West Siberian Laika in heat
The first heat of a female West Siberian husky occurs at 6 – 12 months. It takes place twice a year (there are exceptions) and lasts from 7 to 28 days (on average two weeks). At this time, the bitch can become pregnant.
The cycle is experienced in 4 stages:
| Stage | Duration | Discharge | Signs |
| Proestrus | 4 – 9 days | bloody | Males during this period are interested in females, but without reciprocity. |
| Estrus | 4 – 13 days | yellowish color | The bitch becomes favorable to the representatives of the “stronger sex”, conception is possible. If you touch the lady's tail, she moves it to the side and lifts her pelvis. |
| Metestrus | 60 – 150 days | — | The bitch stops letting males in. At the beginning of this period, false pregnancy is possible. |
| Anestrus | from 100 to 160 days | — | Ovarian activity decreases. There are no significant external signs. |
The main signs of heat in a Labrador
The onset of estrus in a retriever is accompanied by the following signs:
- complete or partial lack of appetite;
- stains and brown spots can be found on the bedding intended for sleeping;
- for unknown reasons, the pet’s mood changes: sometimes it is excessively playful, sometimes it falls into sadness and melancholy.
It is impossible to accurately describe the state and emotional background, since it depends on a large number of individual characteristics.
For your information! Quite often, when a Labrador is in heat, shedding season begins. This causes additional trouble for the owner, but he will have to come to terms with it and provide the pet with careful care for its coat.
During the walk, the female's behavior can be terrible. She becomes disobedient and strives to distance herself from her owner. This immediately becomes noticeable, since such behavior is unusual for Labradors in a normal state.
The female tries to leave marks in any suitable places in her opinion, with an interval of 4-7 meters. This is necessary to attract the attention of males. Such marks indicate readiness for sexual activity and procreation.
Pregnancy of the West Siberian Laika
According to the rules of the Belarusian Canine Association, West Siberian Laika females are allowed for breeding from 18 months, males - from 15 months.
“Pregnancy is for health” is one of the most dangerous myths of many owners!
Pregnancy is not a healing process. This is a lot of stress and strain on the immune system and internal organs. Therefore, only a perfectly healthy dog should give birth.
As a rule, the pregnancy of the West Siberian Laika lasts 63 days. The maximum difference is from 53 to 71 days, in which case the puppies are born viable.
1. At an early stage (the first 3 weeks after mating) it is impossible to determine whether the bitch is pregnant.
2. At the 4th week, using ultrasound, you can estimate the approximate number of puppies.
3. At the 5th week, the sides become more convex (sometimes the sign is absent until the 7th week), the skin of the nipples becomes lighter.
4. At the 6th week, puppies can be palpated. After this, the size of the fruit increases, the nipples become softer and larger.
It is
better if the palpation is carried out by a veterinarian; you can damage the fruit yourself.
During pregnancy, the dog should move, but not become overtired. The expectant mother should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary, take long trips by car or public transport, or be kept in a noisy, cramped room. If during pregnancy your dog's condition suddenly changes, he begins to refuse to eat, his temperature rises, or there is discharge from the genitals, you should consult a veterinarian.
The second half of pregnancy may be characterized by minor mucous discharge. The discharge becomes abundant, yellowish or greenish - this means that labor is approaching. 1–2 days before giving birth, the dog begins to worry, whine, lick the genitals, and scratch the walls or floor. Pulse, breathing, and urination increase. The dog refuses food and drinks constantly.
Health, typical diseases
The undoubted advantage of huskies is their good health and strong immunity. Only healthy dogs could be useful in hunting, so individuals for breeding were selected with special care.
There are very few genetic diseases in huskies. These include:
- hip dysplasia;
- renal failure;
- diabetes;
- retinal atrophy;
- glaucoma;
- deafness;
- bloating.
A prerequisite for preventing diseases in huskies is timely deworming and vaccination. The main danger for dogs lies in the diseases that they can develop due to their hunting activities. Thus, there are frequent cases of husky infection with leptospirosis, when a dog eats a mouse carrying Leptospira while hunting or walking, having been bitten by a marten or weasel. Sometimes infection occurs when swimming in a pond with stagnant water. The dog's temperature rises, yellowing of the mucous membranes and darkening of the urine are observed. The diagnosis is made on the basis of microbiological analysis. The treatment is complex.
Another danger that awaits the husky while hunting is a snake bite. Since representatives of the breed are characterized by fearlessness and curiosity, nothing can stop them from the desire to fight with a snake. After a bite, the dog develops severe pain, swelling, heart failure and muscle paralysis. The most dangerous lesions are the mouth and neck. If the animal is not given medical assistance, breathing will stop. That is why, while in the forest and swampy areas, the owner should always have anti-snake serum with him.
Laikas also often have dental problems. Plaque, in particular, can lead to inflammatory processes in the root system and gums, and caries.
The average lifespan of huskies is 10-14 years.
False pregnancy of the West Siberian husky
False pregnancy is common in dogs of all breeds. This is the name for the psycho-physiological state of a bitch that has not been fertilized, but still shows signs of pregnancy. In this case, the dog diligently arranges a “nest” and may even experience something similar to contractions. As a rule, false pregnancy is observed in dogs with irregular matings and is associated with hormonal development disorders.
If a dog is sterilized, false pregnancy does not occur!
If the bitch begins to show signs of a false pregnancy, it is necessary to remove the toys. Self-licking of nipples increases the symptoms of false pregnancy. This can be prevented by putting a collar and blanket on the dog. Limit your protein intake.
If the bitch is showing aggression, extreme agitation, or developing physical problems (such as mastitis), medication will be needed. Contact your veterinarian.
False pregnancy may be a symptom of a disease (hypothyroidism or liver dysfunction).
If there are frequent strong manifestations of false pregnancy, you should contact the clinic for examination. Most likely, you will be asked to donate blood for biochemistry and hormones.
Births of the West Siberian Laika
It is necessary to prepare everything you need in advance. The “birthing room” should be warm, ventilated and calm, as well as comfortable for people - you will spend quite a lot of time there. A week before the expected birth, move the bitch to the “delivery room”, she should get used to this place.
Prepare a box for newborns (special beds are available for sale). You will also need: infrared heating lamp, disposable diapers, heating pad or plastic bottle with warm water, cotton wool, cotton rags, towels (8 pieces), hand wash, thermometer, milk replacer, bottle and pacifiers, muzzle, collar, leash, glucose solution.
Keep your veterinarian's phone number visible.
A day before the event, the West Siberian husky refuses to eat, and its body temperature drops. The bitch becomes restless, tears up the bedding and makes a nest.
IMPORTANT: The dog must be closely monitored so that it does not climb into a hard-to-reach place.
When labor begins, call your veterinarian and let him be on call just in case. Put a collar on the bitch. Next, your task is to sit quietly and not fuss. You can do yoga or meditate.
Stages of labor
| Stage | Duration | Characteristic | Behavior |
| First | about 12 -24 hours | The cervix relaxes and dilates, mucus comes out, contractions without pushing, the temperature is lowered | The dog is worried, often changes its position, looks back at its stomach, breathing is rapid, vomiting is acceptable |
| Second | normal up to 24 hours | The amniotic fluid recedes, the temperature returns to normal, the abdominal walls are tense, contractions are combined with pushing, puppies emerge from the birth canal | The dog stops worrying, breathes quickly, lies down in one place, strains, after the fetus comes out, breaks the placenta and licks the puppy |
| Third | The afterbirth comes out from either the placenta or the baby part of the placenta. Usually, after the birth of a puppy, the placenta comes out within 10-15 minutes. Sometimes several come out, after 2-3 puppies. | The bitch tries to eat all the afterbirth, do not allow her to do this. One or two is the maximum, otherwise there may be intoxication (diarrhea, vomiting). | |
A West Siberian husky puppy is born in a “package” - a transparent film called the afterbirth. Usually the bitch tears it herself and eats it. Don't be alarmed - this is normal, she won't eat the puppy.
Do not allow the bitch to eat the afterbirth if it is greenish-black in color with a putrid odor.
Keep track of the number of afterbirths, there should be as many as there were puppies. Sometimes the afterbirth may remain inside and only come out at the end of labor.
If at least one placenta remains inside, the bitch may suffer from inflammation (metritis). If you are not sure that all the placenta has come out, be sure to take your dog for an ultrasound.
A West Siberian husky puppy can be born while the bitch is standing. It falls to the ground, but it's usually harmless. Intervention is only justified if the mother is in shock, ignores the cubs, or attacks them. In this case, call an experienced breeder - he will tell you what to do.
Something went wrong…
If the mother tries to attack the puppies, muzzle her and move each pup out of earshot. Remove the film, wipe the puppy with a towel, remove mucus from the mouth and nostrils with a syringe. If the puppy is not breathing, try rubbing him with a towel. Sometimes artificial respiration is necessary - gently breathe air into the puppy's mouth and nose. The chest should rise at the same time. Repeat the breath every 2-3 seconds until the puppy begins to breathe on its own. Place the puppies in a cardboard box with a heating pad. Make sure the kids don't get burned.
Remember that the dog is in a state of shock, talk to it kindly, calm it down.
After the birth is over, when the bitch has rested and drunk milk with glucose, try introducing her to the puppies again. Lay the mother on her side, hold her head, stroke her. A second person can hold the puppy to the nipple. If the bitch has accepted the puppy, you can carefully place the rest. But keep holding it.
Even if everything is fine, you should not relax. After feeding, clean the puppies and wash their butts. If your dog is comfortable licking the puppies, you can choose to risk leaving them in her care or take the box away and return it for the next feeding.
Sometimes in the first hours after giving birth, due to shock, the bitch ignores the puppies: she refuses to feed, wash or stay with them. Here you will have to force the bitch to feed the puppies, but you will have to wash the babies yourself. Massage (clockwise) the perineal area with a cotton swab soaked in warm water to stimulate the release of feces and urine.
Sometimes a bitch tries to kill her offspring. But it’s still better to force her to feed the puppies. Put a muzzle on her and secure her in a lying position. One person can hold it and the other can apply the puppies to the nipples. Artificial feeding is not a substitute for breast milk, so use it only as a last resort.
Important: Puppies need a full feeding every 2 hours.
As a rule, sooner or later the bitch still accepts puppies. Cases when hatred turns out to be persistent are extremely rare.
Warning: Whatever happens, even if the bitch eats all the babies, don't blame her. The birth of the puppies was your idea, and it was you who forced the bitch to give birth. She doesn’t understand what she’s doing; hormonal imbalances and shock force her to behave in a way completely unusual for her.
Possible complications
Caesarean section is the surgical removal of puppies when they cannot be born naturally. If you leave puppies within reach of a recovering bitch, she may kill them.
Eclampsia is milk fever associated with calcium deficiency. Symptoms: anxiety, semi-consciousness, tossing, and sometimes convulsions. A calcium injection can work wonders in this case.
Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mammary glands. Symptoms: fever, lack of appetite. The affected nipple is hot, sore and swollen. Veterinarian consultation and antibiotics are required.
Metritis is inflammation of the uterus after childbirth. Causes: retained placenta, injury or dead puppy. Symptoms: dark discharge, loss of appetite, high fever. Urgent treatment with antibiotics is required, possibly a smear test.
