Care and Diseases of Breeding Animals 



more than is actually necessary. Toward the last 

 she should not be given a tub bath, but can be 

 cleaned by sponging and brushing. 



Signs of Pregnancy. — The pregnant bitch is very 

 deceiving. Frequently she will go until within two 

 ox three days of her time without showing the least 

 enlargement of the abdomen or filling of the breasts. 

 However, there should be a steady increase in the 

 distention of the abdomen from the fourth or fifth 

 week on. The breasts should enlarge and milk 

 appear by the seventh or eighth week. The appetite 

 should be increased, the disposition become more 

 gentle and loving, and toward the last movement 

 of the puppies should be felt. 



False Pregnancy. — Occasionally bitches which 

 have been served will show marked distention of 

 the abdomen and filling of the breasts up to the 

 sixth week. The owner will by this time be specu- 

 lating on what he is going to do with the enormous 

 litter of puppies, when suddenly the abdomen col- 

 lapses and the puppies become a dream. Sometimes 

 a bitch will show no sign of having conceived until 

 the day on which she should whelp, when she begins 

 to make her nest by tearing up her bed, then lying 

 down and beginning to labor. She may keep this 

 up for an hour or so when she suddenly forgets 

 or the desire disappears. 



Parturition or Delivery. — Delivery of the puppies 

 should occur on the sixty-third day after mating. 

 The time, however, may normally vary from fifty- 



