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- Attend the Nebraska Rescue Council’s monthly meeting this Saturday
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- Paws in Pink to Benefit Breast Cancer Foundation
- VCA, Inc. Acquires MidWest Vet Specialists from Kansas State University
Things You Should Know About Your Pet’s Pregnancy
A pregnant pet deserves all the attention you would give to a pregnant woman. Pregnancy is a special situation for everyone and it should not be taken lightly… not for pets either. Spaying and neutering are the best ways to help control pet population, but if you’ve found yourself with a pregnant pet, here’s some information that will be helpful to you.
Duration of pregnancy
A cat or dog will remain pregnant for about two months. The exact number of days varies a lot, but there are some key signs you should have in mind, which will help you realize when your pet is on her way to delivery. Within 24 hours before delivery, your pet will lose her appetite and avoid eating even her favorite treatments. However, she will still be responsive and energetic as the labor time approaches.
When your pet is finally in labor, you will notice some early signs, including panting, pacing, restlessness, as well as a decrease in her body temperature. Generally speaking, the pet needs to find the perfect quiet place for the delivery, so you should ensure that no outside noise or movement occurs during the whole process. Although the delivery of the puppies is a natural process that is usually performed without any complications, you should still schedule an appointment with your vet beforehand to make sure that everything works accordingly. There, you will find the best veterinary ultrasound machines that will ensure that your pet and her fetus are both healthy. After that, you can leave it to mother nature, but be sure to know the pointers that follow.
Nutrition during pregnancy
The nutritional needs of your pet change a lot during pregnancy. Some additional nutrients should be added to the pet’s eating habits to prevent depletion of the body’s resources. The energy needs of the pregnant pet are also, increased and as with people, the weight of her body will increase considerably. Moreover, proper nutrition before breeding ensures that successful lactation will occur afterward. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet, as this may lead to health problems of the mother, as well as the newborn puppy.
Provide a helping hand
Although pets are capable of handling the laboring process all alone, you may still have to give a helping hand. If the new mother seems exhausted, lost or in the midst of delivering yet another puppy, there are some things you could do to help her out. If the puppy is not out, try and remove it immediately from the membrane it is trapped into. When the delivery is finally over, convince the mother to go and stretch herself a bit, while you clean everything. Afterward, leave the mother alone with her newborn.
Your pet’s pregnancy is definitely a special situation for the whole family. It is natural that you feel a bit anxious and overwhelmed when you realize that a new member will make its appearance soon enough, but imagine how the pregnant mother feels. She will be much more anxious and restless than you. For this reason, you should be the one to ensure that everything goes according to the vet’s orders and that the labor occurs without any complications.
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