Taking Care Of A Pregnant Dog For The Very First Time? Here’s What Can Help

Just like humans, your dog also goes through a lot during pregnancy. From fluctuating hormones and appetite to gaining weight, she experiences everything.

Unless you are breeding, you might not even know that you have a pregnant dog at your hands. In fact, in many cases, pregnancy signs do not even show up until after the first month.

That’s why, before we start with how to take care of your pregnant dog, here are some signs to look out for ensuring the pregnancy.

  • Swollen teats
  • Viginal discharge
  • The abdomen swells up to 20 to 50 percent. (This may not be noticeable until a few weeks prior to the birth)

Once you start noticing signs of pregnancy, it would be best to consult a veterinarian, just to be on the safer side.

After you confirm the pregnancy, here are some of the tips that can help you take good care of her.

Spruce up on diet and nutrition

You should know that after the 42nd day of pregnancy, the pups start developing quickly. This is the reason why mum needs a lot of energy and protein.

Thus, it would be best if you fill her bowl with nutritious dry dog food and prepare her at least 3-4 smaller meals a day. This way, you’ll be able to deliver enough nutrition for pups and their mother.

Not taking proper care of your pregnant dog’s diet can lead to obesity and blood sugar problems in the unborn pups.

So, before changing your dog’s diet, make sure you consult your veterinarian and learn what’s best for your dog.

Do not forget about the vaccination part

You’ll be surprised to know that many dog parents tend to skimp on the vaccination part.

Vaccination is of utmost importance, especially for the ones who are breeding. Before you take your dog for breeding, you need to make sure that she is up to date on her vaccination schedules.

See, right after birth, the pups totally depend upon their mother’s milk. It actually delivers adequate nutrition to those little ones. And this can happen only if she and the milk are fully protected.

According to the veterinarians, puppies can even end up getting herpes from their mums if she isn’t vaccinated against it. Staying up to date with the vaccination schedule before the birth can help those little ones from getting infected.

Stay gentle with the exercising schedule

While exercising with your pregnant dog, you should keep in mind that the session shouldn’t be too intense. Try not to add stress to your dog by enrolling her in dog shows or staying put with her obedience training.

You can take her for a short walk, or light playtime can be a good way to help your pregnant dog exercise. The only thing you need to keep in mind with this is balancing over-stimulation and making her lethargic.

And once your dog is in the last three weeks of her pregnancy, it would be best to keep her separated from other dogs or animals.

To conclude

Taking care of a pregnant dog can be challenging without knowing what you are supposed to do. So, use the tips mentioned above and take care of her the right way.