Caring for a pregnant dachshund and preparing for childbirth

So, all the hassle associated with organizing the mating has passed and the pet, a dachshund, is waiting for puppies. The pregnancy period is difficult for the body of any bitch; she will have to spend a lot of effort to bear babies.

The health of the expectant mother and her offspring directly depends on proper care of the dog during this difficult time.

Pregnancy begins on the day of successful mating, leading to the fertilization of the egg. The normal period for dachshunds is 62 days. Childbirth is considered physiological if it occurs between 53 and 72 days of pregnancy. When carrying out several matings, it is more difficult to determine the exact period, but a discrepancy of 2-3 days is not particularly important.

When does the first heat start?

Pregnant Dachshund
Every dog ​​owner should know when the first heat begins and what signs appear. As a rule, this happens in dachshunds at 7-8 months. But depending on heredity, living conditions and diseases, the period of the first estrus can shift either to an earlier or later date.

Note! If estrus begins earlier than 7 months and later than 14-15, this should alert you and be a reason to contact a veterinarian. Such significant deviations from the norm can be a sign of serious pathologies and dysfunctions of the body.

Signs before childbirth

About a day before the start of contractions visible to the naked eye, more specific symptoms of an approaching event begin to appear. It is very important not to miss them and to provide the dog, especially one giving birth for the first time, with all the necessary conditions and moral support.

One day before the puppies arrive:

• The animal begins to either consume food with a huge appetite, trying to accumulate energy reserves before an important event, or completely refuses to eat due to poor health.
• Diarrhea and vomiting may begin . The body is trying to get rid of excess filling that interferes with the passage through the birth canal.
• The temperature drops . Depending on the size of the animal, rectal thermometer measurements may drop several degrees. For giant and large breed dogs, the difference in readings is the smallest. On average 37 -37.5 degrees. In decorative and dwarf breeds, the temperature drops to 36-35 degrees. This is the surest harbinger of the onset of labor.
• Colostrum begins to be released more actively.
• The loop relaxes and becomes soft.
• The dog spends all the time actively licking the genitals.
• A mucous protective plug emerges , which is a whitish or yellowish viscous liquid with greenish or brown inclusions.

When all these signs appear, labor can be considered to have begun. It is very important to record the time of all changes, since this is what will help you find out whether everything is proceeding correctly and whether help is needed . If contractions do not begin within 24 hours after the temperature drops, it is necessary to help begin labor. This can only be done by specialists at a veterinary clinic; you cannot try to speed up the birth process at home on your own.

How to understand that a dog is pregnant

It is important to detect pregnancy in a Dachshund in time and be able to distinguish a false pregnancy from a real one. False pregnancy occurs mainly due to hormonal disorders. In pregnant and young dogs, its signs may appear 6 weeks after estrus.

External signs of false pregnancy in dachshunds:

• Refusal to eat or increased appetite.
• Sudden mood swings.
• Aggressive behavior.
• The animal prefers to be alone and is usually lethargic.
• The nipples swell and milk may even leak.

This condition can last for a long period of time. No specialist intervention is required. To improve the animal's mood, long walks outside and active games are necessary.

Note! The most reliable way to determine whether a Dachshund is pregnant or not is to do an ultrasound. Pregnancy usually occurs after the second or even third mating.

How long does pregnancy last

An important question to which you need to know the answer is how long do pregnant dachshund dogs walk. The standard duration of this period in a dog's life is 62 days. The length of time a pregnant dachshund walks may vary. Typically, puppies are born between 58 and 68 days. Such periods are within normal limits. Dachshund pregnancy by day becomes noticeable a month after the start of conception.

Detailed calendar for a pregnant dog by week:

• The first half of pregnancy (about 30 days) there are no signs. In some cases, you may notice changes in behavior and taste preferences.
• On the 35th day, you can feel the fruits in the stomach with your hands. But doing this yourself is not recommended.
• After the fourth week, the belly begins to round out. It immediately becomes noticeable that the dachshund will give birth.
• Closer to the fifth week, the animal’s behavior begins to change. The dachshund becomes capricious and picky about food. Signs of toxicosis appear.

During late pregnancy, vaginal discharge may appear. If there are a lot of them and have an unpleasant odor, you should show your pet to a doctor.

Dachshund 5 weeks pregnant

Additional Information! The length of pregnancy for a dachshund - 58 or 68 days - depends on the individual characteristics of the animal.

Start of complementary feeding

You can give food other than mother's milk to puppies from the moment they stand on their paws fairly confidently. You can start with baby food (meat, of course, and under no circumstances take baby formula). What to feed a dachshund puppy for up to a month?

Thin porridges, semolina or rice, cooked in milk (it is well absorbed by small puppies) would be appropriate. At the same time, you can give low-fat kefir and soft unsweetened cottage cheese; Boil lean meat - poultry for starters - boil it, pass it through a blender or meat grinder and dilute with broth. Babies need to be fed 5 times a day, between mother’s feedings.

Proper care for a pregnant dog

During this period, the dog needs to be surrounded with maximum care. You cannot vaccinate or deworm an animal. You need to wait until the dog whelps. A responsible owner should do this before breeding.

You should not bathe a pregnant dog. She may catch a cold, which makes her more likely to have a miscarriage. In the second month, you need to protect your pet from stress. It is also worth reducing the number of walks and walking in less crowded places.

You need to feed three times a day. If necessary, add vitamins and minerals to the diet. Such care should continue not only before childbirth, but also for some time after it.

Feeding a pregnant dachshund

Throughout pregnancy, the dachshund needs high-quality and nutritious nutrition. In the first half of pregnancy, the feeding regimen and diet do not change. In the second half, the amount of food increases along with the growth of the dachshund's weight.

The total daily food intake increases, but it is important to ensure that the dachshund does not overeat and does not gain weight, this complicates the birth and development of puppies. But under no circumstances should she go hungry. The percentage of protein foods increases: meat, eggs, fish, dairy products. Products high in fiber and starch (porridge, baked goods), on the contrary, are best given in limited quantities. Vegetables are great as fillers and sources of vitamins.

During pregnancy, it is imperative to give the expectant mother vitamins and minerals. A large number of them are needed for the correct and full development of the offspring; their deficiency will especially affect the health of puppies and bitches. You can buy ready-made vitamin-mineral complexes, or calculate the norms together with your veterinarian and add them yourself according to dosage. Particular attention is paid to calcium metabolism. Not only the health of bones and teeth depends on the calcium content, but also the prevention of postpartum eclampsia, which is often found in dachshunds.

At this time, the daily portion should be divided into 2, and from the sixth week into 3 doses.

When feeding ready-made dry food, dogs are gradually transferred to food for pregnant women or for puppies. In this case, there is no need to add vitamins and minerals.

Signs of labor

Every person involved in breeding dachshunds should know the signs of labor:

• The dog becomes restless or very affectionate and does not leave the owner.
• Lost appetite.
• The dog constantly asks to go outside and immediately wants to go home.
• A week before giving birth, the belly sags.
• If earlier the pushing of the puppies is noticeable through the stomach, then before the birth they subside.
• Body temperature drops to 37 degrees. Normally it is 38-39 degrees.
• Sticky white or gray mucus comes from the vagina.
• The dog begins to breathe more often, and the heartbeat also increases.
• The nipples become swollen.
• Hair falls out on the belly.

Just before the birth itself, your waters break.

Childbirth at home: how to take it

To give birth at home, you do not need to be a very experienced specialist. But it is still better if a veterinarian is present during the birth. This is especially important if the pregnancy was difficult.

But sometimes circumstances are such that it is not possible to contact a veterinarian, so in any case, the owner must know and understand how to deliver a dog at home.

Necessary preparation for childbirth

First you need to prepare several diapers (5-6 pieces) in order to put them under the dog and the same number for the puppies. You will also need scissors wiped with rubbing alcohol or iodine to cut the umbilical cord.

Important! If childbirth takes place in winter, the room temperature should not be less than 24 degrees.

Until the birth, you need to monitor the dachshund so that it chooses an open place and does not hide in secluded corners where it will be impossible to control the process.

Dog before birth

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

Dachshund contractions go unnoticed by humans. After them, the dog goes to bed and sleeps for up to 12 hours, deep sleep. After sleep comes the birth itself.

Under no circumstances should labor be stimulated artificially. This is very dangerous for both the dog and the puppies. It is especially important to pay close attention to your pet if she is giving birth for the first time. The dog is very scared and it is important that the owner is affectionate and caring, so that after giving birth the animal does not develop psychological problems.

If the breeder independently delivers the baby, you need to monitor the animal’s well-being. If a potentially dangerous condition occurs, you should immediately call a veterinarian.

What complications can there be:

• Eclampsia (occurs after childbirth, characterized by a sharp decrease in calcium in the blood).
• Metritis (inflammation of the uterus).
• Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands).
• Uterine prolapse.
• Bleeding.

At the first signs of any disease, you should immediately take your pet to the doctor, and not wait for it to go away on its own.

Caring for puppies

A few hours after birth, puppies can find their nipples on their own and start drinking milk. The main thing is, immediately after birth, put them as close to their mother as possible and leave them alone. You can periodically observe whether all the puppies are moving.

Note! In general, in the first weeks it is important to monitor the well-being of newborn dogs.

Newborn puppies

When should you call a veterinarian?

Careful preparation for the birth of a dog is not a guarantee that everything will go well. Complications may arise during the process as a result of unforeseen circumstances or existing health problems.

The veterinarian is called when:

1. 2 hours after the start of labor, the first puppy did not appear.
2. Scarlet blood flows from the genitals.
3. After the puppy was born, the placenta did not pass.
4. If the interval between the births of babies exceeds 1 hour.
5. The bitch has dysplasia and problems with the cardiovascular system.
6. The dog had previously undergone a caesarean section.

The help of a veterinarian will not be superfluous when the litter is expected to contain more than 6 animals, the owner has never given birth before, or the dog is a small breed.