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

DrugMay Be UsedDo Not UseSafety Studies in Dogs Not Available
Acemannan x 
Acepromazine x 
AcetylcysteineUse as an antidote, only.  
Activated Charcoalx  
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 Tearsx  
Aspirin x 
Atropine Eye Medicationx  
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) xRemoved 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 
Insulinx 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 
PotassiumDepends 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 

 Whelping Photos

See pups as they are born 
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.
  • Cutting Cords
  • Aspirating
  • Whelping Tools and How to Use them
  • Artificial Insemination
  • Predicting Due Date
  • Signs of Labor
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    Canine Reproduction The Series DVD Video Buy 49.99      Jensen Whelping Guide - Digital E Book!   Buy 10.00 

     

    Whelping Photos
    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