- 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.
- Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
Fri 14 Feb 114
- Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Sat 15 Feb 114
- Fertilisation occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Mon 17 Feb 114
- 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.
Tue 25 Feb 114
- The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Sun 9 Mar 114
- The blastocystes will grow into an embryos.
- During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Wed 5 Mar 114
- Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge.
- The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Tue 11 Mar 114
- 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 13 Mar 114
- 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.
- 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.
- The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
- It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Tue 8 Apr 114
- 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.
- 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 17 Apr 114
- 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.
Tue 15 Apr 114
- Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
- You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
- 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.
- 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.