Do You Need to Take Your Pregnant Dog to The Vet?

If your dog is pregnant, does she need to see the vet? There are several reasons, not the least of which is having a professional confirm the pregnancy, why taking your dog to the vet when you believe she's pregnant is a good idea. The vet will be able to diagnose the pregnancy with a belly palpitation at about 28 days past the heat cycle and run a simple blood test on your dog to look for the hormone relaxin, which is only produced when your dog is pregnant.

You vet will be able to advise you on how to take care of your pregnant pup. Your vet will perform a thorough examination of your dog to look for any potential problems and to confirm the overall health of your dog, which is a good idea to rule out any complications that can happen during the pregnancy or even during birth. You and your vet can decide if there is a need to do an ultrasound, or abdominal x-ray, on your dog. Ultrasounds are typically done on pregnant dogs to determine the number of puppies she's carrying though the results are not always 100% accurate. Knowing how many puppies to expect might be helpful once your dog goes into labor so you have a rough idea when she's done giving birth.

If you have are unsure what breed the other dog was, a trip to the vet is recommended so that an ultrasound can done. An ultrasound is an effective tool to help determine the number of puppies your dog is carrying as well as their size. Smaller dog breeds may have complications carrying and giving birth to a larger dog breed mix. If there are any potential problems, your vet will be able to advise you on your next steps to ensure your dog and her puppies will all be healthy.

Your vet will also advise you on what to feed your pregnant dog. Many dogs need more nutrition while pregnant; some require changes in food as well. Your vet will most likely advise you to feed your dog a premium dog food starting 4 to 5 weeks into the pregnancy as well as advising you on whether or not to add any supplements to her diet. At 6 weeks pregnant, your vet will tell you to increase the food by about 25 percent.

Your dog will also need a birthing or whelping box that is easy to clean and can be placed in a quiet, low traffic part of the house. Your vet can help you prepare the box and suggest things that should go into it, including blankets. You will also be advised to show this area to your dog a week or two before birth so that your dog can become accustomed to it. Should any questions or concerns arise when the birth happens, your vet will be happy answer any questions and assist you if there are any complications or questions.

As your vet is a wealth of information and can better help you and your dog through the pregnancy and birth, it is best to visit your vet with your pregnant pup to make sure that everything is in order and to ensure a healthy mom and puppies.

More Dog Health

« Your Dog's Pregnancy: How to Know For Sure Your Dog is Expecting | Only Dog Beds | Your Pregnant Dog: The Basics »