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The Reproductive Cycle,
Part 2
My
dog/cat is pregnant. What should I do?
Your pet's diet needs to be changed to one approved for gestation/lactation
because of the increased need for protein, calcium, and calories.
During the first 6 weeks regular amounts of a good quality maintenance
diet are sufficient. The quantity of food should be gradually increased
during the last 3 weeks of pregnancy. At this time multiple small
meals should be fed. There should be isolation from other dogs/cats
3 weeks before to three weeks after delivery to avoid exposure to
viruses and diseases. Regular deworming, heartworm prevention, and
flea control are also important concerns during pregnancy and lactation.
Animals need regular exercise during pregnancy. A delivery area
that is safe and secluded and away from household traffic is ideal.
Please consult your library for a selection of very useful and informative
books on the subject.
How will I know when by dog/cat is ready
to give birth? The average gestation length is 63
days. Delivery can occur anytime between 55-70 days after breeding.
Typically you will notice changes in your pet's behavior. Your pet
will exhibit nesting, nervousness, panting, shivering, anorexia,
and vomiting. Usually this stage of labor lasts about 2-12 hours.
The second stage of labor consists of abdominal contractions and
fluid expulsion ("the water will break"). This is the
active stage of delivery.
What should I do while my dog/cat is in delivery?
Allow your pet to be in an isolated, quiet environment. Please contact
your veterinarian if 1.5 hours after her water breaks there is still
no baby delivered. As each baby is delivered, the mother will usually
break the thin, whitish membrane surrounding the baby. It is possible
for the baby to suffocate if this membrane is not removed. The average
interval between babies is 30-60 minutes. Your pet will sometimes
have rest periods between babies. During this time the mother should
be comfortable and caring for the babies. You will need to contact
your veterinarian if unproductive active contractions last more
than one hour or rest periods last longer than 4 hours. A thick,
black-green vulvar discharge without evidence of labor is usually
indicative of a placental separation or a dead baby and intervention
should be immediate.
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