WHELPING OF PUPPIES 



After the fifth week of pregnancy, 

 violent exercise, fast and continued 

 running, jumping up and down, should 

 be avoided by the bitch. 



She should be walked slowly two 

 or three times daily for some distance 

 (a half mile each way), and on lead. 



Do not permit her to play with 

 other dogs, either sex, after the sev- 

 enth week. 



In general, she should be treated 

 with consideration but not coddled. 



Feed mostly lean meat; feed liber- 

 ally, two or three times daily — small 

 meals rather than one large meal and 

 its resulting distended stomach. Whole 

 wheat bread, liver and 'beef heart can 

 be included. Plenty of fresh milk if 

 the bitch wants it. 



Give milk of magnesia or other 

 suitable laxative once weekly during 

 pregnancy or mineral oil can be given 

 twice weekly. 



For about four weeks before the 

 bitch is due to whelp, place a level 

 teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda in 

 the drinking water every third day. 



Beginning shortly after mating, cal- 

 cium lactate, calcium gluconate (this 

 is preferable), or dicalcium phosphate 

 can ibe given daily. Calcium gluco- 

 nate injected by the veterinarian 



shortly before and shortly after whelp- 

 ing, tends to avoid milk fever 

 (eclampsia), acid milk, fits and nerv- 

 ousness. Most of the commercial 

 "conditioners" provide these. 



Clean the bitch's teeth thoroly sev- 

 eral times during the week before 

 whelping to lessen the probability of 

 navel and other infection in the new- 

 born puppies. 



Keep her free from skin infections 

 as much as possible. 



Do not worm a pregnant bitch after 

 six weeks since mating. Be sure to 

 worm her if the presence of worms is 

 clearly evident, for round worms can 

 infect the puppies in the womb. 



How Long Pregnant? 



Sixty-three days is allowed f©r ges- 

 tation in the bitch, not including the 

 day of mating. The sixty-second day 

 is often the whelping day, the day 

 when the puppies are delivered out 

 of the uterus or womb. 



Occasionally a whelping may occur 

 as early as fifty-eight days or as late 

 as sixty-five days. It is time for 

 worry, for an injection of petruin, or 

 for a caesarean after this day. 



Early delivery may indicate a large 

 litter. 



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