Puberty in dogs: age and signs. When can you breed a dog?

How long after mating do dogs give birth and how many puppies can there be in a litter?

A dog bears offspring for an average of 63 days. But everything is individual. The exact date of birth is difficult to determine. It depends on:

• female size - small breeds of dogs give birth earlier, at about 59-60 days (a Yorkshire terrier can give birth 57-58 days after mating);
• breeds Labrador, husky, German shepherd - these animals sometimes have long and difficult labor;
• number of puppies. In multiple pregnancies, labor occurs earlier and the process itself occurs faster;
• dog's age;
• complications that arise during pregnancy;
• number of previous pregnancies. Primiparous females often carry puppies to term.

In the last weeks of pregnancy

Any pregnancy in dogs is multiple. Each litter contains at least 2 puppies, 1 is born extremely rarely. Most often, 4-10 puppies are born. Their number depends on the breed and the number of fertilized eggs. Sometimes a multiple pregnancy, for example, an animal carries not 5 puppies, but 16, which does not correspond to its build, is a pathology. In this case, veterinarian intervention is necessary. He will also tell you how dogs give birth.

Bubble exit

Duration of pregnancy in dogs. How to determine if a dog is pregnant.

Pregnancy in dogs lasts on average 61-66 days, that is, approximately 2 months, however, depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the duration of pregnancy can vary from 57 to 72 days. In the first 1 - 1.5 weeks after mating, it is almost impossible to know for sure whether the dog is pregnant. Clinical signs of pregnancy (i.e. those that are visible to the naked eye) appear only from the second month, however, in some cases, indirect symptoms such as drowsiness, lethargy, and apathy of the dog are noted 2-3 weeks after mating. A dog’s first pregnancy may even become visually apparent almost before birth. However, it is not at all necessary to wait a whole month to determine whether your dog is pregnant - this can be found out already in the first month after mating with the help of special tests and ultrasound at a veterinary hospital.

Diagnosing a dog's pregnancy using a test

Today, many veterinary clinics offer a service such as a pregnancy test for dogs. The procedure is a laboratory analysis of the dog’s blood serum for the content of the hormone “relaxin”. By 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, the level of this hormone begins to increase, which is revealed as a result of the analysis. As a rule, a test carried out at 3-4 weeks of a dog’s pregnancy is almost 100% reliable.

Diagnosis of pregnancy in bitches using ultrasound

Starting from 24-35 days after mating, it is possible to determine for sure that the dog is pregnant using an ultrasound examination. At this stage, ultrasound allows you to clearly see on the screen the amniotic sacs with embryos inside, but with its help it is still impossible to find out the exact number of puppies in the future litter. In order to predict the course of pregnancy and assess the viability of the fetus, it is better to do ultrasound for pregnant dogs at a later date. Between approximately the 38th and 45th day, using ultrasonography, you can observe the formation of the puppies' organs and even see in the smallest detail the ventricles, atria and valves of tiny hearts. If the dog's pregnancy is successful, the fetuses will have normal mobility and a pronounced heartbeat.

Sometimes the first clinical signs of pregnancy appear by the end of the first month - the skin of the mammary glands swells slightly, the nipples become clearly visible (in dogs with fair skin they look bright pink). Also, some dogs may begin to show an enlarged belly at this stage. However, quite often these symptoms appear a little later.

Features of feeding a dog before giving birth and caring for it

A pregnant bitch should eat balanced food rich in vitamins and nutrients. Approximately 1-2 weeks before giving birth, limit the amount of food containing calcium. The animal is denied:

• milk and cottage cheese;
• eggs;
• yogurt.

Yorkies in heat, mating and childbirth at home

If dog food contains soy, it should not be used either. Instead, the animal is given fresh meat - beef, rabbit, boiled liver and heart. It is useful to feed your pet vegetables. It could be pumpkin, zucchini or carrots.

Important! To compensate for the lack of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in the body, fish oil is given.

Shortly before the expected birth, they begin to prepare a place for the dog.

Place for birth

Yorkie pregnancy by day: details about childbirth at home

If the bitch previously had problems with bearing and giving birth to puppies, she could not give birth on her own, or the offspring turned out to be non-viable, then the next birth of the dog is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. To do this, she is taken to the clinic. A healthy dog ​​gives birth on its own, without outside help. The main thing is to prepare a place where she could retire during childbirth. This could be a bedding in some corner or a cardboard (wooden) box with high sides.

The bottom of the box is covered with old rags in several layers to make the animal comfortable. You will also need to prepare bedding to replace the one that is dirty (amniotic fluid, afterbirth comes out).

The animal must have its own place

You should not allow your pet to give birth on the sofa or bed. The furniture will be damaged. The animal is shown a box prepared for it in advance. It is advisable to place it where the bitch usually sleeps or eats. If the dog does not react to the box or does not want to get into it, they force it into it for a week, leaving it alone with its favorite toy or treat.

Behavioral and physiological signs of beginning labor

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Even at the time of mating, you should ask how you can understand that a dog is giving birth and how puppies are born in different breeds.

The puppy is connected by the umbilical cord to its mother

Psychological signs of impending labor appear earlier than physiological ones. The first warning sign is panic. The animal becomes restless:

• stirs up the litter with his paws;
• howls, whines;
• refuses to respond to a nickname;
• breathing heavily;
• cannot find a place for himself, lies down and immediately gets up, can run around the room.

Some dogs react to the approach of labor by refusing food and water. There is no need to touch the animal in an attempt to calm its activity.

About 3-4 days before giving birth, the bitch's belly sags. She seems to have suddenly lost several kilograms of weight. But that's not true. The puppies simply move closer to the birth canal that is ready to open. At the same time, other physiological signs of the imminent appearance of offspring appear:

• Mucus is released from the vagina. This occurs due to relaxation of the ligamentous apparatus of the sacral joint and pelvis. The plug comes out, which prevents the puppies from being born before their due date. Concerned about the presence of mucus, the dog vigorously licks itself. This should not be prevented.
• Colostrum oozes from the nipples. If a dog gives birth for the first time, the nipples often increase only slightly in size. With repeated and subsequent births, milk begins to be released.
• Body temperature decreases. The norm is 39 degrees. Shortly before birth, the temperature drops to 37-37.5.

The described physiological and mental changes allow us to conclude that childbirth is approaching and it is necessary to monitor the dog, providing all possible assistance if necessary.

Box for the expectant mother

How to tell if your dog's water has broken

The main sign of the beginning of the labor process is the breaking of water and the onset of contractions. Shortly before the puppies are born, there may be a slight vaginal discharge. But usually the dog licks off all the released fluids and its owner does not notice anything. There is a lot of amniotic fluid, so it is difficult not to notice that it has receded. And yet, in order not to miss the moment, it is better to lay a light piece of fabric instead of the usual bedding.

The appearance of a large dark spot on a light background will indicate that the waters have broken and labor has begun. The waters do not necessarily break just before the puppies arrive. Sometimes there is an interval of 24-96 hours between the discharge of amniotic fluid and the first attempts.

Important! If no contractions are observed after 4 days after the water breaks, immediately contact a specialist.

How to tell if your dog is having contractions

To understand that the pet has begun prenatal contractions, place your hand on the dog’s stomach. At first the stomach seems very hard, but after a second, on the contrary, soft. The uterus contracts, tensing and relaxing.

Some animals whine and howl when pushing. This is fine. It is difficult to answer the question of how long contractions last in dogs. Their duration depends on the number of puppies, the age of the bitch and the physical characteristics of the body.

Anxiety before childbirth

Signs of heat

How does estrus manifest itself? You can determine when a dog is in heat by its behavior, and it changes significantly. The female becomes more active, becomes overly playful and may ignore commands. This is all the result of a hormonal surge. Among the main signs of estrus are:

• The dog begins to sit down to urinate more often (it marks its territory so that potential suitors are aware that it is ready to accept advances);
• Bloody discharge oozes from the noose;
• She often licks the area under her tail;
• The bitch begins to flirt with the males, they show active interest;
• Estrus is preceded by molting.

At first, dogs do not allow members of the opposite sex to approach; they may even show aggression when courtship is too intrusive; their body is not yet ready for mating.

After one and a half to 2 weeks, the structure of the dog’s discharge changes; it will look like yellowish mucus. During this period, the female feels a strong sexual desire, especially if she notices males nearby, her tail moves to the side, and her body takes the stance necessary for sexual intercourse. The loop increases significantly in size.

How to prepare for your pet's upcoming birth

You don’t need anything special to give birth to a dog. To be on the safe side, you need to prepare:

• scissors or a sharp knife for cutting the umbilical cord;
• disinfectants – alcohol, brilliant green, iodine;
• a syringe with oxytocin (a drug to stimulate labor, it is administered in the absence of normal contractions; a doctor must prescribe the medicine);
• suction to clear mucus from the respiratory tract of newborn puppies;
• thick and strong thread;
• bandage;
• syntomycin ointment (an antibacterial drug; pharmacies sometimes offer medications that may have a different name, but have the same effect);
• any means to stop bleeding that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy;
• cotton wool

Important ! If the dog is extremely restless and in severe pain, a painkiller is administered intramuscularly. Only a veterinarian prescribes it and determines the sequence of further actions; this is important to understand.

How long does it take for a dog to give birth?

The duration of labor depends on the weight and size of the dog, the number of puppies, and the strength of its body. In the process of observing the birth of dogs, it was revealed that labor activity can be divided into 3 periods:

1. Preparation. The water breaks and pushing begins. Contractions can last from 6 to 30 hours with breaks.
2. Birth of offspring. Puppies come out head first at intervals of 10-15 minutes. Sometimes a dog gives birth to some of the puppies on the first day, while the rest appear only a few hours later or the next day.
3. Postpartum activities. The uterus contracts and returns to normal within 1-2 weeks after birth.

If we take into account the efforts and the very process of giving birth to each puppy during a multiple pregnancy, then labor lasts on average from 12 to 30 hours.

Caring for puppies

Is there a difference between large and small breeds?

In dogs of large breeds, pregnancy can often occur with all sorts of complications, many of which arise against the background of a large number of puppies. Such dogs have to be helped during childbirth by artificially stimulating it. Small breed pets are more likely to give birth without outside intervention. The exception is large puppies and the presence of only 1-2 puppies in the litter. Normal, uncomplicated childbirth of a small dog (Spitz, Jack Russell terrier, lapdog, Yorkie, dachshund, chihuahua) goes faster.

Labrador

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Labradors give birth to an average of 8-12 puppies, sometimes more. Large individuals produce correspondingly more offspring than miniature ones. Even if you cross a black and brown Labrador with each other, the percentage of fawn puppies produced is higher, despite the fact that the light color carries a rare recessive gene. It is important to know that brown Labradors are more difficult to breed, which is why chocolate Labradors are not very common.

How to properly take part in the process and help the animal

If the birth takes place on time, then there is no need to help the dog. Her body will cope with this task on its own. The only thing you may need to do is:

1. Free the puppy from the bubble in which it is born. This is usually done by the bitch, biting the shell and releasing the puppy. But if the birth is the first or prolonged, then the bitch may not perform the required actions. In this case, the puppies are freed from the membrane on their own and, using suction, the airways of the babies are cleared.
2. Cut the umbilical cord. An inexperienced female may not know how to bite the umbilical cord or may not want to do it. The owner will have to perform this action himself, using a knife or scissors.

The protruding piece of the umbilical cord is tied with thread (before this, hands and instruments, the thread itself, are disinfected in an alcohol solution), treated with brilliant green or iodine. The necessary things should be at hand, which is why you need to prepare for childbirth.

Helping the dog

Preparation for mating

Puberty in dogs begins very early. But the young bitch is not yet able to normally endure mating, pregnancy and childbirth. The body is not yet fully developed and is not ready for such stress. When can you breed a dog? According to the breeding regulations of the RKF, females of small breeds can be allowed to mate no earlier than 15 months, and large and medium breeds - no earlier than 18 months. But practice shows that it is better to postpone mating a little longer. The optimal age for mating a female is 20 months or later.

The breeder should keep a diary in which he will describe his observations of the bitch's estrus, health and well-being. He must be sure that the dog has passed puberty and is fully developed. About a month before the intended mating, it is recommended to examine the animal for sexually transmitted diseases and other infections. During the same period, the dog is treated for fleas and helminths. The owner must make sure that the bitch is fully vaccinated, this will give the puppies good immunity.

Caring for young animals in the first minutes of life

The dog takes care of the offspring on its own, licking the puppies and pushing them towards the nipples. But if she is weakened or does not know what to do due to the fact that she is giving birth for the first time (refuses to recognize puppies, is afraid of them), a person can temporarily replace her:

• newborn puppies are taken out of the box;
• make sure that they are all breathing freely;
• wipe the wool with a soft cloth soaked in water;
• wipe dry with a towel;
• placed on the dog's nipples.

Important ! The pet may behave aggressively, preventing the puppy from being picked up. In such a situation, simply install a heater next to the box so that the wet puppies do not freeze.

How long does a dog's pregnancy last on average and how does it proceed?

The gestation period for different mammals has different durations. Pregnancy in dogs (also called whelping) normally lasts from 53 to 72 days. This process takes place individually for each animal and depends on the characteristics of the breed, size, number of puppies and other factors.

Offspring born ahead of schedule often have breathing problems, since the lungs of babies up to 53 days of intrauterine development are not fully formed. When overmature, puppies usually suffer from a lack of oxygen, in addition, they may develop intoxication.

The first birth is the most difficult for bitches. If a young female is bearing her first offspring, then the owner should be well prepared for the birth of the puppies, since the pet will most likely need help. It is good if a veterinarian is present at the birth. He will detect complications in time based on characteristic signs and take the necessary measures.

You need to prepare your pet for bearing babies several months before the planned conception. She needs to get routine vaccinations, be treated for parasites and adjust her diet.

First two weeks

After mating, sperm activity remains for 7 days, so conception does not always occur on the day of sexual intercourse. After the first contact with the male, the female’s estrus does not end, so the breeder has the opportunity to re-breed to increase the likelihood of conception.

Next comes fertilization: the sperm and egg unite to form a new cell. From this cell an embryo develops that has the genes of its parents. Fertilized cells move towards the uterus, actively divide and become covered with a protective membrane.

The female ends her heat, she ceases to be interested in the male, and may become lethargic. Sometimes dogs lose their appetite and experience nausea in the morning. Attacks of toxicosis last no more than 1 month; if they persist after 4 weeks, there is a risk of intoxication. During this period, it is important to monitor your pet’s health and ensure that it eats well. You should not give your female medication or vitamin supplements without consulting a veterinarian.

At week 2, the embryos move into the uterine cavity and attach to its wall. The mother's body begins to supply them with nutrients and oxygen. The feeding regimen during this period should remain the same, walks and exercises are also carried out as usual.

If the dog has already had puppies, then already in the second week you will notice that its nipples are slightly swollen. In pets expecting their first litter, the skin of their areolas turns slightly pink.

Third and fourth weeks

At this stage, the embryos grow up to 10 mm, their internal organs begin to form, and the nervous system is formed. Development is greatly influenced by genes that determine the characteristics characteristic of the breed. The placenta becomes thicker, but the bitch may still be a little lethargic and feel slightly nauseous.

Pregnancy at 3 weeks can be confirmed by ultrasound, but the embryos are not clearly visualized. At the clinic, the doctor will suggest a blood test to determine the level of relaxin - it increases significantly in pregnant bitches. This test is done only in big cities, but you can make sure that the female is expecting babies by looking at swollen nipples and mucous discharge from the genitals that appears during urination.

The diet and portion size do not need to be changed until day 21. However, if the dog’s appetite increases, then the number of feedings should be increased and a specialist should be consulted about the introduction of special feed additives.

From the 4th week, the embryos begin to develop the rudiments of the jaws, the skeletal and muscular system is formed, and sensitive antennae on the muzzle grow. By the end of this period, the babies are already clearly visible on the monitor during an ultrasound, and their number can be determined. The size of the fruit reaches 4 cm, so an experienced specialist can verify that the female is pregnant by palpating the abdominal cavity.

By day 28, toxicosis should stop completely. The female's appetite is restored, she becomes more active, affectionate, and strives to be with her owner more.

Fifth, sixth and seventh

The fifth week is the end of the first half of pregnancy. Puppies are already surrounded by amniotic fluid, so it is difficult to palpate them at this stage. The waters protect the cubs from external influences. Babies begin to develop fingers, claws, and genitals.

From the 5th week the dog’s diet changes. She is given food with plenty of vitamins and protein to provide the puppies with the nutrients they need. The diet is adjusted taking into account the characteristics of the breed. There are special lines of food for pregnant dogs. Experts advise feeding expectant mothers up to 4 times a day. The portions are getting bigger.

Caring for dogs and puppies after birth

During and after childbirth, it is important to be close to the animal, carefully observing the process. This will help you not to miss the moment when the afterbirth begins to come out. Usually he comes out after each puppy or at the very end if the female was carrying 2-3 puppies. If the afterbirth remains and does not come out, contact a veterinarian.

They try not to touch the pet too much; you can wait a little while changing the bedding. And to prevent puppies from freezing on wet rags, place clean ones on top of soiled ones without disturbing the dog. Next to the box you need to place a bowl with clean water and light food (vegetables, a few pieces of rabbit meat). When the bitch gets hungry, she will eat herself.

If the animal does not get to its feet for a long time after giving birth, whines or tries to bite, it is better to call a veterinarian and find out from him how normal this condition is considered, and whether it is possible to speed up recovery. Dogs usually recover from labor very quickly.

Caesarean