Pregnancy Calendar for Dogs
Date:	Sun 25 Jun 2006
Sire:	Wyntha's George
Dam:	Wyntha's Jaycee
Breeder:	Wyntha's Kennel
Sun 18 Jun 2006	First day of mating. 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.
Mon 19 Jun 2006	Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
Mon 19 Jun 2006 - Tue 20 Jun 2006	Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Tue 20 Jun 2006 - Wed 21 Jun 2006	Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Wed 21 Jun 2006 - Fri 23 Jun 2006	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.
Thu 29 Jun 2006 - Sat 1 Jul 2006	The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Thu 29 Jun 2006 - Thu 13 Jul 2006	The blastocystes will grow into an embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Sun 2 Jul 2006 - Sun 9 Jul 2006	Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Sat 8 Jul 2006 - Sat 15 Jul 2006	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.
Thu 13 Jul 2006 - Mon 17 Jul 2006	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.
Sun 16 Jul 2006	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.
Sat 22 Jul 2006	The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
Tue 1 Aug 2006	It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Fri 4 Aug 2006 - Sat 12 Aug 2006	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.
Sun 6 Aug 2006	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.
Sun 6 Aug 2006 - Mon 21 Aug 2006	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.
Wed 16 Aug 2006 - Sat 19 Aug 2006	Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
Thu 17 Aug 2006	You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
Sun 20 Aug 2006	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.
Mon 21 Aug 2006	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.