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Proper Care for a Pregnant Dog

Thursday, October 30, 2008
Related Tags: pregnancy | heartworm | vet | dogs | flea
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Puppy food Leash Heartworm prevention product Flea prevention product
  • Step 1:
    Call the vet to see if there are any specific instructions he has for your dog's pregnancy. Also schedule an appointment with the vet at around 4 weeks of pregnancy for an overall checkup.
  • Step 2:
    Begin to gradually incorporate puppy food into your pregnant dog's diet. Most vets recommend that nursing dogs eat puppy food since it promotes growth.
  • Step 3:
    Avoid overfeeding. Talk to your vet about how much food your pregnant dog should be eating, as this varies from breed to breed.
  • Step 4:
    Take your dog for daily walks, but avoid vigorous exercise that might stress her body. Just like in humans, exercise during pregnancy will help your dog to stay healthy and have an easier delivery.
  • Step 5:
    Use regular heartworm prevention medicine. All of the heartworm prevention treatments sold by veterinarians are appropriate for use in pregnant dogs.
  • Step 6:
    Treat with a safe flea control product during pregnancy. Not all flea control products sold by veterinarians are approved for pregnant dogs, so talk to your vet about which one you should use on your pregnant dog.
  • Step 7:
    Take your pregnant dog into the veterinarian for a radiograph at about the fourth week of pregnancy. This is optional, but can help determine how many puppies your dog is carrying so that you will be more prepared.
  • Step 8:
    Keep your dog away from all other dogs from 3 weeks before delivery to 3 weeks after delivery. The Canine Herpes infection will not hurt your adult dog, but it can cause abortions before birth or death to the newborn puppies if a mother is exposed to it.

Tips & Warnings

  • Keep in touch with your veterinarian throughout your dog's pregnancy to ensure that you are doing all that you can to properly care for your pregnant dog.
  • Never have a pregnant dog vaccinated. Components of some of the vaccinations for dogs can harm the unborn puppies.

Resources


Proper Care for a Pregnant Dog Provided by eHow.com
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