Complete Guide to Caring for Your Pregnant Dog and Newborn Puppies

Should You Worm a Pregnant Dog?

When you find out your furry friend is expecting puppies, it's an exciting time! However, pregnancy brings extra responsibilities when it comes to caring for your dog. An important question many pet owners have is: should you worm a pregnant dog?

The short answer is yes, you should continue to worm your dog while she is pregnant. But there are some important things to keep in mind.

Why Worming is Important During Pregnancy

Worming helps keep your pregnant dog and her unborn puppies healthy by eliminating intestinal parasites. Some common worms that affect dogs include:

• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Whipworms
• Tapeworms

If left untreated, these parasites can cause problems like malnutrition, anemia, diarrhea, and intestinal issues. They can even spread to the puppies before birth or through the mother's milk.

By regularly deworming your dog, you help get rid of any worms she may have picked up and prevent them from infecting her puppies down the road. This gives the pups the best start in life.

When to Worm During Pregnancy

Vets typically recommend worming pregnant dogs every 2-4 weeks until 2 weeks after the puppies are born. The specific schedule may vary depending on what parasites are common in your area.

Your vet will prescribe a safe dewormer and advise you on how often to administer it during pregnancy. Make sure to keep up with their recommended schedule.

Choosing a Dewormer

When picking a dewormer for a pregnant dog, safety is paramount. You want something that will be effective against parasites but gentle on your dog and her unborn pups.

Here are some deworming options vets often recommend:

• Fenbendazole - Safe for pregnant and nursing dogs. Effective against roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.
• Milbemycin Oxime - Safe for use in pregnant dogs. Controls hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
• Praziquantel - An oral dewormer used for tapeworms. Considered safe during pregnancy.

No matter which dewormer you use, always follow label directions carefully and consult your vet if you have any concerns about proper dosing.

Other Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

Deworming is just one part of providing proper prenatal care. Here are some other tips for keeping your pregnant pup comfortable and her puppies developing healthily:

• Feed a high-quality pregnancy diet - Look for a formula specially formulated for expecting and nursing dogs. It will provide extra nutrition for her growing puppies.
• Give omega fatty acids - These healthy fats support skin, coat, brain, and immune system development in the fetus. Salmon oil is a great omega source.
• Maintain moderate exercise - Light to moderate walks and playtime are fine. Avoid any rough housing or high-impact activities.
• Offer a quiet, cozy place to rest - Give her access to a whelping box or other comfy space as her due date nears.
• Limit stress - Keep her routine consistent and her environment relaxed, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy.

With attentive care and worming, you can help your fur baby stay happy and healthy as she prepares to bring puppies into the world!

Signs Your Dog May Be Pregnant

Wondering if your pooch is expecting? There are some telltale signs to look out for. Here are several ways you can tell if your dog is pregnant:

Physical Changes

• Weight gain - Your dog will gain weight as the puppies develop. Her belly will become noticeably round.
• Enlarged nipples - Around one month into pregnancy, the nipples and mammary glands will enlarge in preparation for milk production.
• Appetite changes - Pregnant dogs often have increased hunger to nourish the growing puppies. Some may have decreased appetite as delivery nears.
• Tiredness - The demands of pregnancy can make your dog more tired. She may sleep more and be less active.

Behavior Changes

• Clinginess - Your dog may become glued to your side expecting comforting and reassurance from you.
• Nesting - Close to giving birth, pregnant dogs start looking for a quiet space to nest and deliver her puppies.
• Digging/scratching - Instinct causes her to dig and fluff bedding as she prepares a whelping area for the arrival of puppies.
• Restlessness - Your dog may seem anxious or unsettled as hormones fluctuate and birth approaches.

When to Suspect Pregnancy

If your unspayed female dog was in heat around 2 months ago and is now displaying physical and behavior changes, pregnancy is likely. The typical canine gestation period is about 63 days.

To confirm, make an appointment with your vet for an exam, ultrasound, and blood test. This will check her health and the status of the puppies.

Trust your instincts if you feel something "just isn't right" with your dog. Contact your vet promptly if you have any concerns about a possible pregnancy.

Caring for a Pregnant Dog

Once you've determined your dog is expecting, it's time to adapt her care to support a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Here are some tips for looking after a pregnant pooch:

Nutrition

Pregnancy and nursing require increased calories and nutrients. Feed a high-quality puppy or lactation formula to meet those needs. Options specially formulated for pregnant and nursing dogs provide balanced nutrition for mom and babies.

Follow your vet's advice on an appropriate feeding schedule. Smaller, more frequent meals may make it easier for her to eat enough. Keep her eating area clean and minimize stress at mealtimes.

Make sure she always has access to plenty of fresh, clean water as well.

Exercise

Regular gentle exercise remains important for pregnant dogs. Short, low-impact walks and light play sessions are generally fine. This keeps her muscles tone, relieves boredom, and prevents excess weight gain.

Avoid any rough housing, jumping, or strenuous activities that could harm the puppies. Be cautious exercising in hot weather. Respect her limits if she seems fatigued.

Grooming

Keep up her normal grooming routine like brushing, bathing, nail trims, etc. This promotes good hygiene, skin health, and bonding. Just use gentle techniques and avoid her abdominal area.

Trim hair around the rear to keep the area clean for whelping. Talk to your groomer about safe practices if you need professional help.

Vet Checks

Take your pregnant dog to the vet around 4 weeks after mating for an exam to confirm the pregnancy. Ultrasound can check for puppies and how they are developing.

Return around 6 weeks for additional prenatal vet care and any recommended testing. Your vet will monitor mom and babies closely at this point.

Let your vet's office know immediately if you notice any concerning signs like vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal discharge/bleeding, restlessness, lack of appetite, etc.

Prepare a Whelping Area

As your dog's due date approaches, set up a comfortable, peaceful place for her to give birth and nurse her puppies. A puppy pen, kiddie pool, or box lined with blankets and towels works well.

The space should be warm, dry, and private. Allow room for her to move around. Place it in a quiet low-traffic area of your home.

Stock the whelping area with supplies like extra bedding, heating pad, water and food bowls, and emergency contact numbers. Keep kids and other pets away.

Watch for Labor Signs

Within about a week of delivery, start watching for signs your dog is ready to go into labor like:

• Drop in body temperature below 100F
• Restlessness and pacing
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Enlarged nipples leaking milk
• Digging and nesting behavior

Whelping can take many hours. Contact your vet if you have any concerns or she appears distressed. Keep track of contractions and the arrival of each puppy.

With preparation and vigilance, you can help your pregnant dog safely deliver and care for her puppies!

Caring for Newborn Puppies

Those tiny newborn puppies rely entirely on mom and pet parents for their survival and well-being. Here are some key aspects of newborn puppy care:

Allow Mom to Take the Lead

Provide a warm, safe space for your dog to bond with her puppies after birth. Handle the newborns as little as possible at first so mom can nurse, clean, and care for them.

Watch closely to make sure all puppies are nursing and none get pushed away. Gently reposition any puppy that loses contact with mom.

If a puppy seems weak or rejected, they may need supplemental bottle feeding. Consult your vet on proper technique and formula.

Check for Dehydration

Gently pinch the skin along the scruff. It should immediately spring back when released. Slow skin elasticity can indicate dehydration.

Check that puppies are nursing actively every few hours those first couple days. Supplement with a bottle if concerned about hydration.

Monitor Weight

Weigh newborn puppies daily on a gram scale. Expect gains of 5-10% each day. Lack of weight gain could signal an issue needing veterinary attention.

Divide puppies into higher and lower weight groups for nursing so smaller pups can compete easier when feeding.

Provide a Heat Source

Puppies cannot regulate body temperature well initially. Use a heating pad, whelping pig, or heated whelping box to give newborns supplemental ambient warmth.

A temperature around 85-90F is ideal. Always monitor closely to prevent overheating.

Assist with Elimination

Puppies need help going to the bathroom for the first few weeks. Use a warm, damp cloth or cotton ball to gently stimulate the genital area after feeding.

This mimics the mother's licking and encourages them to urinate and defecate. Not eliminating leads to toxicity and health risks.

Treat Umbilical Cords

Dab umbilical cords with iodine soon after birth to dry them out and prevent infection. If a cord is not detached after several hours, tie floss around it about 1-2" from the abdomen then snip off the remainder.

Watch for Early Health Issues

Contact your vet right away if puppies have issues like:

• Failure to nurse
• Crying or distress
• Labored breathing
• Bleeding
• Signs of illness
• Low weight/growth

With diligent supervision in those critical first weeks, you can help mom raise happy, thriving puppies!

Weaning Puppies

Learning to transition from nursing to eating solid food is an important developmental stage. Here's when and how to start weaning puppies successfully:

When to Begin Weaning

Puppies should nurse exclusively from mom for the first 3-4 weeks after birth. Then from 3-7 weeks old, start the weaning process by slowly introducing solid food.

Pick a time when the puppies show interest in solid food and mom's milk supply begins naturally decreasing. This is usually around 3-4 weeks but varies by mother and breed.

To check readiness, offer puppies a little canned puppy food mashed with warm water or formula. If they seem interested in licking and swallowing it, they are ready to start weaning.

Transitioning to Solid Food

Mix a small amount of warm puppy formula, canned food, or soaked kibble with moms milk to gradually get them used to new textures and flavors.

Put down several shallow dishes allowing all puppies to access the food easily. Expect it to get messy at first!

Very gradually decrease the ratio of milk and increase the amount of solid food offered. Keep providing milk until about 7-8 weeks old.

To encourage interest, let puppies see you spiking the dishes with yummy food. Hand feeding works too.

Supplementing with Bottle Feeding

If moms milk supply dwindles early or she rejects a pup, supplemental bottle feeding might be needed.

Use commercial puppy milk replacer and follow instructions carefully. Feed using a bottle and nipple, allowing puppy to suckle and swallow at their own pace.

After each bottle, provide a shallow dish of mushy food mixed with replacer. This teaches them to lap food from a bowl.

Choosing Foods for Weaning

Highly digestible, nutrient-rich foods help puppies successfully transition to solids. Some good weaning food choices include:

• Canned or softened puppy food
• Ground or soaked dry puppy kibble
• Cooked oatmeal or rice
• Plain yogurt
• Pureed chicken or meat baby food

Avoid foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Switch gradually to desired adult dog food after weaning.

Making the Switch

Weaning is complete once puppies are fully eating and drinking on their own without nursing, usually around 7-8 weeks old.

Provide frequent small meals suited to their tiny stomachs. Keep offering milk replacer until at least 8 weeks if needed.

Make weaning a positive, rewarding experience for puppies. With patience, they'll transition to grown up food in no time!

Caring for an Orphaned Puppy

When puppies lose their mother, it takes round-the-clock dedication to care for them. Here are some tips if you need to rescue and hand raise an orphaned puppy:

Consult a Vet

A vet exam is critical to check a puppy's health when separated from mom. Puppies can fade quickly without proper care.

Discuss factors like estimated age, viability away from the mother dog, supplementation needs, and ongoing medical support.

Feeding

Orphaned puppies need bottle feeding every 2-3 hours ideally using a commercial puppy milk replacer. Follow label mixing directions carefully.

Gently encourage puppy to suckle from the bottle nipple while supporting their body. Avoid overfilling the stomach.

Start offering soaked kibble and canned food mashed with formula around 3-4 weeks old to transition to we

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.