Puppies in the Womb & Preparing for Labor

As soon as you realize your dog might be pregnant you will want to take her to the vet to obtain more information. When dogs become pregnant, they require more food and nutrients, so it’s best to provide access to food and water 24-7.  You could also get dog food designed for expecting mother that will give her the nutrients she needs to have healthy pups. She can also continue to eat this food when she is nursing the pups as well.  Dogs pregnancy usually last 63 days.  During this period, she will not need any supplements or vitamins, the mother usually will do most of the work as of keeping herself healthy and happy but there’s a number of things you can look for to ensure the mother and puppies are healthy.  First, you can look for any vaginal bleeding, if you spot this, it’s best to take the mother to the vet right away.  Second, you could also pay attention to your dog’s wellness.  If your dog is displaying any signs of illness or vomiting, do not wait to take her to the vet.  Things can form and escalate more quickly in a pregnancy that wouldn’t usually happen if the dog wasn’t pregnant. So, it’s best to go to the vet straight away to try to prevent miscarriages and/or complications. The mother also needs plenty of exercise during her pregnancy, but nothing too straining.  Walks or jogs at a park is healthy for an expecting dog, but when the end of the pregnancy comes, its best to only do slow walks and no jogging or running. When it’s come closer to her time to have the puppies, there are somethings you can do to help your dog.  First you need to provide a whelping box that is basically a secluded, safe box that the expecting mother can have birth in.  The whelping box needs to have some sort of temperature control.  Second, you will need to provide whelping material that can be placed in the box during labor and will be thrown away after the pregnancy.  Third, you should also have disposable rubber gloves, hand towels/washcloths, and a first aid kit in case you need to help with the labor.  Finally, the most important thing to have during the pregnancy is the number for the vet just in case there is any complications or if you have any questions.