CARING FOR YOUR BITCH FROM CONCEPTION TO WEANING
PREPARATION
If you intend to breed from your bitch, there are a few important points to consider before you start.
You will need a considerable amount of space, time and patience. It is important that you have a secluded, quiet area for whelping which is familiar to the bitch. Moving a pregnant bitch to a new area of the house or to the garage just before whelping can be very unsettling. There must also be sufficient space in the room for both the bitch and puppies during the following three weeks. After this, you will need to move both puppies and dam to an area where they can be exposed to the comings and goings of everyday life. This helps the puppies to become properly socialised. This area of the house may also have to serve as an area for prospective owners to view the puppies, so be prepared for visitors to your house.
Caring for a pregnant bitch, together with rearing and finding homes for the puppies, involves a considerable amount of time, often as long as three or four months. In the later stages of pregnancy your bitch will need some additional care and attention, especially as the date for whelping draws near. You will certainly need to commit several full days to supervising the bitch and puppies after the birth. Although your time commitment will gradually lessen, you will have to be prepared to keep the puppies until they are at least eight weeks old. During this time you will have to make sure that they are wormed properly and possibly have them vaccinated.
Finally, producing a litter of puppies will involve you in some cost. You will need to allow for extra feeding, building a whelping pen, heating and lighting and veterinary fees. If you intend to sell the puppies, then you will not see any return on your investment for some months.
WHERE TO START
You will need to determine the best time to mate your bitch. A basic knowledge of the bitch’s oestrus cycle is vital for this. There are four distinct phases to the cycle:
Externally, you may see few signs of pregnancy for the first four or five weeks or so. At around 5 weeks you may see the teats enlarge and change colour and at the same time the mammary glands will also enlarge. Check for any vaginal discharge. A small amount of white or transparent mucus is a reasonable indication of pregnancy. Any other type of discharge is cause for concern.
Gradually you may notice that your bitch’s abdomen begins to enlarge, normally apparent around five to six weeks after mating. The extra weight of the enlarged uterus normally causes the spine to sag, making the back bone more prominent. With a small litter you may see no abdominal distension at all.
FEEDING DURING PREGNANCY
Careful attention to feeding is an important part of the overall care. Incorrect feeding can certainly cause problems, especially early on. The temptation to overfeed in the first five weeks should be avoided as this can lead to obesity and problems whelping. Personally, we do not feed any extra. Once confirmed in whelp, we switch the mum-to-be on to a complete puppy food.
PREPARATION
If you intend to breed from your bitch, there are a few important points to consider before you start.
You will need a considerable amount of space, time and patience. It is important that you have a secluded, quiet area for whelping which is familiar to the bitch. Moving a pregnant bitch to a new area of the house or to the garage just before whelping can be very unsettling. There must also be sufficient space in the room for both the bitch and puppies during the following three weeks. After this, you will need to move both puppies and dam to an area where they can be exposed to the comings and goings of everyday life. This helps the puppies to become properly socialised. This area of the house may also have to serve as an area for prospective owners to view the puppies, so be prepared for visitors to your house.
Caring for a pregnant bitch, together with rearing and finding homes for the puppies, involves a considerable amount of time, often as long as three or four months. In the later stages of pregnancy your bitch will need some additional care and attention, especially as the date for whelping draws near. You will certainly need to commit several full days to supervising the bitch and puppies after the birth. Although your time commitment will gradually lessen, you will have to be prepared to keep the puppies until they are at least eight weeks old. During this time you will have to make sure that they are wormed properly and possibly have them vaccinated.
Finally, producing a litter of puppies will involve you in some cost. You will need to allow for extra feeding, building a whelping pen, heating and lighting and veterinary fees. If you intend to sell the puppies, then you will not see any return on your investment for some months.
WHERE TO START
You will need to determine the best time to mate your bitch. A basic knowledge of the bitch’s oestrus cycle is vital for this. There are four distinct phases to the cycle:
- Pro-oestrus
The period leading up to oestrus or heat is known as pro-oestrus and normally lasts about nine or ten days. The vulva will normally swell and you will notice a bloodstained discharge. Your bitch may be attractive to male dogs but will not allow mating to take place. - Oestrus
Pro-oestrus is followed by oestrus which lasts nine days on average. The vulva is very swollen and the discharge is straw-coloured rather than blood stained. Your bitch should accept the dog and ovulation will normally occur about two days after the start of oestrus. Most breeders suggest two matings, 48 hours apart at this time, to ensure that the eggs become fertilised. - Met-oestrus
Following oestrus there is a period lasting on average 90 days known as met-oestrus. Hormone levels are similar to those seen in pregnancy and it is during this phase your bitch may show symptoms associated with false pregnancy. - Anoestrus
The final part of the cycle is referred to as anoestrus, which varies considerably in duration. Lasting on average 75 days, this is a period of sexual inactivity between oestrus cycles.
Externally, you may see few signs of pregnancy for the first four or five weeks or so. At around 5 weeks you may see the teats enlarge and change colour and at the same time the mammary glands will also enlarge. Check for any vaginal discharge. A small amount of white or transparent mucus is a reasonable indication of pregnancy. Any other type of discharge is cause for concern.
Gradually you may notice that your bitch’s abdomen begins to enlarge, normally apparent around five to six weeks after mating. The extra weight of the enlarged uterus normally causes the spine to sag, making the back bone more prominent. With a small litter you may see no abdominal distension at all.
FEEDING DURING PREGNANCY
Careful attention to feeding is an important part of the overall care. Incorrect feeding can certainly cause problems, especially early on. The temptation to overfeed in the first five weeks should be avoided as this can lead to obesity and problems whelping. Personally, we do not feed any extra. Once confirmed in whelp, we switch the mum-to-be on to a complete puppy food.
Mating to Birth Diary
Call your vet for the next available appointment for the CHV-1 herpes vaccine (approx £30 and MUST be done within 10days of 1st mating) Bleeding may start again. Keep your eye out for the next few weeks for smelly discharge, if this occurs call your vet
Day 10 - Canine herpes Vaccine. CHV-1
We can’t stress this enough. Canine Herpes, is a MAJOR cause of stillborn, or week puppies. We ALWAYS vaccinate our dogs. Make sure the vet has enough in stock to cover both vaccines, one today and one on day 53
Day15 - You may think you can tell if she is pregnant…. But you can’t !
She may start to experience morning sickness but this is NOT a conclusive sign. Most dogs going through a phantom or false pregnancy also have this. This is the time most bitches absorb any puppies.
So do your best to avoid all stress on the bitch.
Day 28-32 - The optimum time for scanning.
If you are going to have her scanned, the best place we have found, is VetSonic in Malton, and only costs £20 (contact details are on our LINKS page). This is the most accurate time for getting a good head count. Once you have confirmation of pregnancy you should change her onto a good quality puppy food. Do it over the period of a week to prevent an upset stomach. She should be kept on this food until the puppies are about 12 weeks, or until she has put condition back on after the puppies leave for their new homes. Order all your whelping supplies and get the whelping box up to allow bitch to get used to it.
Day 35- You may start seeing signs of pregnancy….
Signs such as: nipples enlarging, sides thickening- but again this often occur in phantoms too. Order Panacur 10% solution from QWERTY (their website is available from our LINKS page). Most Vets stock it also, but expect to pay more !
Panacur is the ONLY LICENSED WORMER FOR PREGNANT BITCHES. It works differently to other wormers. It is the ONLY wormer that prevents dormant larvae in the bitch transferring to puppies. Continue with exercise, but avoid hard exercise.
Day 40- Worming
Begin worming with Panacur 10%. It should be done daily from day 40 up to 2 days after whelping.
Day 53- Vaccine
Go to your vet for her 2nd CHV-1 vaccine (again approx £30)
Day 56- Temperature
You should be off work and with the bitch constantly now. You should also start taking her temperature twice a day, 12 hours apart and keep a clear record.
Day 59- Make sure you are ready !!
Temperature should be taken 4 times a day, 6 hours apart. The minute you notice a considerable drop in temperature (more than 0.5 C) the temp should be taken ever hour. Labour usually occurs within 24 hours of this drop occurring, but every bitch is different.
Day 63/ Day 0 (assuming text book bitch) The puppies are born !!
HOWEVER, IT IS COMMON FOR SHAR PEI’S TO BE EARLY – 3 to 4 days in our experience.
Call your vet for the next available appointment for the CHV-1 herpes vaccine (approx £30 and MUST be done within 10days of 1st mating) Bleeding may start again. Keep your eye out for the next few weeks for smelly discharge, if this occurs call your vet
Day 10 - Canine herpes Vaccine. CHV-1
We can’t stress this enough. Canine Herpes, is a MAJOR cause of stillborn, or week puppies. We ALWAYS vaccinate our dogs. Make sure the vet has enough in stock to cover both vaccines, one today and one on day 53
Day15 - You may think you can tell if she is pregnant…. But you can’t !
She may start to experience morning sickness but this is NOT a conclusive sign. Most dogs going through a phantom or false pregnancy also have this. This is the time most bitches absorb any puppies.
So do your best to avoid all stress on the bitch.
Day 28-32 - The optimum time for scanning.
If you are going to have her scanned, the best place we have found, is VetSonic in Malton, and only costs £20 (contact details are on our LINKS page). This is the most accurate time for getting a good head count. Once you have confirmation of pregnancy you should change her onto a good quality puppy food. Do it over the period of a week to prevent an upset stomach. She should be kept on this food until the puppies are about 12 weeks, or until she has put condition back on after the puppies leave for their new homes. Order all your whelping supplies and get the whelping box up to allow bitch to get used to it.
Day 35- You may start seeing signs of pregnancy….
Signs such as: nipples enlarging, sides thickening- but again this often occur in phantoms too. Order Panacur 10% solution from QWERTY (their website is available from our LINKS page). Most Vets stock it also, but expect to pay more !
Panacur is the ONLY LICENSED WORMER FOR PREGNANT BITCHES. It works differently to other wormers. It is the ONLY wormer that prevents dormant larvae in the bitch transferring to puppies. Continue with exercise, but avoid hard exercise.
Day 40- Worming
Begin worming with Panacur 10%. It should be done daily from day 40 up to 2 days after whelping.
Day 53- Vaccine
Go to your vet for her 2nd CHV-1 vaccine (again approx £30)
Day 56- Temperature
You should be off work and with the bitch constantly now. You should also start taking her temperature twice a day, 12 hours apart and keep a clear record.
Day 59- Make sure you are ready !!
Temperature should be taken 4 times a day, 6 hours apart. The minute you notice a considerable drop in temperature (more than 0.5 C) the temp should be taken ever hour. Labour usually occurs within 24 hours of this drop occurring, but every bitch is different.
Day 63/ Day 0 (assuming text book bitch) The puppies are born !!
HOWEVER, IT IS COMMON FOR SHAR PEI’S TO BE EARLY – 3 to 4 days in our experience.
Day 0 to day 7 - Weigh daily and record clearly See our FORMS section for some to print.
Day 2 - Stop worming mum
Day 8-14
Weigh alternate Days – Think about some kennel names…. It is easier to pick a theme, and go with that. You could, for example, chose Pantomime characters, and have the following names: Perfect Prince Charming, Beautiful Boy Buttons, Sweet Snow White etc.
Day 14
Puppies should be wormed/ start worming course. Once eyes are open leave a small cup of water available for the puppies to explore and drink. Change frequently. (Beware for puppies that like to go for a swim in the water bowl!) This is when we register them with the Kennel Club, which now is really easy to do online. Please ensure you endorse all pups if you need help with this give me a call. Registration costs £15 per pup.
Day 18
Begin weaning. Within 4 days of beginning weaning they should be on 5 or 6 meals a day, spread out evenly, but access to mums milk too. Keep check on puppy's nails as they scratch each other & mum. It is a good idea to clip, once a week just the very ends. It gets them used to it for later life. Just a normal pair of human nail clippers is fine, but DON’T clip too much as the nails will bleed.
Day 28
People can start to visit the puppies but be strict with cleaning and disinfecting the visitors. Move the whelping box and puppies to a higher traffic area of the house and begin to introduce them to noises like the washing machine, vacuum cleaner etc.
Day 35
Worm pups again
Day 48
Permanent ID of puppies either microchip or tattoo - we can microchip for you… Just give us a ring. Last vet check to ensure puppies are healthy enough for re-homing, along with the 1st vaccination.
Day 56
Worm again. Puppies can leave any day now… Time for cleaning, and getting your house back to normal.
Day 2 - Stop worming mum
Day 8-14
Weigh alternate Days – Think about some kennel names…. It is easier to pick a theme, and go with that. You could, for example, chose Pantomime characters, and have the following names: Perfect Prince Charming, Beautiful Boy Buttons, Sweet Snow White etc.
Day 14
Puppies should be wormed/ start worming course. Once eyes are open leave a small cup of water available for the puppies to explore and drink. Change frequently. (Beware for puppies that like to go for a swim in the water bowl!) This is when we register them with the Kennel Club, which now is really easy to do online. Please ensure you endorse all pups if you need help with this give me a call. Registration costs £15 per pup.
Day 18
Begin weaning. Within 4 days of beginning weaning they should be on 5 or 6 meals a day, spread out evenly, but access to mums milk too. Keep check on puppy's nails as they scratch each other & mum. It is a good idea to clip, once a week just the very ends. It gets them used to it for later life. Just a normal pair of human nail clippers is fine, but DON’T clip too much as the nails will bleed.
Day 28
People can start to visit the puppies but be strict with cleaning and disinfecting the visitors. Move the whelping box and puppies to a higher traffic area of the house and begin to introduce them to noises like the washing machine, vacuum cleaner etc.
Day 35
Worm pups again
Day 48
Permanent ID of puppies either microchip or tattoo - we can microchip for you… Just give us a ring. Last vet check to ensure puppies are healthy enough for re-homing, along with the 1st vaccination.
Day 56
Worm again. Puppies can leave any day now… Time for cleaning, and getting your house back to normal.