We're ready! I setup the whelping box in the spare bedroom for the arrival of the puppies. This room is both the coolest room and the room farthest from the kitchen/living room which will offer a lot of privacy for when the babies arrive. Zene seems to approve, so its a win-win.
Zene is in Week Eight (Days 50-57) of her pregnancy. Below is a list of what to expect and my "to do" list:
Development of the Puppies
- Fetal movement can be detected when bitch is at rest
- Puppies can safely be born from now on
Changes in the Dam
- Milk may be squeezed from nipples
- The dam's stomach will be very large
- The dam might lose her appetite during this period as her abdomen may be crowded with puppies
- It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day
- Gather whelping kit and set up whelping pen.
- Prepare phone list for help/support. It should include your vet's phone number, the emergency clinic's phone number, the number of any friends who will be offering support during whelping, and anyone else you might need to contact before, during, or after whelping (like your office to let them know you won't be in!).
- Make sure your car is gassed up and ready for a possible emergency trip to the vet's office (my repro/general vet is Dr. Beckie Williams DVM at Yorba Regional Animal Hospital).
