Date: Wed 25 Jan 2012
Sire: Zeus
Dam: Sunny
Breeder: Andrea Brewer
Thu 19 Jan 2012
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.
Fri 20 Jan 2012
Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
Fri 20 Jan 2012 -Sat 21 Jan 2012
Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Sat 21 Jan 2012 -Sun 22 Jan 2012
Fertilisation occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Sun 22 Jan 2012 -Tue 24 Jan 2012
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.
Mon 30 Jan 2012 -Wed 1 Feb 2012
The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Mon 30 Jan 2012 -Mon 13 Feb 2012
The blastocystes will grow into an embryos.
During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Thu 2 Feb 2012 -Thu 9 Feb 2012
Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge.
The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Wed 8 Feb 2012 -Wed 15 Feb 2012
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.
Mon 13 Feb 2012 -Fri 17 Feb 2012
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.
Thu 16 Feb 2012
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.
Wed 22 Feb 2012
The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
Sat 3 Mar 2012
It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Tue 6 Mar 2012 -Wed 14 Mar 2012
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.
Thu 8 Mar 2012
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.
Thu 8 Mar 2012 -Fri 23 Mar 2012
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.
Sun 18 Mar 2012 -Wed 21 Mar 2012
Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
Mon 19 Mar 2012
You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
Thu 22 Mar 2012
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.
Fri 23 Mar 2012
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.
