Pregnant Pets: How to Care for Your Pregnant Dog

All across the country, all over the world pet owners love their pets. The pet and owner bond is so much like the parent and child bond. We love our pets in a way much like the way we love our children. Nearly every family owns at least one pet. Some own fish, lizards, snakes, or frogs. Others own bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs, or rats. Most though own either cats or dogs.

This is an article for the proud owners of dogs. To be more specific female dogs who are soon to have puppies! Oh, the joy of having puppies! They are so small, so precious, so soft and so sweet. In order for those puppies to be strong and healthy when they are born there are certain things you can do to ensure your female dogs who is carrying them is good and healthy. Here are ten tips and suggestions on caring for your pregnant female dog.

1. Like pregnant women, pregnant dogs feel a wide range of things. They go through emotional phases and changes during their pregnancies as well. The first thing that you can do to help your female dog through her pregnancy is to offer your unconditional love. Dogs love to be loved as it is. Give her lots of pets, and speak to her often in a soothing and gentle voice. There will be days, especially in the first weeks, that she will just not feel well. Offering her your love and attention is sure to make her feel better, special and loved.

2. The second tip and suggestion that will help you to take care of your female dog during her pregnancy will also help to ensure strong healthy puppies. Just as a humans nutritional needs go up during pregnancy so do a dogs. Increase your girls serving size at each meal. She should be fed more often as well. If you usually feed her two times per day feed her three, and increase the amount by a cup.

3. The third tip ties in with the second. Your female dog will need extra liquid too. Serve her plenty of fresh, cold water. Make sure that it is always clean and available to her. A dehydrated pregnant dog will not have healthy pups. There is a reason why her need for fluids increases and it is for the puppies. Her body is working as hard as ever to supply their nutrition and fluids. She needs to increase her food and water intake to do this.

4. The fourth tip that will help you care for your pregnant female dog is to walk her more often. Again, just as a human, the bladder is being crowded by the growing pups. She will need to go more often. Also, the increase fluid intake does the same. The more she drinks the more she'll need to be walked. Your girl will need to go twice as often. Make sure to walk her frequently to avoid accidents on the floors.

5. The fifth suggestion is to make sure your girl gets plenty of exercise. She'll appreciate those extra walks but she'll also need time each day to get her running in. Just because she's pregnant doesn't mean she won't still want to run and play. A runner is great for allowing her to remain safely in the yard and also get her running time in.

6. The sixth tip that will help you help your pregnant dog through her pregnancy is to play with her! Dogs love to play. It makes them happy. A happy girl will have a great pregnancy and in the end a bunch of happy pups.

7. The seventh thing that you can do to help your pregnant dog out during her pregnancy is to worm her. This is a very important thing to do. It's best to worm dogs regularly whether they are pregnant or not. Hook worms and round worms are the worst. They will pass onto the pups and likely kills them if she is infested. Remember to read the directions on the package of wormer carefully and only ever use a wormer designed for dogs.

8. The eighth thing you can do is to take your pregnant girl to the vet. She'll need a check up. All of her shots should be up to date and she should be tested for parasites by a professional. Just as women need prenatal care so do dogs. This is the best way to ensure her health through pregnancy and the health of the pups she's about to have.

9. The ninth thing that you can do is to help her find her spot to have her pups. She'll likely pick another spot if you don't. That might not be good. Offer her a spot to birth that is in a place you don't mind her birthing in. If you have old clothes, blankets, sheets, or scrap fabric lay it down. She will make a nest of sorts there. The blankets or whatever you lay down will protect your flooring and give her pups a soft and cozy place to be. Where she births is where she will keep her pups. They'll be there for weeks. A large but shallow box in that spot would be perfect.

10. The tenth and final tip and suggestion is to keep her clean. Give her at least one lukewarm bath per week. It is safe to use most dog shampoos on pregnant and lactating female dogs. Make sure to read the label carefully though as some are not safe to use during these times. A clean dog is a well cared for and happy dog. Brush her well after her coat is dry. She will have soft silky fur and be so cuddly. Also, any flees will be removed and killed by the bath. Thanks for reading and take care!