John Owens graduated from the Veterinary College U.C.D. in 1997. He, along with his wife Susan, recently opened Ani-Pets veterinary clinic in Tramore, which is dedicated to the full time care of all companion animals, including exotic pets. He has a special interest in preventative medicine and nutrition.

Dental disease and how it affects your pet

“My female dog, Rusty, who is only fourteen months old, is unexpectedly pregnant, even though I kept her locked in the back garden for two full weeks when she was in heat. That was about six weeks ago. I am worried about problems during the birth, and am looking for any advice on caring for her during the rest of the pregnancy.” – from P.A. by e-mail.

An unwanted pregnancy is an unfortunately common situation, which can lead to a lot of work and expense caring for the mother and puppies, and also in finding good homes for the offspring. The first thing I would say is that locking a female dog in a yard or garden is not at all foolproof in preventing mating as dogs often dig their way out or climb high walls due to the strong hormonal signals the female dog sends out when she is “in heat”. These signals can attract male dogs from a number of miles away. The heat period during which a female can conceive lasts from 21 to 30 days, so confining her for two weeks would be too short a time to prevent this, therefore it is probable that your dog was mated after you thought the danger period was over.

As you will have noticed by now, a pregnant dog will need increasing amounts of food to nourish the developing litter, and prepare her for the demands of birth and nursing. The average pregnancy lasts 63 days, and the demand for extra food becomes very obvious after day 35. As a general rule, she will then require twice as much calories in the form of extra food as normal. After the birth, the demand for food increases to about three times the normal amount for maintenance to meet the requirements of the nursing puppies. A food designed for growth, e.g. a good quality puppy food, is ideal during the nursing period and the second month of pregnancy is a good time to gradually introduce this new diet.

Ideally, your dog will have been vaccinated against diseases such as canine parvovirus before the pregnancy, so that she can pass on this immunity to the puppies through her first milk (colostrum), as well as preventing her from contracting potentially fatal infectious diseases. Parasite control, such as worming treatments, are necessary to prevent transmission of roundworms and hookworms from the pregnant female to the unborn puppies, and your vet will be able to advise you on an appropriate and safe treatment.

I would recommend that you do not allow your dog to mix freely with other dogs before and after the birth, due to the risk of contracting disease such as canine herpes virus, which would be dangerous to both mother and pups.

It is important to provide your dog with a quiet and comfortable whelping area, where she can give birth without stress, noise or distraction. It is normal for her to refuse food the day before she gives birth. Seek veterinary advice if there are problems during labour, but remember it can be quite a drawn out process from start to finish. Most dogs are excellent mothers, so if your dog appears ill or ceases to care for her puppies, it is time to contact your vet.