What should I pay attention to when my puppy gives birth?

Notes on dog production

1. Nutritional management

About a week after the dog and the female dog have mated, signs of pregnancy may appear. During the gestation period, the dog may experience reactions such as vomiting and loss of appetite. Proper nutritional management is crucial for the health of the pet. The daily diet must be formulated to ensure the animal's basic physiological needs are met, including energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

2. Preparations before pregnancy

Be proactive in prenatal care and establish a good relationship with an animal hospital. In case of any sudden situations, it is important to be able to contact the hospital in a timely manner. Additionally, about ten days before delivery, an X-ray can be performed to check for abnormal fetal positions or deformities. If any of these situations occur, it is best to go to the hospital for delivery.

3. Preparation of the delivery environment

Maintain a clean, spacious, and warm delivery environment. The mother dog may frequently urinate, dry heave, pace back and forth, unable to sit still, and lose appetite before delivery. At this time, extra attention is needed.

4. Clinical manifestations

When the pet starts to push or there is a discharge with color (usually a dark green color), it is a sign of impending delivery. In normal cases, delivery can be completed in about an hour. In the end, the mother dog will lick off the outer membrane herself and bite off the umbilical cord. If the mother is a first-time dog, the owner may need to help cut the cord with disinfected scissors.

5. No bathing

Bathing after delivery can easily cause the mother dog, whose immune system is still relatively weak, to catch a cold and may lead to wound infections. Therefore, we need to be careful not to bathe the mother dog within 30 days after delivery.

6. Regular deworming

After giving birth, the mother dog needs to have regular deworming as she will have more contact with the puppies during breastfeeding. Failure to deworm regularly can easily lead to mutual infections. Therefore, special attention should be given to regular deworming of the mother dog. Dog bedding and other living supplies should also be regularly replaced, washed, and sun-dried to maintain a clean and tidy environment.