|
FETAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE
WEEK
Now that we know when your
pooch can get pregnant,
days 10 -14 of heat, and you
understand the meaning of gestation.
Count 63 days from the day of the great
connection and
that is when your puppies are due.
Females are sexually receptive (in heat or
estrus) for 17 to 21 days.
Failure to return to estrus
after a successful breeding is often the
earliest indication of
pregnancy.
I added a hard boiled egg to Cookie's diet and Pepe
thought he should get one too.
Then I added soft puppy food to
her diet, you guessed it, Pepe thought he should get some
too!
Although Cookie got bigger and
bigger, Pepe did not. Imagine that. For the extra
vitamins,
I bought a tube of high calorie
supplement vitamins, Pepe didn't get any of that, except for one day
he stole the tube and chewed right
through it.
Lets continue on
with what is going on inside of
Cookie.
| Pregnancy-related event |
Number of days after ovulation |
Number of days after fertile mating |
| Onset of estrus |
-6 to +3 |
|
| First of multiple matings |
-7 to +5 |
-12 to 0 |
| Fertile mating |
-5 to +5 |
0 |
| Ovulation |
0 |
-5 to +5 |
| Fertilization |
2 to 5 |
0 to 7 |
| Vaginal cornification reduced |
5 to 7 |
0 to 12 |
| Embryo attachment to uterus |
14 to 16 |
9 to 21 |
| Vesicles visible with ultrasound |
15 to 17 |
10 to 22 |
| Palpable 1 cm swellings |
20 to 22 |
15 to 27 |
| Fetal heartbeat visible (ultrasound) |
22 to 23 |
17 to 28 |
| Uterine swelling visible on X-ray |
28 to 30 |
23 to 35 |
| Palpability of swellings reduced |
30 to 32 |
25 to 37 |
| Earliest X-ray pregnancy diagnosis |
43 to 45 |
39 to 50 |
| Fetal pelvis visible on X-ray |
51 to 55 |
46 to 60 |
| Fetal teeth visible on X-ray |
56 to 61 |
51 to 66 |
| Whelping |
62 to 64 |
57 to 69 |
 Week
One (Days 1-7)
DEVELOPMENT OF
THE
PUPPIES
Fertilization
occurs
2 cell embryos are in the
oviduct
The embryo is fairly resistant to external
interference in
development
CHANGES IN THE
MOMMY Possible morning sickness Possible personality changes CARE OF THE MOMMY
Normal feeding Check any and all medications with vet prior to administering No insecticides (i.e., flea treatments) No live vaccines TO DO LIST
Put together pedigree on litter Write contract Contact AKC for litter registration application Start taking puppy reservations 
Week Two (Days 8-14)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES Embryo will be 4 cell at start of
week and 64 cell by end of week
embryo enters the
uterus
CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Possible morning sickness Pepe had sympathy morning sickness he got the saltines CARE OF THE MOMMY
Continue as with Week One TO DO LIST 
Nothing special this week Week Three (Days 15-21) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES Day 19 -- Implantation of embryos in uterus
CHANGES IN THE
MOMMY
See above
CARE OF THE
MOMMY
See above
TO DO LIST
Nothing Special this
week
Week Four (Days
22-28)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
Development of eyes and spinal cords
Faces take
shape
Fetuses grow from 5-10 mm to
14-15 mm
Organogenesis
begins--
Embryos are at their
most susceptible to
defects
Days 26 - 32 are the best days to palpitate (i.e.. feel
for the puppies)
CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Possible clear vaginal discharge
Mammary development begins
CARE OF THE MOMMY
After Day 26, palpitation may be
possible to diagnose pregnancy
Limit strenuous activity (such as working, jumping, long runs)
Add 1/4 cup cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg to foodon alternating days
 Remember no jumping.
TO DO LIST
Schedule ultrasound or palpitation with
vet if desired.
Week Five (Days 29-35)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES:
Development of toes, whisker buds, and claws
Fetuses look like dogs
Gender can be determined
Eyes (previously open) now close
Fetuses grow from 18 mm - 30 mm
Organogenesis ends -- embryos are now fairly resistant to interference with development
CHANGES IN THE MOMMY:
Swelling becomes noticeable
Loss of "tuck-up"
Weight will start to increase
CARE OF THE MOMMY:
Slightly increase amount of food and switch to puppy kibble. If you feed one meal a day, add a small extra meal. If you feed twice a day, slightly increase one of the meals.
Add daily multi-vitamin for dogs
Palpitation no longer possible due to fluids in uterus
TO DO LIST:
Nothing special this week or invest in maternity dresses.
Week Six (Days 36-42) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES Development of skin pigment Fetuses should weigh around 6 grams and be 45 mm long Fetal heartbeats can be heard with stethoscope CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Nipples darken and enlarge Abdomen continues to enlarge CARE OF THE MOMMY
Add cottage cheese or hard boiled egg to food daily Increase the amount of food in the extra meal Mommy should start sleeping in whelping box  TO DO LIST...
Assemble whelping box By this time you should be fairly sure that the mommy is pregnant. Notify the people on your puppy list. Let them know when you expect delivery. Week Seven (Days 43- 49) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES Growth and development continue CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Abdomen hair will start shedding The mommy will start to look pregnant at this point CARE OF THE MOMMY
Slightly increase both meals TO DO LIST
Stop any roughhousing or jumping Radiographs (X-rays) possible to determine number and size of puppies Week Eight (Days 50-57) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES Fetal movement can be detected when mommy is at rest
Puppies can safely be born from now on.
CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Milk may be squeezed from nipples
The mommy will be very large.
CARE OF THE MOMMY
Add moderate lunch
TO DO LIST
Gather whelping kit (see below)
Prepare phone list for help/support. It should include your
vet's phone number, the emergency clinic's phone number, the
number of any friends who will be offering support during
whelping, and anyone else you might need to contact before,
during, or after whelping (like your office to let them know
you won't be in!)
Make sure your car is gassed up and ready for a possible emergency trip to the vet's office.
Week Nine (Days 58-65) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
Growth and Development continues You can watch the puppies move and kick! 
CHANGES IN THE MOMMY
Nesting behavior may be seen Mommy may become distressed (panting, pacing, acting uncomfortable) Temperature should be around 100.2-100.8 degrees Farenheit When temperature drops to around 98-99.4 degrees Farenheit, puppies should be born within 24 hours Appetite may disappear as whelping approaches CARE OF THE MOMMY
Start taking temperature three times a day TO DO LIST
Notify vet or emergency clinic when temperature drops so that they will be ready if you have any problems Keep detailed records on temperature and behavior of mommy Double check that whelping supplies are ready
THAT'S NOT ALL FOLKS! NEXT IS LABOR AND
DELIVERY | 
