Dog is pregnant - how much will I have to do - birth/ongoing

[TracyK]

My mums dog is pg. Mum is due to go abroad on hols in 2 weeks - not sure if pups will be here by then or not.

How much does the dog do herself and is there any intervention required by the owner?

Also - what does the dog mum do during the first couple of weeks? Does she need company during the day - or is she so busy looking after pups that she'll just need fed and out for a pee etc? and clean out the pups litter trays etc?

Just trying to get a handle on how much my mum is going to have to ask a dog sitter/me to do while she's on hols.

You really need to know what you are doing. WHy is your mum going away at this time? Sorry but if she is a breeder surely she knows how much work is involved and needs to be there to oversee everything.

It's a big expensive responsibility.

Depends on the dog how muhc intervention is required. Definitely have the number for your Vet on speed dial. Puppies will need to be weighed daily to check they are growing.

This is not something I would recommend you do if you really don't know what you are doing?

Agree with Hercules. It can all go horribly wrong and should not be left in the hands of an inexperienced person.

She had booked her holiday last year - Easter hols as she's a teacher.

She then got a dog from the cat and dog home about 8 weeks ago - it was in season when they picked her up from the streets and so must have been got at by another stray.

Been to the vets numerous times over the past 8 weeks with cut pads etc - the vet kept saying no, no not pregnant. Ta Dah - she IS pregnant.

The C&D home said they could take her back in for the birth and weaning - but it seems cruel to have a lovely home for a while, then be papped back into cage.

If no pups are here by the time of her hols - I'll bring the dog to my house.

Just didn't want to ask family members - less doggy - to help out if it'll be a nightmare.

But I didn't know if the mum dog is so knackered in the week following the birth that she'll just need fed and out for a pee.

Our dog had puppies last year, we sat up all night just in case and had to revive one. They were then all vet checked the next day, and we had to help mum with feeding as she wasn't keen. It is not a job if you haven't got the time, or the dog doesn't know you well.

You need to let the dog out frequently for short runs, she'll only want to whizz out and wee, and not be away from puppies for long. You'll need to feed her carefully too - she'll need extra protein, probably little and often. This is assuming it all goes well - what if she has more babies than she had boobies (usually 8), extras would have to be hand fed, and you'll have to make sure that puppies are moved around and not just a few greedy/strong ones get all the milk. They'll also need weighing - not easy I can tell you.

Don't mean to frighten you, but it not something you can do half heartedly - it's full on! Great fun, and very rewarding, but almost as exhausting for the first few days as having your own baby. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!

Don't be too despondent about this, when I was a younger our family dog had several litters of puppies and managed perfectly well on her own with just a bit of oversight from us. If the dog is a crossbreed she might have more natural nous and be a better shape to give birth. Most dog care books have a section on whelping and if you set up a whelping box somewhere quiet for her and keep in touch with the vet nature will take its course in all liklihood. Mummy dogs do like to get our to stretch their legs and have a bit of respite - they also eat the umbilical cords and clean up poo themselves to begin with so it is not too difficult to keep the box clean. Don't know if it is still available but we used t get in a tin of Lactol dog formula and a bottle just in case there were feeding problems ( if not the Lactol can be used when they start to lap). Before anyone comments about our old dog I can only say my parents were not very responsible and didn't understand that no amount of fence building would keep the local farmer's dog out of our garden.

Thanks girls.
I'm hoping she'll give birth at my mums house - where she knows and feels safe. Turns out my mum isn't going on hols till the 13th April - and the dog is due next week/following week.

My mum and I have been scouring the internet for info - it looks very daunting - but I'm hoping she'll just get on with it.

She is a crossbreed - and quite small framed - so I'm hoping maybe only 3 or 4 pups. Though someone said count the nipples and she has 9!!!

I notice a couple of people saying the puppies will need to be weighed - why? I didn't weigh my bitch's pups and they all grew up just fine. (She was found as a stray when in season, I hadn't planned to have puppies!)

She's also a small mongrel, and guessing from the way the four pups turned out, the fathers included a lab or retriever, a collie and a small piebald horse. She managed to give birth fine on her own, but I had a small at the notion of puppies using litter trays. For the first few weeks, when they're not particularly mobile, mum deals with the yucky stuff, then they just do it anywhere (away from their bedding). Keep them in a room with washable flooring. I have fond(?) memories of stepping in warm puppy poo (bare feet, dark room) on my way to the loo...

The number in the litter isn't related to the number of nipples, btw - just that if she has more than nine pups (unlikely, but possible - your vet should be able to estimate how many by having a good grope) they won't all be able to feed at the same time.

If you've ever had a cat with kittens, you may be surprised at how much a bitch "neglects" her pups in comparison.