Pregnancy & First trimester (Day 0 - 21)

As part of the Tygold breeding program I have put together a very detailed outline of my breeding program to better guide you and your girl through a safe and healthy pregnancy. Regardless if this is your first, second or third time involved in breeding your girl, it is always good to circle back and refresh on the essential parts of raising a healthy girl through all stages of her pregnancy. As a breeder and you as the Guardian, it is our responsibility to ensure the health and safety of the mom during every phase of her pregnancy, giving the puppies the best start to their development.

The first trimester of a dogs pregnancy is all about waiting and hoping. There are very few outward signs of pregnancy in bitches and their bodies undergo the same hormonal changes, regardless of whether they were bred. It won’t be until the second trimester before I know if she is pregnant. Unit pregnancy is confirmed we need to care for her as if she is.

Feeding and Supplementation Your girls food was increased prior to and during breeding in order to increase the number of eggs she ovulated. Now it is time to decrease the amount of food you feed her in order to develop lean, healthy puppies. Reduce her food ration back to a normal or what I have requested she be fed.

Breakfast

• Folic acid give 5 mg (tablets I have given you are 1 mg each) from the first day bitch comes in season until she finishes weaning to help protect against centerline defects (cleft palates) in pups, improve lactation, build stronger immune systems and protect against toxins, such as BPA.

• Wild fish oil, such as salmon, sardine, pollock, or other wild, cold-water fish body oil that contain DHA. I use Grizzly’s Wild Salmon Oil (2 pumps)
  Note, do not use cod liver oil! Krill oil, though not yet researched appears to be the equivalent of wild fish oil.

• Probiotic, such as Fortiflora, Geneflora or Animal Essentials’ Plant Enzymes and Probiotics.

• Blueberry’s, give 2 Tbls of fresh or frozen blueberries.

*Do not give your bitch glucosamine and/or chondroitin during her pregnancy and lactation.

Dinner

• A multi-vitamin formulated for all-life stages or breeding animals. This supplement should also have a balanced calcium:phosphorus ratio. I have had good success with Probalance Canine Wellness formula.

WATER ~ WATER ~ FRESH WATER ~ ALL THE TIME

Morning sickness. Some bitches feel morning nausea, usually toward the end of this trimester or into the second trimester, and go off their food for a day or even a week. If this happens, give her Saltine crackers to calm her stomach but do not worry if she misses a few meals. If she is only sick in the morning, feed her more in the evening. If she vomits continuously or does not eat at all for more than three days, contact me immediately. We will probably need to take her to the vet for confirmation that she does not have a pyometra (uterine infection). My vet will do an ultrasound and draw blood to check for this disease. Do NOT x-ray or medicate your bitch unless a pyo is found. If she has a pyo, she has or will lose her litter so the focus instead is on treating the infection. Pyo is a life threatening condition, though it usually takes some days to develop. The options to treat a pyo are to spay your bitch, thus removing her uterus, the source of the infection, or to treat with prostaglandins. Prostaglandin F2-alpha therapy can be effective in resolving the infection but note that we must breed your bitch on her next estrus cycle, if we go this route.

Possible Signs of Pregnancy There is usually very little evidence that a bitch is pregnant during this trimester. Some bitches may show subtle signs but these are best typically used in hindsight.

These signs may include:
❑ She goes out of season shortly after breeding and before the normal end of her cycle.
❑ Her vulva remains larger than normal after the end of her heat cycle.
❑ Her nipples become larger than normal.
❑ Behavioral changes might include being clingier or calmer than normal.
❑ Morning sickness—vomiting and/or lack of appetite--between 14 and 21 days.
❑ A clear, jelly-like discharge from her vulva around 21 days.
❑ Her coat on her abdomen flips along on her flank

General During the first 21 days of pregnancy, the fertilized eggs grow from the original two cells into much larger, more complex embryos. These embryos are free-floating within the uterus during this trimester. It is not until about 21 days after conception that embryos attach to the uterine wall, known as implantation. Prior to implantation, bitches can easily resorb the embryos, thus losing the pregnancy without even knowing she had been pregnant. Resorption can occur if the embryos are abnormal, if the bitch is ill, or due to stress on the bitch that causes her body to determine that this is not a good time for a litter.

Exercise The bitch should get regular exercise during this trimester. She can and should do almost any activity that she normally does. This includes running, swimming, jumping, hunting and training in field, herding, coursing, obedience, tracking and agility. Work on her core fitness, as well as her flexibility, balance and proprioception. Teaching her to sit up on her hindlegs is a good start. Do not coddle the bitch or limit her exercise during this period. She needs to go into her last trimester in as good shape as you can get her in so keep her working. This will make it easier for her to withstand whelping and will decrease the time it takes her to get back in shape once the pups are gone. The two most important factors associated with easy whelping’s and effective nursing that you can influence are your bitch’s weight and fitness. You cannot change her genetics but you can do other things to help her and her pups through the pups’ first weeks. So focus on keeping your girl very fit during these first three weeks.

Please take into consideration weather. During the summer months and during a heat wave it is essential that your girl does not over heat.

Medications The bitch should not be on any medications during this period, unless prescribed by your veterinarian and verified as safe for pregnant dogs. Any medications must be discussed with me prior to administering. If a situation arises where the bitch must be treated, double check that the medication is safe for pregnant bitches. Just because your vet has prescribed it doesn’t mean it is safe for a pregnant bitch.

Pyometra known as pyo, is a very serious, sometimes fatal, uterine infection that typically occurs in bitches between two and eight weeks after their season, whether or not they were bred. Bitches with pyo can seem pregnant so you need to be aware of pyo’s symptoms and timing. There are two forms of pyo, open and closed. In open pyo, the bitch’s cervix is open so you will see a bloody discharge, usually the color of tomato soup. In a closed pyo, the bitch’s cervix is closed so there will be no discharge. Of the two, closed pyo is more serious since the bitch’s body cannot rid itself of the infection. Often the first sign of pyo is a breeder/owner thinking her bitch is “off.” Other symptoms include be inappetence, increased drinking, increased urination and, eventually, lethargy. Sometimes she will also develop a fever but not always. In the later stages, the amount of pus in the uterus might cause abdominal swelling. Pyo is usually diagnosed with a uterine ultrasound, complete blood count (CBC) blood test, urinalysis and sometimes an x-ray. An elevated white blood cell (WBC) and globulins in the blood test and low specific gravity in the urine indicate the bitch has an infection. The ultrasound can distinguish pyo from pregnancy since pyo causes an increase in uterine size, thickened uterine walls, and fluid accumulation within the uterus. Although it can take several days to develop, pyo can rapidly become a medical emergency since the bitch’s uterus can rupture and she can go septic. In those cases, the only treatment is spaying. Caught early, valuable breeding bitches with pyo can sometimes be treated medically. If you notice symptoms in your bitch, call me immediately and we will need to get her to the vet for an exam and ultrasound.