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pregnancy and childbirth

pregnancy and childbirth

The length of gestation in the bitch is difficult to pinpoint because there are several points to consider: variation at the time of ovulation, mating dates and duration of estrus variable (heat).

Pregnancy in the bitch lasts an average of 63 days after mating. The number of pups per litter will last longer gestation or less. Thus, in large litters is shortened to 55 or 57 days in which there is only a puppy is 60 days.

Unlike women, the dog there is no blood or urine analysis that detects pregnancy. This is because there are no significant differences in hormones so it can be confirmed.

reviews are underway with another hormone, relaxin, in mid-gestation, but not before. Thus, the method before it is detected by ultrasound. Care should be taken with medications. In fact, in pregnant dogs can cause abortion in extreme cases.

The diet in the pregnant bitch should be the same as received (maintenance) during the first four weeks after mating. It is good that the dog too much weight in the first half of pregnancy.

In the period between the fifth week until delivery and the subsequent lactation, the diet must change to a richer in protein, minerals (calcium) and energy. The animal needs a greater contribution to form the new skeletons of the puppies. Feed used special puppies or pregnant females. If it is impossible to change your diet, would have to remove everything that you may feel bad or worse at some time to digest (viscera or leftover food).

is advisable to increase the number of meals offered a bitch in the last weeks of pregnancy, because they will eat less of the pressure of the abdomen in the stomach.

Veterinary checks: During the first trimester of pregnancy, the female does not undergo significant changes. While some eat more, others have appetite capricious, we find relaxing or mimosas ... Call your veterinarian to make sure if there are similar symptoms that there is no disease but a probable pregnancy.

The first review ultrasound (and therefore pregnancy diagnosis) can be performed at 21 days after mating, but it really will look better image about 25-28 days.

Advantages of ultrasonography compared to radiography:

- no damage at all the physical integrity of the puppies or the mother.

- we can check the number of pups, as in the X-ray and also the vitality of each of them.

- measurements are the size of each to predict a possible difficult delivery.

- are different formations strange or masses that do not correspond to a normal fetus.

Disadvantages:

- must be performed by a specialist.

- is more expensive than radiography.

The female must be in good physical condition before being submitted to a pregnancy, that is, free from any problems or chronic immune-type (renal or hepatic failure), to be free of infectious diseases, be wormed internally and externally, and, of course, keep up to date vaccines that apply. It is not advisable pregnancy in dogs with hereditary or genetic problems that impede the delivery (hip dysplasia).

Any variation of the above features will not prevent pregnancy, but it will hinder or have your fruit to pay the consequences (pups born to parasitized mothers come into the world with parasites in most cases).

Age is also a factor taken into account, since it does not bear pregnancy as a dog for three years that one of nine. We see dogs on the street at nine or ten years have been mothers and smoothly, but it is not advisable. Caesarean section is a complication that can occur and surgery is an added stress on your body, which in years can be a serious problem.

Daily exercise should remain the same in the life of the dog, if not submitted during this period to competitions, hunting trips, exhibitions or heavy jobs. Will gradually become more reluctant to move because once the pups start to grow, the abdomen bulges and rises, resulting in heavy for the dog.