Pregnancy
Timeline
Week One
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Fertilization occurs
2 cell embryos are in the oviduct
The embryo is fairly resistant to external interference
in development
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Possible morning sickness
Possible personality changes
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Normal feeding
Normal exercise -- if she didn't normally get exercise
before pregnancy, she should start getting moderate exercise
every day
Check any and all medications with vet prior to administering
No insecticides (i.e., flea treatments)
No live vaccines
TO DO LIST:
Put together pedigree on litter
Write contract
Contact your pet registry for litter registration application
make up fliers and put ad in the newspaper or on the internet,
closer to due date or after the dam gives birth.
Start taking puppy reservations
Week Two (Days 8-14)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Embryo will be 4 cell at start of week and 64 cell by
end of week
Embryo enters the uterus
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Possible morning sickness
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Continue as with Week One
TO DO LIST:
Nothing special this week
Week Three (Days 15-21)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
Day 19 -- Implantation of embryos in uterus
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
See above
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
See above
TO DO LIST:
Nothing special this week
Week Four (Days 22-28)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Development of eyes and 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 (i.e.. feel
for the puppies)
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Possible clear vaginal discharge
Mammary development begins
After Day 26, palpitation may be possible to diagnose
pregnancy
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Limit strenuous activity (such as working, jumping, long
runs)
Add 1/4 cup cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg to food
on alternating days
TO DO LIST:
Schedule ultrasound or palpitation with vet if desired
Week Five (Days 29-35)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Development of toes, whisker buds, and claws
Fetuses look like dogs
Gender can be determined
Eyes (previously open) now close
Fetuses grow from 18 mm - 30 mm
Organogenesis ends -- embryos are now fairly resistant
to interference with development
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Swelling becomes noticeable
Loss of "tuck-up"
Weight will start to increase
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Slightly increase amount of food and switch to puppy kibble.
If you feed one meal a day, add a small extra meal. If
you feed twice a day, slightly increase one of the meals.
Add daily multi-vitamin for dogs
Palpitation no longer possible due to fluids in uterus
TO DO LIST:
Nothing special this week
Week Six (Days 36-42)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Development of skin pigment
Fetuses should weigh around 6 grams and be 45 mm long
Fetal heartbeats can be heard with stethoscope
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Nipples darken and enlarge
Abdomen continues to enlarge
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Add cottage cheese or hard boiled egg to food daily
Increase the amount of food in the extra meal
She should start sleeping in whelping box
TO DO LIST:
Assemble whelping box
By this time you should be fairly sure that she
is pregnant. Notify the people on your puppy list. Let
them know when you expect delivery.
Week Seven (Days 43-49)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Growth and development continues
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Abdomen hair will start shedding
The momma will start to look pregnant at this point
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Slightly increase both meals
TO DO LIST:
Stop any roughhousing or jumping
Radiographs (X-rays) possible to determine number and
size of puppies
Week Eight (Days 50-57)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Fetal movement can be detected when bitch is at rest
Puppies can safely be born from now on
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Milk may be squeezed from nipples
The momma will be very large.
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Add moderate lunch
TO DO LIST:
Gather whelping kit (see below)
Prepare phone list for help/support. It should include
your vet's phone number, the emergency clinic's phone
number, 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 (like your
office to let them know you won't be in!)
Make sure your car is gassed up and ready for a possible
emergency trip to the vet's office.
Week Nine (Days 58-65)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Growth and Development continues
CHANGES IN THE MOMMA:
Nesting behavior may be seen
Momma may become distressed (panting, pacing, acting uncomfortable)
Temperature should be around 100.2-100.8 degrees Farenheit
When temperature drops to around 98-99.4 degrees Farenheit,
puppies should be born within 24 hours
Appetite may disappear as whelping approaches
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Start taking temperature three times a day
TO DO LIST:
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 the momma
Double check that whelping supplies are ready
Post Partum
Make sure each puppy gets some of the bitch's colostrum
(first thin milk) within first 24 hours. Colostrum is
loaded with antibodies to protect the puppies from disease.
It also helps to condition their tummies to accepting
food.
Lochia (vaginal 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 momma and
puppies to vet for check up. The vet will ensure that
the momma hasn't retained any puppies or placentas and
that the puppies are in good health. Ask your vet to check
the puppies for cleft palates and what options are available.
This vet visit is something that should not be skipped.
If the momma has retained a placenta or puppy, she could
quickly develop a serious infection which could prove
deadly.
Raising Puppies Timeline
Week One (Days 1-7)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from momma
Rectal temperatures 94-97 degrees Farenheit
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start
gaining again
Weight should double by end of week
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Chart weight daily (2 x daily first 2 days)
Examine puppies daily
Trim nails weekly
Keep whelping box around 85 degrees Farenheit (this means
if it's hotter than that out, put a fan in the room or
turn on the air conditioning, if it's colder than that
get a heat lamp to put above the whelping box)
When you handle the puppies, it's a good idea use a towel
when you hold them. The puppies urinate upon stimulation
and will inevitably find your attention stimulating!
If your breed requires tail or dew claw docking, schedule
this with your vet. I dock tails and dew claws myself.
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Keep dam on fluids for first 24 hours (i.e.. chicken broth,
etc.)
Feed three full meals a day after that
Supplement with 250 mg Vitamin C twice daily
If puppies are fussy, supplement momma with Vitamin B
complex
Check mammary glands twice daily (looking for signs of
mastitis -- swelling, hardness, pus, etc.)
Keep an eye on vaginal discharge (looking for signs of
infection)
Make sure momma eats, drinks, and relieves herself --
once her mothering instincts kick in, you may have to
force her to leave the puppies to do these things.
TO DO LIST:
Keep detailed records on puppies' weight and behavior
Keep charting momma's temperature
Call puppy buyers with results of whelping
Week Two (Days 8-14)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Keep whelping box around 80-83F
Begin holding puppies in different ways (applying light
stress)
Trim nails weekly
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Momma should get three times her normal amount of food
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Three (Days 15-21)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Teeth begin to erupt
Puppies stand up and start walking
Begin to lap liquids
Defecate/urinate without stimulation
Start becoming aware of environment
Start playing with littermates
Develop sense of smell
Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve
themselves
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Start adding stimuli (toys) to puppies' life
Start giving specific stresses when handling (i.e.. pinch
an ear or toe gently).
Start giving pups milk replacer to lap for one meal a
day -- after two days, add some very mushy food
Weigh puppies every 2 days
Give puppies a dirty shirt of yours to play with
Start weekly grooming sessions (brush, trim nails, look
at teeth, etc.)
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Continue as above
TO DO LIST:
Purchase milk replacer to feed puppies
Week Four (Days 22-28)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Begin to eat food
Begin to bark, wag tails, bite, paw, bare teeth, growl
and chase
Use legs well
Tire easily
Depth perception starts
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Keep mom with them a lot! Things can get overwhelming
at this age and Mom will add stability for them
Each pup needs individual attention
Offer small amounts of food that is the consistency of
cooked oatmeal (puppy food mixed with water and mashed
up in a blender)
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Continue as above
TO DO LIST:
Start limiting momma's access to pups before offering
them food
Week Five (Days 29-35)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Group activities and sexual play will begin
Dominance order starts
Rapid growth/development
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Reduce fluids in puppies' food
Make sure other people start coming to see pups
Begin weaning
Play radio at normal volume near pups for 5 minutes at
a time
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Start reducing amount of food to discourage milk development
Keep a careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST:
Discuss vaccination schedule with veterinarian
Week Six (Days 26-42)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Growth and development continue
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Offer soft, damp food
Chart weekly weight
Individual attention crucial -- give each puppy time with
you away from litter
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
To prepare bitch for weaning: Day 1 -- no food
Day 2 -- 1/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 3 -- 1/2 normal maintenance meal
Day 4 -- 3/4 normal maintenance meal
Day 5 -- full amount of normal maintenance meal
Keep momma on puppy food for several weeks to help her
recover from the strain of breeding, whelping, and raising
puppies
Keep careful eye on mammary glands
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Seven (Days 43-49)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Total hearing/visual capacity
Will investigate anything
Can't respond yet to name
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Pups should be weaned and on regular puppy food
Pups can go to new homes
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Keep careful eye on mammary glands until milk is completely
dried up
TO DO LIST:
Week Eight (Days 50-56)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
First fear period
Starts learning name
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Don't ship puppies
Can start training puppies in small steps
CARE OF THE MOMMA:
Continue as above
TO DO LIST:
Continue as above
Week Nine (Days 57-63)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Develops strong dominant and subordinate behavior among
littermates
Begins to learn right behavior
Motor skills improve
Short attention span
Starts focusing attention on owner rather than other puppies
Separate littermates
Start house training
CARE OF THE PUPPIES:
Continue lots of individual attention
Week Ten (Days 64-70)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Safe to ship puppies by air
If you have any questions please contact me
