often lose their appetites and refuse to eat.

By 25 days after mating, you can notice one of the most important dog pregnancy symptoms - heartbeats! If you have access to a stethoscope, press it gently against the dog's abdomen and listen closely. You probably won't be able to pick out how many puppies are in there, but it's exciting to hear the little thumps, nonetheless.

By 30 days after mating, the embryos are big enough to be felt through the dog's abdominal wall. They will be about walnut-sized and can be felt well enough to determine how many puppies are in your pregnant dog. A dog pregnancy ultrasound can be taken at this point to verify the pregnant dog's litter size. Symptoms at this point are pretty easy to spot, as the dog's abdomen is rapidly growing.

Other dog pregnancy symptoms are swollen nipples and restlessness. Your dog may spend a lot of time grooming herself and may wander around, sniffing for places that would make a good den.

After six weeks, the puppies will be large enough that they begin crowding each other and squirming around. If your dog will allow you to touch her stomach, you can feel them, just as you would a kicking baby. The abdomen will feel hard and will be extremely large and stretched. At this point, the bitch may lose her appetite entirely, as her stomach will be crowded with puppies, leaving little room for food.

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False Pregnancy in Dogs

Maturity is occurring at an earlier age in our domestic dogs because of selective breeding. Additionally, domestic bitches (except African breeds) have twice as many seasons as wild wolves. This article discusses the physiology of pregnancy and false pregnancy (pseudocyesis), and ways of helping bitches with false pregnancies.

The Oestrus Cycle: Bitches' seasons occur every 8-9 months. During proestrus they will have a blood stained discharge and show an interest in males. In the second phase, Oestrus, ovulation occurs, and the female is most fertile. The next phase, dioestrus, is when the bitch is hormonally pregnant. The corpus luteum, formed at ovulation in the ovary, matures and produces female hormones. These then stimulate prolactin secretion from the anterior lobe of the pituitary, which stimulates milk production in the mammary glands.

False pregnancy: The hormonal cycle of the bitch assumes that pregnancy has occurred after every cycle, whether or not mating has taken place. She will therefore experience the physiological changes of pregnancy over the next 2 months. She will have an increase in progesterone production, milk production and an increase in appetite. She may even go into mild labour.

The caregiver may notice physical and emotional changes, particularly 8-9 weeks after her last season. She may exhibit a change in preferred diet to blander food, fluid retention, and a wish not to take her usual amount of exercise, and she may hoard toys and treat them as puppies.

There may be restlessness, lack of appetite, panting, trembling, whining and nest-building at the time she would have given birth. She may be slightly more aggressive than usual. Things will usually return to normal after 2-3 weeks, equivalent to 48hrs after the birth would have occurred.

How we can help: As this is a physiological occurrence which settles over 2-3 weeks, treatment is rarely needed. If possible try to reduce stimulation of the mammary glands, by reducing stroking and wiping, and not allowing the bitch to lick excessively, as these will increase prolactin release and further milk production.

Occasionally the bitch may become ill, by producing excessive milk, or other problems. She may need treatment to reduce milk production, such as diuretics or hormone treatment. Although some advocate reduced fluid intake to induce dehydration and reduce milk production, others feel that this may be unsafe.

It is rare (but not unknown) for bitches who are spayed (ovariohysterectomised), to exhibit these changes. Although the majority of the hormones are being produced by the ovaries, some are produced in the adrenal glands.

Complementary Therapies: Pulsatilla from health food shops has been used with good effect. It can also be used just after a season in a bitch with a history of false pregnancies.

Spiritual healing and Reiki can help the dog accept and work with its hormonal state, and help restore self-healing and homeostasis. It can be supplemented with crystals such as chrysophase, moonstone and blue lace agate.

Aromatics that may prove useful include rose, fennel (to dry up lactation) and vanilla. Of the Bach flower remedies, vine, chicory, red chestnut & mustard may be helpful.

In this article, I have discussed the physiology of false pregnancy, and suggested ways in which we can help bitches to cope with the pressures involved. Surprisingly, spaying does not necessarily prevent recurrent false pregnancies. Fundamentally, false pregnancy is a natural occurrence in bitches, and usually needs no treatment.




By Alison Grimston

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How To Deal With A Chihuahua Pregnancy

Congratulations! Now that you have successfully bred your Chihuahua, it is time to wait for the birth of the new Chihuahua pups. As you wait with glee at the birth of the new Chihuahua babies, as the owner, you got to learn how to deal with a Chihuahua pregnancy first. You definitely only want the best for your mama Chihuahua don't you?

Chihuahua pregnancy can be very difficult. As such, it is only recommended for those experienced breeders. You might be interested to breed our Chihuahua because you love your Chihuahua and you want another one. But now that your Chihuahua is pregnant, it is important that you give her 100% attention and care to make sure that she gives birth to healthy pups.

Chihuahuas usually have many complications when it comes to delivery. Some might even die during whelping. Other complications would include pups that are born premature.

So, you got to be prepared to care for the pups if your Chihuahua dies during whelping.

Now that you found out that your Chihuahua is pregnant, it is time to make some adjustments.

Firstly, you will have to change your Chihuahua's diet. If you wish your pet to give birth to top quality babies, good food is definitely a must. Check out some of the foods that are suitable for pregnant dogs. Do take note that if your Chihuahua gets ill, it will affect your pups too. Your Chihuahua will also tend to eat more, so try not to deny her of any food.

Secondly, you will need to visit the vet more frequently. Well, this will definitely cost you money. But you would not want to endanger the life of your Chihuahua and her puppies would you? This is to make sure that the babies are growing healthily inside the mama. Once the puppies are born, you will need to do the same too. This is to ensure that your pups are always fit and healthy. If otherwise happens, your vet will be able to guide you. Checkups can be pretty costly, but it is definitely worth the money!

Thirdly, if you are not an experienced breeder, than it is a good idea to have your vet present while your Chihuahua is giving birth. All sorts of complications can happen and your Chihuahua or her pups can die if things do not go as planned. Having a vet on call is definitely a good thing to ensure a smooth running delivery.

As the Chihuahua owner, it is your responsibility to take care of the mother and her unborn puppies. Provide her with a healthy diet and always remember to send her for regular check ups to keep her healthy and happy.

Keep in mind to provide a clean and quiet place for your Chihuahua to give birth. Try to keep the father of the puppies away from the mother or puppies after birth.

During the 9 weeks long of pregnancy period, remind everyone to be gentle with her. She should be allowed to rest at all times. She will spend more time wanting to be in a quiet room.
So, try to keep her under your nose at all times and give her your 100% attention, for that is all she needs now.



By Clarence Clark

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