Australian Cattle Dog Pregnancy Care - Australian Cattle Dog Books

Taking care of pregnant Australian Cattle Dog is no different from taking care of pregnant dogs of other breeds. Whether it’s you who decided to mate your dog, or it’s one of those unplanned situations, knowing you will soon have a bunch of cute and fluffy pups in a couple of months can be pretty exciting. And as with any type of dog, the first and most important thing you need to do when you suspect your dog is pregnant, and is take her to the vet.

Your vet can give you the right assessment of your prego dog’s situation, how far long your dog may be, and how to best care for her. For quick rundown or general information, here are the important things you need to know if your dog is pregnant.

How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?

Gestation period for dogs is 63 days or around two months, and she could give birth somewhere around 57 to 72 days. And just like into humans, dog pregnancy is broken into three trimesters.

How To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant?

There are three things you should look for when you suspect your dog is pregnant:

Increase in nipple size

Weight gain

Increase in appetite

Pregnant dogs will have a significant increase in appetite, as her abdomen increases in size and may sway a little as she walks. Her breasts and nipples will enlarge significantly, and you may even see some milky fluid from her nipples.

For most dogs, you can’t really tell if they’re pregnant until the last half of the pregnancy. This is when their abdomen distends, and their nipples start to look pinker and bigger. Up until this stage, pregnant dogs don’t look any different than other dogs.

To rule out your suspicion however, it is best to take your dog to the vet for a prenatal checkup.

Vets can do three things:

Feel (palpate) your dog’s abdomen to check for any enlargement in the uterus.

Use ultrasound test to pick up fetal sacs in the uterus.

Conduct a blood test to check for Relaxing hormone level (a hormone produced by developing placenta).

Caring For Your Pregnant Australian Cattle Dog

Nutrition

Obviously, your dog will need proper attention and care when she’s pregnant, this includes healthy meals, which is important for her and her puppies. It is crucial that you give your dog high quality food, preferably dog food that passed AFFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials). If this is not possible, then take time to research for the best high quality dog food available in your area.

If you’re already giving your dog high quality dog food, then you don’t need to change anything on her diet, unless specified by your vet.

As your dog’s weight changes (last 5 weeks of pregnancy), experts recommend to increase her food intake gradually; she must consume 30 to 50% more food than usual. This means you need to give your dog small meals more frequently. It’s not advisable to give your dog large meals, as this can result into discomfort.

Prenatal Care

When planning to get your Australian Cattle Dog pregnant, it is best to have her vaccinated first. This will ensure protection for her and her puppies against various health risks. Prenatal care includes deworming. This is extremely important to ensure there are no internal parasites (hookworms or roundworms) that can pass from mother to puppies.

Your vet will also recommend a heartworm test and may start preventative procedure. Heartworm microfilaria can pass from mother dog to unborn puppies through the placenta.

Below, as you can see, are some of the Multivitamin that is recommended for your pregnant Australian Cattle Dog to help them while they are at the stage of pregnancy, these type of Multivitamins is also good for puppies and Senior dogs;