Healthy puppies should be the goal of any planned union, so identifying the health status of dam (mother) and sire (father) is of the utmost importance. It is critical to have a good understanding of the health status of the mom especially. Is she up to date on vaccinations, deworming and in good body condition? Is she a suitable candidate to be breeding? Does she have any traits that are undesirable, genetic or otherwise, such as hip dysplasia or behavior concerns. This may sound like a clinical approach, but the health of future puppies is the primary concern and these questions must be addressed. On that note, up to date vaccinations are important to provide protective maternal antibodies to the newborn puppies. If you have the opportunity to plan the union, be sure all these concerns are addressed prior to the breeding season.

Every mother-to-be needs support, including mama dogs! Be sure to have a good relationship with your veterinary team to ensure you and your dog have the most up-to-date and reliable information as you prepare for the birth of your new puppies. Not everything you read on the internet is correct! Be sure to have the tools and resources to validate your information. Have your emergency contact information and procedures in place long before the impending date. Be aware of these questions: do you know where your Emergency Veterinary Clinic is? How do you contact them in case of emergency? Do they accept new clients? What is the payment procedure for emergencies? Being aware of these aspects will help ensure that your dog and puppies get the best care possible.

Why? So there are no surprises and you know roughly when to expect your litter! Here are some important steps and numbers along the way according to Wendy C. Brooks. Canine gestation is 61-63 days. Confirm pregnancy day 30. Identify size of litter with ultrasound after 25 days. Radiograph 45 days. Whelping 58-68 days.

It is important early in the pregnancy to anticipate how difficult the birth process may be. This depends on an number of factors:

— Identified breed risks. For example, Bulldogs and Pekinese require C-section birth due to anatomical challenges.

– If a mixed breed union, one needs to consider the size of sire compared to mother, because that will affect the size of the puppies and thus the birth. The puppies may be too large to whelp naturally. This is easily confirmed by ultrasound or radiograph.

– Keep in mind the litter size. If litter size is small, 1-2 puppies, or large. A large litter can add strain to the mama dog during final stages of pregnancy and whelping. Being aware of this possibility prior to the birth will help you prepare.

Monitor body condition every 4-5 days. Be sure to examine body condition using both a hands on and visual approach. This can change quickly during pregnancy. Supplementation is generally not required if a well balanced diet is utilized. It is not recommended to make drastic nutritional changes during pregnancy, unless recommended by veterinarian. As pregnancy progresses, more frequent small meals may be required to maintain caloric intake as the uterus begins to crowd the stomach and intestines. Closely monitor caloric intake and always be sure to discuss any concerns with your veterinarian.

Continue normal exercise with your pregnant dog. As pregnancy progresses restrict or eliminate rough play activities with playmates. Maintaining physical condition is important for the whelping process and impending lactation. Avoid contact during late pregnancy with dogs outside the family until weaning to prevent infectious diseases from infecting both the mother and newborn puppies. Bringing puppies into the world is no easy task, so you want to make sure the mama dog is in tip-top physical shape.

Prepare for expected and unexpected events that occur during whelping. There are many great resources and videos to help dog owners prepare, such as The Pet Health Library by Wendy C. Brooks.

Chances are you’ll be tempted to keep all of the puppies yourself, but in reality this is not a practical plan. Inevitably you will be responsible for finding your puppies good homes. There are many unwanted dogs in shelters across the country, so be sure to include puppy placements in your breeding plan.