Lee's Sweet Shih Tzus, Ontario - Pregnancy and Stages Of Labor

Week	Puppy Development	Changes In Mom	Care Of Mom	Your To Do List
Week 1	* Fertilization occurs 2 cell embryos are in the oviduct. * Embryo is fairly resistant to external interference in development.	* Possible morning sickness. Give mom dog crackers to help settle her belly. * Possible personality changes.	* Normal feeding. * Check any and all medications with vet prior to administering. * No insecticides (flea treatments) * No live vaccines	Give mom dog a lot of love
Week 2 Days 8-14	Embryo will be 4 cells at start of week And 64 cell's by end of week Embryo enters the uterus	Possible morning sickness Give mom dog crackers to help settle her belly	Normal Feeding	Momma Dog gets lots of love
Week 3 Days 15-22	Day 19-Implantation of embryos in uterus	Possible morning sickness	Normal feeding	Momma Dog gets lots of love
Week 4 Days 22-28	Development of eyes, spinal, cords, faces, take shape Fetuses grow from 5-10 mm to 14-15 mm Organogenesis begins-Embryos are at their most susceptible to defects Days 26-32 are the best days to palpitate {feel for the puppies} (This should only be done by a Vet or a breeder)	Possible clear vaginal discharge Mammary development begins	After Day 26, palpitation may be possible to diagnose pregnancy Limit strenuous activity	Momma Dog gets lots of love Schedule ultrasound or palpitation with vet if desired
Week 5 Days 29-35	Development of toes, whisker, buds, and claws Fetuses look like little dogs now. Gender can be determined Eyes (previously open) now close Fetuses grow from 18 mm-30 mm Organogenesis ends-embryos are fairly resistant to interference with development	Swelling becomes noticeable Loss of "tuck-up" Weight will start to increase	Slightly increase amount of food and switch to puppy food If you feed one meal a day, add an extra meal If you feed twice a day, slightly increase one of the meals Palpitation no longer possible due to fluids in uterus	Momma Dog gets lots of love
Week 6 Days 36-42	Development of skin pigment Fetuses should weigh around 6 grams and be 45 mm long Fetal heartbeats can be heard with stethoscope	Nipples darken and enlarge Abdomen continues to enlarge	Increase the amount of food in the extra meal Mom dog should start sleeping in whelping box	Give mom dog a lot of love Assemble whelping box By this time you should be fairly sure that the mom dog is pregnant Notify the people on your puppy list Let them know when you expect delivery
Week 7 Days 43-49	Growth and development continues	Abdomen hair will start shedding The mom dog will start to look pregnant at this point	Slightly increase both meals	Give mom dog allot of love. Stop any roughhousing or jumping Radiographs (X-rays) possible to determine number and size of puppies, If desired
Week 8 Days 50-57	Fetal movement can be detected when the mom dog is at rest.	Milk may be squeezed from nipples The mom dog will be very large.	Add moderate lunch	Give mom dog allot of love Gather whelping kit Prepare phone list for help/support It should include your vet's phone number the emergency clinic's phone number and the number of any friends who will be offering support during Whelping and anyone else you might need to contact before, during, or after whelping Make sure your car is gassed up and ready for a possible emergency trip to the vet's office.
Week 9	Growth and Development continues It is safe for puppies to be born now	Nesting behavior may be seen Mom dog may become distressed {panting, pacing, and acting uncomfortable} Temperature should be around 100.2-100.8 degrees Fahrenheit When temperature drops to around 98-99.4 degrees Fahrenheit puppies should be born within 24 hours Appetite may disappear as whelping approaches	Start taking temperature three times a day	Give mom dog allot of love Notify vet or emergency clinic when temperature drops so that they will be ready if you have any problems Keep detailed records on temperature and behavior of bitch Double check that whelping supplies are ready
POST PARTUM	POST PARTUM Make sure each puppy gets some of the Mom Dogs milk within first 24 hours {discharge} should be reddish to reddish-brown green is okay on first day If you see black discharge contact your vet immediately Within 5-6 hours of last puppy's birth, take mom dog and pups to vet for check up The vet will ensure that the mom dog hasn't retained any pups or placentas and that the pups are in good health.

* Stethoscope. To hear heartbeats

* Bulb syringe sealed, sterile. To suction out pups mouth and nose if needed

*Digital thermometer and a tube of lubricant KY jelly. To take mom dogs temp and pups temp

*Esbilac emergency feeding kit bottle/nipple- to feed pup if needed

*Bottle of iodine-to put on umbilical cord

*Tube of sterile lubricant KY jelly

*Bottle of rubbing alcohol. To keep instruments sterile

*A box of latex-free surgical gloves. To protect mom dog and pups from infection

*Lots of disposable rags. To clean and dry pups

*Lots of puppy under pads. To keep whelping area dry and clean

*Big bottle of hand sanitizer. To keep your hands sterile at all times

*Pair stainless steel locking hemostat forceps. To clamp the pups cord if needed

*Pair stainless steel surgical scissors. To cut the pups cord if needed

*Styptic pencil or packs of styptic powder. To stop minor bleeding

*Sterile basins. To hold tools

*Flashlight with extra batteries. To use when you take mom dog out to pee

In the 8th week you can feel and see the puppies moving around. I love this part. I have been doing this for so long I can count pups way before 8 weeks.
I use a prenatal baby heart monitor it easier to hear the pups heartbeats.

If you own a stethoscope you can hear heartbeats in the 8th week.
It sounds like short quick tic,tic,tic,tic,tic.
I have learned to tell the sex of pups this way. Males tic faster.
Like in Morse code, males are the dot, females are the dash.
If you get good at this you can count pups too.

This starts when mom dog's temperature is around 98 degrees

* Possible mucus discharge

* Refusal to eat

* Wants you near or stares at you

* May hide under your bed or in another dark place

* Staring at her rear end

* Excessive licking of her vulva

* Shivering or panting and pacing

* Mild contractions start at this point

Progesterone causes the mom dog's temperature to drop

*As progesterone drops, the temperature drops
*Period of uterine contraction
*Period of cervical dilation
*Minimal external contractions
*Lasts average of 6-24 hours
*Temperature drops-as long as temperature is lower, nothing should be happening
*Nesting, shivering, anorexia, panting
*When temperature increases to normal, mom dog should start pushing in a few hours

Cervix fully dilated
Active labor
Alternates with Stage 3 Pushing pups out

Begins when placenta is passed.
Alternates with Stage 2
Ends when last puppy is born

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