After your beloved dog has been matched with a handsome stud and successfully bred, the 63 day countdown has begun. A mix of emotions pour over you, of course, lots of excitement but also bits of anxiety as this is the first dog you own to be expecting puppies. As a new owner of an expecting "doggie mom" there are lots of things to know and it is normal to feel slightly overwhelmed at first, but take a deep breath and relax as things will very likely go pretty smoothly as nature will take its course.

There are a few things though, that as an owner you must be aware of, mostly in order to not be caught unprepared or get hit by bouts of anxiety if you encounter situations you were not really prepared for. Below are some bits of information that may help you go through the whole 63 days without worrying excessively.

 

TO COUNTDOWN OR NOT TO COUNTDOWN?

First of all, even though your dog was in heat and was bred various times, there are still slight chances she may not be pregnant. Add the fact that some dogs are prone to "phantom pregnancies" and you have in your hands a recipe for doubt.

As you already may know, there are particular fertile days to watch for when scheduling a breeding. Most likely, if your bitch was bred during her estrus phase and you witnessed a "tie" where the male stud and your female bitch were "connected together" for some time, chances are pretty high that puppies will be on their way.

A LOOK INTO THE HEAT CYCLE

Here is a an explanation of the heat cycle, so you can better evaluate if your dog was bred at the "right time":

The heat cycle is basically divided into phases which when combined, average about 21 days.

The first phase is called Pro-estrus and you will be aware of this stage because it is when the vaginal bleeding and vaginal swelling occurs. This phase lasts about 7 to 10 days.

If male dogs are around they will be interested in the bitch but she will be reluctant and refuse him to mount.

The second phase is the fertile phase called the estrus phase. This is when the the female is actually fertile. The bleeding has stopped and it is replaced by a yellowish vaginal discharge. This phase will last about 4-13 days. She will be more tolerant and will keep her tail to the side. She will allow the male to mount at this point. If you witness "a tie" where they are both stuck together for a while, then very likely puppies are on the way.

The third and final stage is the diestrus and is when the female again will be reluctant to mate, because she is no longer fertile. The male though may still try to mount.

The estrus phase therefore, is the crucial phase, it usually occurs between the 7th and 10th day after the bleeding has started. This is the time you will be looking for if you are planning to successfully breed.

However, there are really no reliable days to count on and this is why some professional breeders have their dog's hormones checked by a vet to ensure breeding on the most fertile day. Again, even this may not be sufficient therefore there is no way really to "grant" pregnancy, but by monitoring the phases you may be able to heighten the chances.

EARLY PREGNANCY SIGNS :THIRD WEEK

Some bitches will develop typical morning sickness symptoms just as in humans (nausea, inappetence) around the end of the third week going into the fourth week. This morning sickness though may be hardly detectable in some dogs and more pronounced in others.

PROVING PREGNANCY

Your vet may palpate your dog's abdomen as early as 28 days post breeding to feel possible embryos. However, an ultrasound may be a more accurate test, actually this test may even help determine how many puppies your bitch is expecting.

Relaxin (a special substance produced only during pregnancy) can also be detected as early as in the first 21-25 days through an endocrinological test. X-rays may detect puppies skeletons 45 days post breeding. Puppies heartbeats may as well be heard via stethoscope 25 days post-breeding.

MORE ABOUT THE RELAXIN TEST

A Relaxin pregnancy test can be available nowadays to those owners eager to find out if the dog is pregnant or not. This test can be done as early as 20 days after the luteininzing hormonal surge. The test requires a blood sample from your dog and this can be challenging for some owners. You must have a centrifuge to separate the plasma because the plasma needs to be tested.

If this is not an option you can have the vet take care of this part for you for a small fee. He can both draw the blood and have it spun for you. Once the plasma is obtained you can finish up the test yourself.

This kit is especially good for breeders since there are 5 tests in the kit. This test is also great for distinguishing real pregnancy from pseudo pregnancy. Results are fast, it only takes about 10 minutes.

The kit may be available online for those who would like to test at home but if you do not have the equipment then you can have the test done totally at the vet's office

CONSIDERING DIET CHANGES

Once your vet has confirmed pregnancy, make sure to mention diet changes. There will come a time (usually 35 days post breeding) where your dog will need to be fed more often and with a more nutritionally balanced diet. Your vet may recommend special diets and supplements.

EARLY SIGNS: FIVE WEEKS

Usually the first signs may be detected at about five weeks post breeding. Early signs would consist of slightly larger nipples and of a darker color. It is always a good idea to take pictures of the nipples shortly after breeding, so you can compare color and size at five weeks. Also some slight weight gain may be noticed especially if a large litter is expected.

QUANTITY TO EXPECT

Dogs may have as little as one pup to as many as fourteen. These numbers may seem way too apart. However, the breed and the size of your dog can tell a lot about the quantity to expect. As a general rule larger breeds go closer for the tens and medium breeds go more for the fives.

LATER SIGNS: EIGHT WEEKS

At eight weeks post breeding the nipples are definitely much larger and also may start to secrete a whitish fluid. By now, the abdomen will be enlarged as well, and at times when the bitch is at rest, movement of puppies can be detected.

GETTING PREPARED

Now, you may start shopping for a nice whelping box. A whelping box should be comfy enough, allowing your dog to be easily able to stretch with her puppies. You may fill the box with newspaper. A heating lamp may be helpful as well to prevent the pups from getting too cold.

LAST SIGNS:WEEK NINE

Your dog may start exhibiting nesting behavior. This means your dog may show a tendency to rip up papers or any other material to make her own whelping box. Fortunately though, you have already thought about this and made her a very comfy one.

LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS

Arm yourself with a thermometer and starting around day fifty six start recording the temperature about twice a day. Bitches normally have a rectal temperature of about 100.2-100.8 degrees Farenheit. At about 24 hours prior to birth, the temperature should drop to about 98-99.4 degrees Farenheit.

Keep your veterinarian's contact numbers handy and have your car ready in case of complications. If possible give your vet a head's up about your dog's lower rectal temperature.

BIRTH

Your dog may be panting pretty heavily, shiver and pace but this is normal in the midst of contractions. Check your clock and note down when the first contraction started. A first time mom may not be able to tell the difference between giving birth and defecating so she may want to go outside. You may take her and of course monitor her.

Sometimes simple movement such as walking around may expedite the process which can turn out pretty lengthy, even up to ten hours! You will then notice that contractions will begin to be closer to each other and eventually within thirty minutes of straining the water sac will appear. Shortly afterward, a puppy will follow and then will the placenta. Your dog may want to eat the placenta, only allow this once as further eating placenta may cause a bout of diarrhea.

 Once the pup is born, your dog will clean it and chew off the umbilical cord. Do not be alarmed if some pups are born tail first, this is a pretty common occurrence in dogs. Expect a normal vaginal discharge to appear post birth. The discharge may be green or red-brownish and should be odorless. This discharge may persist up to 8 weeks post partum.

COMPLICATIONS

OK, the above scenario looks pretty smooth but what are signs that suggest a vet visit?

In general call you vet when:

-It is past day 69

-No signs of labor begin within 24 hours of the temperature drop

-PRIOR to labor your dog excretes a greenish fluid

-You suspect your dog has more puppies inside and no more pups are born after four hours

-Your dog is straining with strong contractions but no pup is produced within an hour

-A puppy appears stuck in the birth canal

-Placenta is not expelled after each puppy

-Your dog is exhibiting an unusually extreme pain

-Of course, call when anything happening makes you worried or doubt or seem out of the norm

While all this information may seem overwhelming, it can turn out to be very helpful for the first time breeder. It is highly recommended to have the bitch and puppies seen within 24 hours to ensure health of the new family. If you are still concerned about your dog's wellbeing and the possibility of complications, statistics are there to give you piece of mind: over 98% of all dogs deliver without assistance or complications. If you are still worried about that mere 2% make sure you learn this article by heart and have your vet's contact number handy and you should be very likely fine! Best of luck!