PreNatal Care of the Bitch before Mating
She should not be over or underweight.
She should be one ( small breeds) to two years old (larger breeds)
Larger breeds should be x-rayed for Hip displasia
Vaccinations should be given a month before she is due to be mated
She needs to be worm free and have no external parasites
A Brucellosis test by your vet can be given before she is mated to prevent spreading Brucellosis to the male.
PreNatal Care of the Bitch during Pregnancy
Puppy Food
Start your female on a good quality Puppy food right after breeding. Puppy food has higher protein and fat content which her growing pups will need. It also has calcium which is important while she is nursing.
If she is a finicky eater, discuss with your Vet the proper dosage of Vitamins and calcium content that her body requires according to her weight. Note I recommend just under the recommend dose. To much calcium can cause Eclampsia
Dont let mom jump on and off the couch or get to much strenuous exercize duing the last few weeks of her pregnancy
The Dam can exercise and play as normal in the first month of pregnancy
In the last few weeks of her pregnancy she should not jump off couches or exert herself
A regular Vet visit to see if her hips are wide enough for the pups heads to pass through her hips.
She should never be giving any drugs or have flea products applied to her skin
Drug table
Drugs that can or cannot be given during Pregnancy
Drug | May Be Used | Do Not Use | Safety Studies in Dogs Not Available |
Acemannan | x | ||
Acepromazine | x | ||
Acetylcysteine | Use as an antidote, only. | ||
Activated Charcoal | x | ||
Albuterol | x | ||
Allopurinol | x | ||
Amikacin | x | ||
Aminopenicillins (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin) | x | ||
Aminopentamide (Centrine) | x | ||
Amitraz (Mitaban, Preventic Collars) | x | ||
Amitriptyline (Elavil) | x | ||
Antacids (Maalox, Milk of Magnesia) | x | ||
Artificial Tears | x | ||
Aspirin | x | ||
Atropine Eye Medication | x | ||
Azathioprine (Imuran) | x | ||
Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) | x | ||
Buspirone (Buspar) | x | ||
Butorphanol (Torbutrol, Torbugesic) | x | ||
Carprofen (Rimadyl) | x | ||
Cephalosporins (Keflex, Cefa-drops) | x | ||
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) | x | ||
Cimetidine (Tagamet) | x | ||
Cisapride (Propulsid) | x | Removed from the market July 14, 2000. | |
Clemastine (Tavist 1) | x | ||
Clindamycin (Antirobe) | Use with caution. | ||
Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Anafranil) | x | ||
Cyclosporin (Optimmune) | x | ||
Cyproheptadine | x | ||
Dextromethorphan | x | ||
Diazepam (Valium) | x | ||
Diethylcarbamazine (Filaribits, Nemacide) | x | ||
Digoxin (Cardoxin) | Give only if clearly needed. | ||
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) | x | ||
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | x | ||
DMSO (Synotic) | x | ||
DOCP | x | ||
Enalapril (Enacard, Vasotec) | x | ||
Enrofloxacin (Baytril) | x | ||
Epsiprantel (Cestex) | x | ||
Erythromycin | x | ||
Erythropoietin (EPO, Epogen) | x | ||
Estrogens (ECP, DES) | x | ||
Etodolac (Etogesic) | x | ||
Extended Spectrum Penicillins (Carbenicillin) | x | ||
Famotidine (Pepcid) | x | ||
Fatty acids | Not recommended for pregnant humans. | ||
Fenbendazole (Panacur) | x | ||
Fentanyl | x | ||
Fipronil (Frontline) | x | ||
Fludrocortisone (Florinef) | x | ||
Fluoxetine (Prozac) | x | ||
Furosemide (Lasix) | x | ||
Gentamicin (Gentocin) | x | ||
Glucocorticosteroids (Prednisone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone) | x | ||
Glycosaminoglycans (Glucosamine, Chondroitin) | x | ||
Griseofulvin (Fulvicin) | x | ||
Hydroxyzine (Atarax) | x | ||
Immidicloprid (Advantage) | x | ||
Insulin | x | Note: Diabetic dogs should not be bred. | |
Itraconazole (Sporanox) | x | ||
Ivermectin (Heartgard) | x | ||
Kanamycin (Amforal, Kantrim) | x | ||
Kaolin (Kaopectate, Canine Pectate) | x | ||
Loperamide (Immodium) | x | ||
Lufenuron (Program) | x | ||
Mannitol | x | ||
Marbofloxacin (Zeniquin) | x | ||
Mebendazole (Telmintic) | x | ||
Meclofenamic Acid (Arquel) | x | ||
Melarsomine (Immiticide) | x | ||
Methimazole (Tapazole) | x | ||
Methionine (Methigel, Methio-Form) | x | ||
Metoclopramide (Reglan) | x | ||
Metronidazole (Flagyl) | x | ||
Mibolerone (Cheque Drops) | x | ||
Milbemycin (Interceptor, Sentinel) | x | ||
Misoprostol (Cytotec) | x | ||
Mitotane (o,p-DDD, Lysodren) | x | ||
Natural Penicillins (Penicillin G, Crystiben, Penicillin V) | x | ||
Neomycin | x | ||
Novobiocin (Albaplex) | x | ||
Omeprazole (Prilosec) | x | ||
Orbifloxacin (Orbax) | x | ||
Oxytocin (Pitocin) | At delivery. | ||
Pancreatic Enzymes (Pancrezyme, Viokase-K) | x | ||
Penicillinase Resistant Penicillins (Cloxacillin) | x | ||
Pentobarbital | x | ||
Permethrin (Bio Spot for Dogs, Defend, Proticall) | x | ||
Phenobarbital | x | ||
Phenylbutazone | x | ||
Phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim) | x | ||
Phenytoin (Dilantin) | x | ||
Phytonadione (Vitamin K) | x | ||
Piperazine (Happy Jack Kennel Wormer, Purina Liquid Wormer, Sergeants Worm Away, Pipa Tabs, Piper Worm Wormer) | Other wormers are preferred. | ||
Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan) | x | ||
Potassium | Depends on type & reason for use. | ||
Potassium Bromide | x | ||
Potentiated Penicillins (Clavamox, Augmentin) | x | ||
Praziquantel (Droncit, Drontal) | x | ||
Primidone | x | ||
Progestins (Megestrol acetate, Ovaban) | x | ||
Psyllium (Metamucil, Vetasyl) | x | ||
Pyrantel Pamoate (ProWormer-2, Nemex) | Do not use wormers with additional ingredients. | ||
Pyriproxyfen (Bio Spot for Dogs) | x | ||
Ranitidine (Zantac) | x | ||
Rotenone (Goodwinol Ointment) | x | Caution: Do not use on puppies, or expose puppies to this medication. | |
Selamectin (Revolution) | x | ||
Selegiline (Anipryl) | x | ||
Sucralfate | x | ||
Sulfadimethoxine (Albon, Bactrovet) | x | ||
Sulfadimethoxine & Ormetroprim (Primor) | x | ||
Terbutaline | x | ||
Tetracyclines (Doxycycline, Oxytetracycline) | x | ||
Theophylline (Theo-Dur) | x | ||
Thiacetarsemide (Caparsolate) | Use with caution. | ||
Thyroxine (Synthroid, Soloxine) | x | Note: Hypothyroid dogs should not be bred. | |
Trimeprazine (Temaril-P) | x | ||
Trimethoprim & Sulfadiazine (Tribrissen) | x |
Canine Reproduction & Whelping Guide by Debbie Jensen Quick Whelping Guide |
Jensen Whelping Guide Free Guide Below Debbie Jensen Las Vegas, Nevada 702.664.6428 Pacific Time Email Debbie Jensen | Canine Reproduction The Series DVD Explains how to prepare and assist a bitch whelping a litter. Shows you step by step what you need to do during the birth. |
Canine Reproduction The Series DVD Video Buy 49.99 Jensen Whelping Guide - Digital E Book! Buy 10.00 |
See pups as they are born
Heat Cycles
First days of heat
Pre Natal Care of pups
Care of the Bitch before and during Pregnancy
Mating your dog
Best days to bred your bitch
The Stud
His ability to produce sperm and mate and artificial insemination
Is she Pregnant
Signs she is pregnant
Java Due date
Inside her body fertilization to birth
Due Date Chart
Puppies are usually born 61 days after conception
Temp Chart
Taking a dogs temperature and recording her temp to predict her whelp day
Print Temp Chart
Taking her temp to determine whelping time
Whelping Supplies
Hemostats, bulb syringes, towels tons of them
Labor Stages
Digging, Shivering and Panting
See a Live Birth
See my Shih Tzu deliver a pup
Hard Labor Begins
Whelping the puppies
Aspirating Throat & Nose
Removing Fluids from the nasal passages
Umbilical Cord
How to cut the umbilical cord
Difficult Whelp (Dystocia)
What to do if shes in distress
Care of Bitch
Discharge, Retained Placentas, Eclampsia
Puppy Care
Fading Pup, Bottle Feeding, Tube feeding, Vaccinations
Weaning the pups
Giving the pups food
Disease of Dogs
Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus
Worms and Fleas
Roundworm, tapeworm, Coccidia, Fleas & Giardia
Selling Your Puppys
Placing your Puppies
Terms of Breeding
Common breeder terms we all should know
More Whelping Photos