How to Care for a Pregnant Dog
Ensure that your dog is a good breeding candidate., Feed your dog a high-quality dog food that has passed the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding tests., Know the facts before breeding., Consider adopting a shelter dog...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Ensure that your dog is a good breeding candidate.
Many canine diseases can pass from a mother dog to her puppies.
Have your veterinarian examine your dog before you breed her to minimize the risk of passing a genetic disease to the puppies.
Heritable diseases can affect the bones, joints, heart, teeth, skin, blood cells, kidneys, liver, nervous system (brain and spinal cord), digestive tract, reproductive organs, and the immune system.
Some common examples include hip dysplasia, allergies, cryptorchidism, and hernias.
Certain breeds have an increased risk of heritable diseases.Think about your dog’s (and the male dog’s) personality and behavior.
Some scientific studies show that aggression can be genetic.
You should breed friendly dogs that do not have aggressive tendencies. -
Step 2: Feed your dog a high-quality dog food that has passed the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding tests.
Foods that have passed the AAFCO feeding tests will read, “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that _____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for ______ .”Feeding your dog high-quality food prior to pregnancy can improve her and her puppies’ health. , Although puppies are very cute, they also require a lot of time, attention, and clean-up.
Puppies typically stay with their mother for 8 weeks after birth, longer if you have trouble finding them a home.
Raising multiple puppies will take a lot of your time and energy, not to mention it can be expensive.
If your dog has trouble delivering her puppies, emergency veterinary treatment will be necessary.
Cesarean sections (C-sections) can be very expensive, so be prepared to shell out some cash if there is an emergency. , There is a dog overpopulation problem in the United States, meaning that there are more dogs than there are homes for them.
According to the ASPCA, 1,200,000 dogs are euthanized in shelters each year.For each puppy that your dog delivers, there could be one less home available for a shelter dog. -
Step 3: Know the facts before breeding.
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Step 4: Consider adopting a shelter dog instead of breeding.
Detailed Guide
Many canine diseases can pass from a mother dog to her puppies.
Have your veterinarian examine your dog before you breed her to minimize the risk of passing a genetic disease to the puppies.
Heritable diseases can affect the bones, joints, heart, teeth, skin, blood cells, kidneys, liver, nervous system (brain and spinal cord), digestive tract, reproductive organs, and the immune system.
Some common examples include hip dysplasia, allergies, cryptorchidism, and hernias.
Certain breeds have an increased risk of heritable diseases.Think about your dog’s (and the male dog’s) personality and behavior.
Some scientific studies show that aggression can be genetic.
You should breed friendly dogs that do not have aggressive tendencies.
Foods that have passed the AAFCO feeding tests will read, “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that _____ provides complete and balanced nutrition for ______ .”Feeding your dog high-quality food prior to pregnancy can improve her and her puppies’ health. , Although puppies are very cute, they also require a lot of time, attention, and clean-up.
Puppies typically stay with their mother for 8 weeks after birth, longer if you have trouble finding them a home.
Raising multiple puppies will take a lot of your time and energy, not to mention it can be expensive.
If your dog has trouble delivering her puppies, emergency veterinary treatment will be necessary.
Cesarean sections (C-sections) can be very expensive, so be prepared to shell out some cash if there is an emergency. , There is a dog overpopulation problem in the United States, meaning that there are more dogs than there are homes for them.
According to the ASPCA, 1,200,000 dogs are euthanized in shelters each year.For each puppy that your dog delivers, there could be one less home available for a shelter dog.
About the Author
Jack Wood
Enthusiastic about teaching lifestyle techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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