The care of a pet must be a priority for those who decide to have one in their life. But these have to be increased even more when it comes to a pregnant bitch. Pregnancy in dogs lasts about two months, between 58 and 65 days. Although the pregnancy is not usually complicated, we must not lose sight of the needs of the future mother to ensure well-being, both for her and for the puppies that are on the way.
The nutritional and exercise needs of the bitch will change during pregnancy. She will also need more love and attention from you, as well as avoiding stress and having continuous veterinary monitoring. So that your dog’s pregnancy develops in the most positive way possible, let’s see how to care for her during this stage of her life.
Given the effort that her body will have to undertake to gestate life inside her, the nutritional needs of the bitch will increase during pregnancy. However, in the first few weeks, her appetite will decrease. It will be from the third or fourth week when it is necessary to increase her food dose by approximately 25% more, as well as provide her with quality food. Your vet will guide the relevance of giving her some specific enriched feed or reinforcing her diet with a homemade diet.
The bitch will need plenty of water during pregnancy, so you’ll need to make sure she stays hydrated. Put several bowls of fresh water at their disposal, in easily accessible areas, because as they gain weight they will lose mobility. Check that she drinks enough water and offer it to her regularly if she doesn’t do it on her own.
Overweight and obesity are risk factors for developing other diseases in dogs and this probability increases during pregnancy. Therefore, you must avoid the sedentary lifestyle of the pregnant dog. She will be more listless and less active, so it is your job to encourage her to move with several daily walks, which should be short and at a gentle pace that she can follow without getting tired.
On the contrary, try not to make sudden movements or vigorous runs, as it could hurt itself and harm the puppies.
In order for the pregnancy to develop correctly, you have to ensure that the pregnant dog does not feel stress. Make sure there are no loud noises where she is and keep her away from other animals or children that could make her nervous. Give her lots of pampering, caressing, and massages on the head or back so that she is calm, but do not massage the belly area, as it is very sensitive.
Throughout the pregnancy, the bitch should receive an exhaustive follow-up by the veterinarian, to assess that everything is going well. In addition, it is essential to keep deworming and vaccination up to date.
In the event that the dog becomes infested once pregnant, you will not be able to deworm it until the final stretch of the pregnancy, otherwise it could affect the puppies. Finally, it is important to maintain proper hygiene for the bitch during pregnancy, with regular baths and brushing.
