Pregnancy Calendar for Dogs Date: Sun 11 Mar 112 Sire: Solo Dam: Karen Breeder: Wed 15 Feb 112 First day of mating. 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilaziton taking place. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix. Thu 16 Feb 112 Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs. Thu 16 Feb 112 - Fri 17 Feb 112 Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts. Fri 17 Feb 112 - Sat 18 Feb 112 Fertilisation occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus. Sat 18 Feb 112 - Mon 20 Feb 112 Fertilised eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns. The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos. During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocystes. Sun 26 Feb 112 - Tue 28 Feb 112 The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus. Sun 26 Feb 112 - Sun 11 Mar 112 The blastocystes will grow into an embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop. Wed 29 Feb 112 - Wed 7 Mar 112 Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner. Tue 6 Mar 112 - Tue 13 Mar 112 Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time. Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help. Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus Thu 15 Mar 112 An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant. It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count. Wed 14 Mar 112 Start to increase the dams food ration. Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided. The foetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs. Tue 20 Mar 112 The Dams abdomen starts to get larger. Fri 30 Mar 112 It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult. Mon 2 Apr 112 - Tue 10 Apr 112 Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming. Her breasts become even more swollen. She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies. Wed 4 Apr 112 The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies. It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day. You can easily detect abdominal movement now. Wed 4 Apr 112 - Thu 19 Apr 112 Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck. Sat 14 Apr 112 - Tue 17 Apr 112 Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples. Sun 15 Apr 112 You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening. Wed 18 Apr 112 Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees. Clear discharge from the vulva might occur. Thu 19 Apr 112 Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.