How to distinguish a false pregnancy from a real one
You can suspect that your favorite animal is carrying puppies based on the following signs:
- there is slight mucous discharge 30-35 days after the expected conception;
- during the same period (after 30 days), the pet’s weight begins to increase;
- nausea and vomiting;
- abdominal enlargement 40-45 days after the expected conception;
- loss of interest in food at the initial stage of pregnancy and its increase in the later stages;
- decreased activity.
False pregnancy occurs with symptoms such as enlarged mammary glands, increased interest in food, and anxiety. This is not a dangerous condition, but can cause complications, including mastitis and pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterus).
The cause of false pregnancy is hormonal changes. Treatment in this case is symptomatic and etiotropic.
First of all, hormonal medications are prescribed that help suppress the activity of progesterone and prolactin, thereby reducing the severity of symptoms.
Poor health in dogs
Many dog owners are interested in the question of whether toxicosis occurs in dogs during pregnancy. Yes, sometimes . But this is not considered a disease, but only a specific condition that goes away on its own after delivery.
The reason for this is the animal’s body’s reaction to the presence of toxic substances.
During pregnancy, dogs can develop the following types of toxicosis:
- exogenous, when toxic substances entered the body from the outside world through food, water, smoke, chemical vapors;
- endogenous, in this case, toxic components are produced by the body due to the defective functioning of the liver and kidneys.
According to researchers, toxicosis in a dog during the period of bearing puppies develops as a result of a specific reaction of the body to a foreign protein.
However, this version is refuted by breeders and dog handlers, who are of the opinion that this is a kind of cleansing of the body caused by changes in the hormonal system.
In case of toxicosis, it is necessary to carefully monitor your pets. Any deterioration should prompt a visit to the veterinarian, otherwise dangerous consequences may arise.
When does it start and how long does it last?
In mild form, toxicosis occurs at 3-4 weeks. The duration of this condition in an animal is 2-3 weeks.
If there is a suspicion of the pathological nature of the symptoms that arise that are not related to toxicosis, you can take tests: a general examination of urine and blood, blood biochemistry. If the indicators are normal, we can talk about toxicosis, which will go away on its own after childbirth .
In case of loss of appetite, severe thirst, general malaise, or persistent vomiting containing bile, it is recommended to immediately visit a veterinarian.
Such symptoms are especially dangerous in the second half of pregnancy.
A dog cannot cope with dehydration on its own. In any case, you will need the help of a specialist. If you neglect the symptoms, you can cause complications, including intrauterine death of future puppies.
Body temperature in adult dogs and puppies. How to measure a dog's temperature.
A dog's body temperature is an important indicator of its well-being. When the first signs of illness appear, taking the temperature of a puppy or adult dog is the first thing the owner needs to do before calling the veterinarian.
Normally, dogs' temperature is usually slightly higher than that of humans. The average body temperature of an adult dog is 37.5⁰ – 38.5⁰ C. A healthy puppy's temperature is usually half a degree higher (
39⁰С). However, there are individual nuances, determined, in particular, by age, breed, body weight and height, due to which normal temperature indicators differ slightly for each individual animal (for example, the body temperature of large dogs is usually lower than that of small ones). In addition, a short-term increase in temperature in a dog can be observed after physical exertion, from excitement or fear, during estrus (in females), as well as in hot weather.
Table of average normal temperature values for puppies and adult dogs of small, medium and large breeds (⁰С):
| Medium breed dog puppies | 38,3⁰ – 39,1⁰ |
| Large breed dog puppies | 38,2⁰ – 39,0⁰ |
| Adult small breed dogs | 38,5⁰ – 39,0⁰ |
| Adult medium breed dogs | 37,5⁰-39,0⁰ |
| Adult large breed dogs | 37,4⁰ – 38,3⁰ |
When should you take your dog's temperature?
It makes sense to measure the body temperature of a healthy dog before and after vaccinations, during pregnancy, as well as before and after birth (a sharp decrease in temperature in a pregnant dog, as a rule, indicates that there is no more than a day left before giving birth). Breeding puppies have their temperature measured according to a specific schedule, starting at birth. As the dog gets older, it is not necessary to constantly measure the temperature, but it is good if the owner knows what normal temperature indicators are typical for his pet.
General lethargy, refusal to eat, pale gums and tongue, dry hot nose are sufficient reasons to measure the dog’s temperature, not to mention more serious symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, etc.
If the dog is seriously ill, it makes sense to keep a temperature chart, recording the results of morning and evening measurements daily (it is better to take them at the same time).
How to measure a dog's temperature?
In order to determine the dog's temperature, you can use a regular medical thermometer, mercury or electronic. A mercury thermometer is cheaper, but with an electronic thermometer the process of measuring temperature will take much less time. For hygienic reasons, it is necessary to allocate a separate thermometer for the dog, which will not be used by other family members. If there are several animals in the family, it is better to purchase a thermometer for each of them.
How to measure a dog's temperature?
Measuring temperature is a simple procedure, but it requires the owner to carefully and carefully handle the dog during the process. Dogs' temperature is measured through the rectum. Your pet may not like these manipulations for the first time, but gradually he will get used to them. First of all, you need to prepare a thermometer. Reset the scale to zero, then coat the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline. The dog needs to be laid on its side, then carefully lift the tail at the base and slowly insert the thermometer 1.5 - 2 cm into the anus. At home, you can also measure the dog’s temperature by fixing it in a standing position, just as veterinarians do in the clinic, but for an inexperienced owner this method will be somewhat more difficult.
If you use an electronic thermometer, measuring your dog’s temperature will take no more than a minute; with a regular thermometer you will have to wait a little longer, from 3 to 5 minutes. It is advisable to measure the temperature in a calm environment to avoid excitement or fear, which could cause the dog to jump up, break the thermometer and injure itself. While taking the temperature, talk kindly to your dog and reward him with treats. You can accustom your pet to a command, for example, “Thermometer” or “Treat,” so that in the future the dog knows what awaits it and calmly allows its temperature to be taken. Be sure to praise your dog and give him treats not only during, but also immediately after the procedure is completed. Most animals tolerate temperature measurement quite calmly if the owner does everything correctly from the very beginning. After you finish, the thermometer must be washed with soap and warm water and disinfected with alcohol, then wash and disinfect your hands.
What to do if your dog has a high or low temperature?
First of all, you need to understand what indicators are considered “low” or “high” temperature for a dog. Objectively, a low body temperature in a dog is characterized by thermometer readings of 37⁰C and below; an elevated body temperature in an adult dog is considered to be from 39⁰ and in a puppy – from 39.5⁰ and above. A dog's temperature is 40⁰, as a rule, indicating the presence of a serious illness. Particularly dangerous is a gradual increase in temperature by 1-2 degrees without sudden jumps and drops. Here are just a few of the many possible reasons why a dog’s body temperature drops or rises:
-high temperature: canine distemper, piroplasmosis, endometritis (in bitches), heat stroke, etc.
— low temperature: parvovirus enteritis (in puppies and young dogs), helminthic infestation, etc.
Unfortunately, not everyone understands that a dog’s low or high temperature itself is only evidence of the body’s fight against the disease, that is, a symptom, and not the cause of the disease. However, often in such cases the owner thinks something like this: “So, the dog has a fever...What should I do?” and begins to search on veterinary and “dog” forums for answers to the questions “what to give a dog for fever”, “how to bring down a puppy’s temperature”, “how to reduce a dog’s temperature” or, no easier, “treatment of fever in dogs”. And there can be only one “treatment” here - an urgent visit to the clinic or calling a veterinarian at home!
Since temperature itself is not the source of the disease, “lowering” it will not help to cope with the underlying disease that caused this temperature, and in some cases such intervention will only worsen the situation.
If you find that your dog’s temperature is noticeably different from the norm, the best thing you can do is not to waste time on your own, but to seek help from professionals as quickly as possible.
General lethargy, refusal to eat, pale gums and tongue, dry hot nose are sufficient reasons to measure the dog’s temperature, not to mention more serious symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, etc.
Types of toxicosis
There are several types of toxicosis. The safest form for the bitch and fetus is the mild form that primiparous dogs are susceptible to. It lasts after mating for up to 3 weeks, gradually weakens and passes by the end of the third week.
Clinical manifestations of mild toxicosis are as follows:
- decreased interest in food;
- vomiting in the morning, in which there is white foam.
The acute form of toxicosis occurs more often in the late stage of pregnancy and has the following severe symptoms:
- frequent vomiting with bile;
- decreased animal activity;
- general malaise;
- lack of appetite.
Among the negative consequences of the acute form of toxicosis are intrauterine death of puppies, premature birth, and severe intoxication.
There is another form - prenatal, which veterinarians consider the most dangerous. Occurs in the last week of pregnancy.
Complications of late toxicosis affect not only the puppies in the womb, but also the bitch herself, who may die or fall into a coma. The symptoms are the same as those of the acute type, but with greater severity.
How to remove this condition
If toxicosis is mild, specific therapy is not carried out. The condition normalizes on its own.
If you have special taste preferences, it is not recommended to limit bitch in products.
The food included in the diet must correspond to the norm, taking into account the weight of the animal. If clinical manifestations of severe toxicosis (acute or prenatal) are present, it is worth visiting a doctor for consultation .
In most cases, severe forms of the condition are treated with intravenous infusions of solutions that improve the condition of the dog and puppies in the womb.
Urgent treatment of toxicosis is necessary if severe symptoms occur a few days before delivery. Surgery is performed to reduce the risk of coma and death.
What to do if your dog refuses food
Loss of interest in food during pregnancy is one of the symptoms accompanying pregnancy. You shouldn’t force feed an animal, but you shouldn’t ignore it either.
What to do if the dog doesn't eat? Veterinarians recommend looking for a product that you like. Animals, like people, can have strange taste preferences.
You can give an injection of Catozal, a drug that normalizes metabolic processes in the dog’s body.
There are special medications aimed at increasing appetite, for example, Enervit paste.
Behavior before childbirth.
Before giving birth, the dog's behavior changes dramatically. Usually within a day the dog begins to refuse food or eats only its favorite foods.
Closer to birth, the dog often urinates, breathes frequently, and opens its mouth wide. The bitch looks under her tail every now and then, rushes about, changes places, digs. Colostrum begins to be released from the nipples.
The temperature drops to 36.5°C. It is not advisable to measure the temperature at this moment, because it causes anxiety to the dog.
Before giving birth, the dog needs to cut off the long hair on the “pants” and at the base of the tail with scissors.
When signs of imminent labor appear, place the dog in the place where she will give birth and do not leave her alone.
