Maa-to-Be! Your Guide to Caring for a Pregnant Dog 🤰🐶

A pregnant dog needs specialised care, often called Seva or Palan Poshan. The goal is simple: ensure the mother-to-be stays healthy, and the puppies (bachche) inside get the best possible start.

Here is a step-by-step guide to nurturing your pregnant dog throughout her journey:

1. Confirming the Khush Khabri (Good News)

• Vet Visit is Essential: The moment you suspect she is pregnant, take her to the vet. They will confirm the pregnancy and help you set up a care schedule.
• Counting the Babies: Around 25–30 days into the pregnancy, an ultrasound or X-ray can confirm the number of puppies, which helps you prepare for the birth (whelping).

2. The Power of Poshan (Nutrition)

Diet is the most critical factor, especially during the last month when the puppies are growing fastest.

• Increase Food Gradually: Don’t increase her food immediately. Gradually start increasing her portion size, especially during the final few weeks of pregnancy, to provide strength for the developing puppies.
• The Right Food: Your vet will often recommend switching her to a high-quality puppy food during the last third of her pregnancy and while she is nursing. Puppy food is calorie-dense and packed with the extra nutrients she needs.
• Small, Frequent Meals: Her growing tummy will press against her stomach, making it hard for her to eat large portions. Offer smaller, more frequent meals (chhote-chhote meals) throughout the day.

3. Exercise and Comfort (Aaram aur Sair)

• Gentle Movement: Moderate exercise is important to keep her muscles strong. Stick to gentle, short walks (halki-phulki sair).
• Avoid Risk: Stop all strenuous exercise, jumping, rough play, or activities that involve twisting or possible injury.
• Quiet Zone: Create a quiet, safe space away from household chaos where she can rest without stress. A soft, clean bed is a must.

4. Health and Medication Management

• Vaccinations: Ensure she is up-to-date on all vaccinations before she is bred. Avoid all vaccines during pregnancy unless specifically instructed by the vet.
• Parasite Control: Never use any flea, tick, or worm treatment without your vet’s explicit approval. Many common treatments are unsafe for pregnant dogs.
• Watch for Complications: Keep an eye out for any unusual signs like a sudden loss of appetite, lethargy, or any strange discharge. Call your vet immediately if anything seems off.

5. Preparing the Janamghar (Whelping Box)

About one week before the due date, set up her whelping box (delivery area) so she can get used to it.

• The Location: Choose a quiet, warm, and easily accessible corner of the house.
• The Box: Use a sturdy box or commercial whelping pool with low sides she can easily step over. Line it with clean, soft towels or blankets.
• Gather Supplies (Zaroori Samaan): Keep clean, dry towels, scissors (sterilised), dental floss (to tie off umbilical cords if necessary), and a heat source (like a safe heating pad) ready, just in case you need to assist.

6. Post-Delivery Care (Bachchon Ki Dekhbhal)

• Nutrition for Nursing: Continue to feed her the high-calorie puppy food throughout the time she is nursing. She needs huge amounts of energy to produce milk.
• Monitor Mom and Babies: Ensure all the puppies are nursing actively and gaining weight. Keep an eye on the mother—she should not be running a fever, and her appetite should remain strong.
• Post-Delivery Vet Check: Schedule a check-up for both the mother and the new puppies a day or two after delivery.