Pregnant dogs exhibit some specific signs of labor.
Pregnancy in dogs occurs both intentionally and unintentionally, and is a risk that all dog owners take when they don't spay their dogs. Regardless of whether a pregnancy is a product of a breeding or an accident, it will follow a certain path, and should be carefully tracked and managed.
Gestation Calendar
A gestation period is the length of time between fertilization and birth.This is the length of the pregnancy. Although specific gestation periods depend on a dog's breed, dogs are generally pregnant for 54 to 72 days. Keep a calendar of your dog's pregnancy to track the timeline and know when to anticipate labor.
Signs of Pregnancy
Every dog exhibits some specific symptoms and phases during pregnancy. During the early stages of pregnancy, a dog may become sick and lethargic, and exhibit a dog version of morning sickness. As the pregnancy progresses, she will become hungrier, and her abdomen will begin to grow. Her nipples will grow, as well as the breast tissue at their base. She may become antisocial, and refuse to associate with other animals. Toward the end of the pregnancy, the puppies begin to actively move in the dog's abdomen.
Temperature
According to Pets.ca, owners should begin taking their dog's temperature a week before her due date. The normal temperature range in dogs is 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. When a dog gets ready to go into labor, around 24 hours before contractions begin, her temperature drops several degrees. Monitoring her temperature gives you the first sign of impending birth, and lets you know that you should start preparing.
Signs of Labor
When a dog begins her labor, the first signs are of instinctive "nesting," during which she will dig in a couch, pile of blankets or bed to prepare her birthing place. She may become clingy or nervous. During the second phase of labor, your dog's water will break and you will start seeing active contractions in her abdomen. According to Pets.ca, once your dog begins to actively push, puppies will be born within 12 to 20 minutes.
Considerations
Even the most prepared owner can be taken unawares during labor. Giving birth is a potentially complicated and dangerous process. Monitor your dog closely for any difficulty and have the phone number of a 24-hour vet on hand in case of emergency.
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