A sexually mature female dog that has not been neutered and can therefore become the mother of puppies is called a bitch or a dam. For you as a dog owner, this is of course an exciting time, during which you have to consider a few things.
In the following, we explain how long dogs carry and how you can support your four-legged friend in this.
The gestation period is on average 58 to 68 days. How long dogs carry exactly depends, among other things, on the size of the litter. If your dam is expecting a larger litter, the gestation usually lasts less than 63 days; if it is a smaller litter it can lasts a little longer.
Most dams reach sexual maturity after about six to twelve months, with large breeds usually becoming sexually mature a little later than small ones.
Sexually mature dams usually come into heat every six to nine months. In the case of Nordic dog breeds, the interval between two heats is usually around a year. Irrespective of this, dams in heat are only ready to mate during the actual oestrus, which lasts three to 21 days.
The pregnancy is noticeable about 30 days after mating with clear to whitish vaginal discharge and swollen teats. Apart from that, your four-legged friend will gain weight and in many cases also get a bigger belly.
If you want to know as early as possible whether your dam is pregnant, you can have a pregnancy test carried out by the vet about three weeks after mating.
In the days leading up to the birth, your dam will very likely appear restless and will start looking for a suitable place to give birth to her young. The best way to support your four-legged friend is to put a sufficiently large box or something similar with some towels and blankets in a warm and quiet place in the house.
Shortly before the birth, your dam's body temperature drops and you can expect the puppies to be born within the next 24 hours. You can also tell from vaginal discharge when the amniotic sac of your four-legged friend has burst.
Usually your dam does not need any help with childbirth. However, if you notice that there are complications, it is of course advisable to call a veterinarian.
It is very important that you provide your pregnant dog with adequate nutrients. For this purpose, it is best to use our high-quality dog food made from natural ingredients.
In addition, it can make sense to supplement your four-legged friend's menu with Shiimun Vitalizer. Thanks to carefully selected, natural ingredients, the easily digestible food supplement provides your pregnant dog with numerous valuable nutrients that help her to cope with the stresses of pregnancy.
Bellfor puppy milk made from whole goat milk powder and insect protein is not only suitable as an easily digestible, low-lactose mother's milk substitute that you can give to puppies from the third week of life. In addition, our high-quality puppy milk is also an excellent choice to provide your pregnant or lactating four-legged friend with additional nutrients.
Like our regular varieties, our puppy food consists of exclusively natural, human-grade ingredients. The nutritional content is perfectly adapted to the special needs of puppies and young dogs, so that nothing stands in the way of the healthy development of your little four-legged friends.
At the same time, the increased protein content and the adjusted amount of calcium and phosphorus ensure that pregnant dams are also well cared for with our puppy food.
How long a dam carries depends, among other things, on the number of puppies in her belly. They should definitely be born after 68 days at the latest.
It is important that you avoid unnecessary stress during pregnancy and that you attach particular importance to adequate feeding. In the Bellfor range you will find everything you need for this purpose, so that optimal care of your four-legged friend is guaranteed.
Pregnancy in dogs lasts 58 to 68 days on average. Depending on the breed, between three and twelve puppies are born per litter. When your bitch is ready to mate, how to recognize a pregnancy in your ..
The bitch's heat is a part of the cycle. Among other things, it also includes the period in which the female quadruped is ready to mate. Depending on the phase, the bitch's heat becomes noticeab..
