Deca's Pregnancy Progression Calendar

Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Sire: Teejay von Wilhendorf

Dam: Deca Haus Juris

Breeder: Alan Bowser

• First day of mating – Wednesday June 13, 2007
• 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilization taking place.
• The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

• Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - Friday, June 15, 2007

• Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.

Friday, June 15, 2007 - Saturday, June 16, 2007

• Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Monday, June 18, 2007

• Fertilized 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.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 - Tuesday, June 26, 2007

• The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 - Sunday, July 08, 2007

• The blastocystes will grow into an embryos.
• During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Wednesday, July 04, 2007

• Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge.
• The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007 - Tuesday, July 10, 2007

• 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.

Sunday, July 08, 2007 - Thursday, July 12, 2007

• 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.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

• 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.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

• The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.

Friday, July 27, 2007

• It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.

Monday, July 30, 2007 - Tuesday, August 07, 2007

• 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.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

• 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.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - Thursday, August 16, 2007

• 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.

Saturday, August 11, 2007 - Tuesday, August 14, 2007

• Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

• You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

• 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.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

• 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.