An increased appetite at week three is a sign that your Labrador is pregnant. At week four, take your dog to the veterinarian to perform an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy.
The ultrasound will be able to reveal a closer estimation of the size of the litter, as well as any health complications with the litter or the mom. When pregnancy has been confirmed, continue to exercise your dog but do not engage in forceful or aggressive activities.
It is common to play with your Lab through wrestling or tug-of-war. Instead, continue to exercise your Lab through walks and low-impact activities.
The second trimester of the gestation begins at week five. During week five, the embryos are developed into fetuses. This stage is relatively short in comparison to the remainder of the gestation period. At week six, which is around day 42, your Lab will enter the final trimester of pregnancy. The fetuses of the litter will resemble a dog.
Your Lab will require more protein in her diet to accommodate for the growing litter. At week seven, take the expectant Lab to the veterinarian for a good check.
The vet will be able to check the litter for any evidence of parasites and treat accordingly. You will also notice your Lab may have begun shedding on her belly. Make sure she is at her ideal weight, and ask for diet recommendations if she is over or underweight. Ask the veterinarian to screen her for parasites and give her any missing vaccinations. Develop an exercise routine that will improve her health before conception.
Appropriate nutrition is an essential component of a healthy Labrador pregnancy. Remain in close communication with your veterinarian about the dog's diet and health. Avoid giving the pregnant dog any supplements unless otherwise recommended by the family vet. Ensure there is always an easily accessible supply of fresh water. The canine gestation period is roughly the same for all types of dogs.
According to WebMD , dogs are pregnant for roughly 63 days, which is exactly 9 weeks. This is counted from the day the dog ovulates until the day she gives birth, and is split into three trimesters of roughly 21 days each. There is some anecdotal evidence that smaller breeds tend to have a slightly longer gestation period than larger breeds. In can be a little difficult for a layman to tell whether a dog is pregnant , especially in the early stages of her pregnancy.
Of course, in order for a dog to fall pregnant, she will have had to mate with an un-neutered male dog during the estrus stage of her heat cycle. Or, better yet, get her spayed.
There is no blood or urine test commonly used to diagnose pregnancy in dogs, but from 3 to 4 weeks into the gestation period , a vet should be able to tell if your dog is pregnant by feeling her abdomen. During the first month, the embryos travel to the uterine horns, usually around day 7, and the embryos are embedded in the uterine lining around day The fetus begins to take shape by day 22, and by day 28 or 30 a veterinarian should be able to detect fetal heartbeats on an ultrasound.
Many dogs do not show any symptoms during the first three weeks of their pregnancy. Some symptoms to watch for during the first month are:. Fetal development moves quickly during the second month. Eyelids form by day 32 and toes are visible by day The claws form by day 40, and the coat and skeleton follow a few days later day By day 50, an x-ray will reveal the number of puppies in the litter, and the bitch will start looking for a place to nest at day The bitch is ready to whelp by the start of the third month.
Once the gestation period is over, labor begins. There are three stages of labor. The first lasts to hours and is often not outwardly noticeable. Contractions in the muscular wall of the uterus increase throughout stage one, both in strength and frequency, but no visible contractions are evident. Instead, look out for the following symptoms of labor in dogs:. Puppies are delivered during stage two.
This stage can take anywhere from 1-to hours, and bitches deliver one puppy at a time. Each delivery should not last more than 1-to-2 hours and normally occurs every to minutes, which is why it is helpful to know the total number of expected puppies. That way, owners know when the bitch is finished with stage two and can call a vet if they suspect their dog is having trouble. The placenta is delivered in stage three.
Stage two and stage three actually occur at around the same time, and stage three is complete when all of the placentas have been delivered. This usually occurs shortly after stage two is finished. How long are dogs pregnant? Just long enough for a litter of happy, healthy puppies to develop. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side.
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