What Happens to the Mother During this Time?
During Pregnancy,
as the puppies grow and develop the mothers must be kept in their best health
in order to give the puppies optimum care.
In preparation for whelping we watch the moms carefully. They are fed
many small meals to minimize vomiting and to keep the pups well nourished in utero. A few days before day 59 the mom is acclimated to
the whelping nest a 4x4x6 foot pen with a heat regulated plate and side rails.
The nest allows a safe and quiet place for the mom to go through her labor.
We now watch for the signs of labor: shivering,
a drop in body temper (normal for a dog is 101.5 degrees), circling, panting,
restlessness, contractions, and her water breaking. These signs in a variety of
combinations let us know that the puppies are soon to follow.
After the puppies are born, mom receives around the clock attention. Sometimes an x-ray is taken to make sure
that she is empty of pups and placenta. She is then watched for the next 72
hours for any infection. Once she is past this point her nipples are checked
twice daily to insure that there is no mastitis which is harmful to both mom
and pups. This continues until the pups are weaned and she is dried
up. In the beginning there is less of a chance of mastitis because the
pups nurse around the clock. Once they begin to eat puppy food, we must be more
diligent of watching for the hardening of the nipples. Meals, fresh water, and
exercise continue to be frequent though the moms are often hesitant to leave
the puppies. However, by the end of the second week she is anxious to have
time away from the pups; and by the time the fourth week arrives she is ready
for the pups to start eating and to begin the weaning process.
Nature kicks in
around the time the sixth week arrives, and the mom is dried up. If the
pup nurses at this point the mom automatically vomits. (This is a natural
occurrence for canines in the wild.) This is the reason she can no longer
be with her pups, in addition to the fact that she is ready to move on with her
own activities.
The pups and the mom are ready for you to begin your care and
responsibility by the time the eighth week arrives.
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Updated 7/12/03 |
goldy© 2003 |