What to expect when your Dam is Expecting!

A dog's gestation generally lasts anywhere between 57 and 65 days. This can be a very stressful time for Dam and Dam's mommy.

A dog that is in heat is also called a "Bitch", once a dog becomes pregnant they are called a Dam. If you are planning on bredding your precious "Babygirl", There are some things to consider, can you handle the stress and worry, have you thought about the possible loss of your dog.

Once you have decided to breed your dog and you have had a successful bredding that had a tying. Take your calendar and count out 57 to 65 days you will want to highlight these days and plan to take them off from work, (No one wants to come home to a litter of pups.) Though that is exciting a lot can go wrong when a Dam is left alone to whelp her pups.

Starting on day 56 you are going to want to start taking her temp. three times a day. A normal dag temp runs either 99, 100, 101, or 102. As soon as your Dam's temp stays down around 98 or 97 conseculsive for three takings, don't plan on going anywhere! When I get temps down around 98 I then start taking the temp every few hours. Once the drop in temp happens and she has lost her mucous plug birth is anywhere from 12 hours away to a few days. This time can be nerve racking. Make sure the car has plenty of fuel and the vet is notified just in case. During this time you will also, want to get together your Whelping Kit. This Kit should include: Gloves, Thermometer, K-Y Jelly, Towels (One for each pup you are expecting plus a few for surprise pups.), Thread, Scissors, Ribbon of different colors, a notebook and pen, Newspaper to line the bottom of the whelping box, a whelping box (for min pins I use a rubbermaid tub) a whelping box should have a door so mommy does not have to jump to get in and out however, if you are straped for cash a bin will work in a pinch, a flashlight in case power goes out, A heating pad or hotwater bottle to keep pups warm, and a pillow and blanket for you to camp out next to box.

Once you have all of these items together keep it all handy. When whelping pups it is good have someone near to help you out.