Pregnant Bitches

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How long are dogs pregnant for?

From the time that the bitch releases her egg (ovulation) to the time of labour (called whelping) is about 63 days. However, it is difficult to predict whelping dates because:

The length of pregnancy is determined from the ovulation date, not the mating date
The sperm from the male dog can remain alive for up to 7 days.
This means that pregnancy can vary from 56 to 72 days if calculated from the day of the first mating to the day of giving birth.

What changes will I notice if my bitch is pregnant?

Some bitches have a reduced appetite 3-4 weeks after mating
Some have a mucus discharge from their vulva one month after mating
The teats may begin to become pink and firm
The bitch’s weight increases from 35 days onwards and may increase by up to 50% of normal
The mammary glands enlarge from day 40, and a watery fluid may come from the nipples

How will my vet know if my bitch is pregnant?

Feeling the abdomen
This is most accurate at about one month after mating
It can be difficult in obese or nervous dogs
After 35 days it becomes more difficult to feel the pups.

X-ray

This can be useful in quiet bitches but may be avoided if the bitch needs sedation for the x-ray to be taken
After day 45, the skeletons of the pups can be seen It is unlikely that the x-rays will damage the pups after day 45.

Ultrasound

This is the most commonly used method to find out if a bitch is pregnant but it is not possible to say how many pups are present The bitch may have to stay at the surgery for a few hours, she will have her tummy clipped and jelly applied to her belly. It is most accurate one month after the last mating, heart beats can be seen from around 22 days. Early examinations may be inaccurate and the ultrasound may need repeating after 10-14 days.

Worming during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the parasitic worms of dogs are at their most active. They move from the bitch and into the pups, through the placenta and can infect the liver, lungs and intestine of the pups. Once the pups are born, the worms can pass through the milk and into the pups. For these reasons it is essential to worm the bitch throughout pregnancy and during lactation. We recommend:
Panacur - Given by mouth to the bitch every day from day 40 of pregnancy to 2 days after whelping. Given by mouth to the pups for 3 consecutive days at 2 weeks, 5 weeks and before leaving the breeders premises.

Feeding during pregnancy

Before breeding it is recommended to feed the bitch on a good quality, complete, adult dog food. This should be fed at the normal levels during pregnancy. However, it is important to keep an eye on the bitch’s body condition. As her abdomen becomes full of puppies she may need to be fed smaller more frequent meals. A good way of doing this is to feed puppy food because it is high in calories but less volume needs to be eaten.

Most bitches are able to have their pups without any interference from the vet. It is helpful for owners to understand what happens in a normal labour. Labour is divided in to three stages, with the last two stages being repeated for each puppy delivered.

First Stage

The behaviour of the pregnant bitch changes
Usually lasts between 6-12 hours but can last up to 24 hours
The bitch’s rectal temperature is low (less than 37°c)
The bitch feels uncomfortable, may glance at her tummy and become more restless
She may pant a lot
She will show nesting behaviour such as tearing up and rearranging bedding
She may occasionally shiver
She may vomit
Contractions start but no straining is seen

Second Stage

The puppies are born
Usually lasts 3-12 hours but may last up to 24 hours
The rectal temperature rises to normal or just above normal (37.5-38.5°c)
Straining is seen
Some clear fluid may be seen and is normal (the water bag has burst)
The presence of a dark green discharge is normal
Weak infrequent straining should produce a pup within 2 hours
The bitch may rest for up to 2 hours between delivery of consecutive pups

Third Stage

The placenta is delivered
Usually follows within 15 minutes of delivery of each pup
Two or three pups may be born before their placenta are delivered
The mother may want to eat the placenta
She should be discouraged from eating more than one or two as she may develop diarrhoea and vomiting
The fluid passed after giving birth is called lochia
Lochia may be seen for over 3 weeks after giving birth

Possible Problems

There is a vet available to be contacted 24 hours a day. When the bitch is giving birth, please contact your vet if:

The bitch has had a greenish/red-brownish discharge but no pup was born within 2 hours
Clear fluid was passed more than 2-3 hours ago but nothing more has happened
She has had weak, irregular straining for more than 2-4 hours and no pup has been born
She has had strong, regular straining for more than 20-30 minutes and no pup has been born
More than 2-4 hours have passed since the last puppy was born and you think that more remain
The second stage of labour has gone on for more than 12 hours
You have any other concerns or questions

Care of the newborn

After delivery of the pups, the bitch will usually perform the following steps:

Licking the foetal membranes away from the nose and mouth
Licking and nuzzling to keep the pups warm
Biting of the umbilical cord
Encouraging the pups to suck
Feeding should occur every 2-3 hours

If the bitch does not perform any of these steps, assistance may be needed. The membranes can be removed by briskly wiping them up with a towel, paying special attention to the mouth and nose. If one of the newborn has difficulty in finding the milk supply, its mouth should be placed over the teat. Pressing either side of the teat with a finger should release milk and so the newborn will be able to feed.

The bitch should be introduced to her whelping box at least a week before whelping. The box should be enclosed to stop the pups escaping and it can be lined with newspaper with vetbed on top. There should be sufficient space to avoid the pups being squashed.

The environmental temperature around the pups for the first 24 hours should be 30-33°c. This should be monitored with a thermometer. Over the following 3-4 days the temperature can be reduced to 26-30°c. The mother should, ideally, have a cooler area to go to.

A healthy pup will crawl around and be very mobile. At about 10 days it will stand and at about 3 weeks of age it will begin to walk. Ten to 14 days after birth the eyes will open. Initially, the bitch will lick the bottom of her pups to stimulate toileting. By 2-3 weeks the pups should be able to urinate and pass faeces without help.

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