I'm breeding my dog. What essential prep and vaccines are needed?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! The first thing is to be sure that Soska is up to date on all her vaccinations, is heartworm negative, in on heartworm prevention and has been dewormed. You can discuss monitoring her progesterone levels and vaginal cytology to optimize the correct breeding dates with your Vet. I will attach a handout on stages of pregnancy and when to worry during labor. Be sure to have a bulb syringe, hemostat, thread to tie umbilical chords and scissors. Here is a good website for whelping boxes:https://gordonsetterexpert.org/2015/10/29/design-yourself-the-perfect-whelping-box-set-up/ Whelping and When to be Concerned Stages of Labor: -Stage 1 tends to start 10-24 hours after temperature drop (usually below 99 F). -Stage 1: nesting. Can persist for 3-24 hours before abdominal contractions begin -Stage 2: Visible abdominal contractions. FIRST PUPPY SHOULD ARRIVE WITH IN 1-2 HOURS. -Stage 3: passage of placenta. Usually occurs within 15 mins of passing puppy. If it does not happen, don’t worry. When to worry/Call: -Strong contractions > 45-60 mins without birth of a puppy -Weak and infrequent contractions >4-6 hours without birth of puppy ->4-5 hours between puppies (after birth of first puppy without birth of the next puppy). On average a puppy is born every 45-60 mins. HOWEVER, the mother can often rest for several hours between puppies. This rest period is NOT associated with contractions and usually doesn’t exceed 4-6 hours. -If one puppy is born and she is having VISIBLE contractions for >2 hours without 2nd puppy. Recommend calling around 1 hour mark to talk to someone. -Failure to enter active labor (contractions) 24-36 hours after rectal temp falls below 99 F -Mother is in obvious pain: biting at vulva, crying) -No puppy within 2 hours of seeing green vaginal discharge -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing clear fluid from vulva (rupture of allantochorion) -No puppy within 1 hour of seeing a clear/water filled balloon at vulvar lips (puppy is in birth canal) I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

Great questions! The bitch will need the routine vaccines which include the DHPPi combination (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza) as well as rabies. She should be dewormed now and again in two weeks to kill any worms that may be present in her GI tract. After that, she should be dewormed every three months. I would recommend a health check with the vet for her as well before breeding. She will also need flea treatment and heartworm treatment. The puppies can start being dewormed as young as two weeks, and should be dewormed every two weeks thereafter until three months of age. They should then be dewormed every month until six months of age, and after three months after that for the rest of their lives. As for vaccines, they can get their first DHPPi combination shot at 6-8 weeks of age, and then will need two series of boosters four weeks apart (10-12 weeks of age and 14-16 weeks of age). It's very important to make sure the bitch is up to date on her flea treatment because newborn puppies cannot have any flea treatments until they are at least 6-7 weeks of age. The mother should be flea free. I hope this helps!

She will need D(distemper)H(hepatitis caused by adenovirus)P(parvovirus)Pi(parainfluenzavirus)+L(leptospira) and rabies vaccinations. Flea treatment and treatment against gastrointestinal parasites would be needed as well. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Great question and congrats on Sasha's pregnancy! I would have her seen by vet in another 15 days for an x-rays. That will tell you how many puppies she is carrying so when she is whelping, you can count them and it will help you identify if there is a problem much sooner. I would also speak with your vet about complications to look out for during labor, and I would start setting aside some money just in case she needs an emergency c-section. It's best to be prepared financially so you aren't in a terrible situation if she does need one. You can feed her a puppy formulated food, but that needs to be stopped 10-14 days before she is due. At that point, put her back on an adult dog food. Once she has whelped her puppies, put her back on the puppy formulated food. She will need the extra calories, calcium, and protein a puppy food provides to support nursing her puppies. Make sure she is up to date on her flea treatment and deworming treatments. Revolution spot on is safe to give to pregnant dogs. If she is due for vaccines, discuss with your vet if they feel it's safe to give her a killed vaccine. I hope this helps and her pregnancy and whelping goes well!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I think this article will answer your question quite in depth. If you need more information please feel free to post again. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/pregnancy-diagnosis-caring-for-the-pregnant-dog/ ) Best wishes.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The timing of Lucy's vaccinations will have no impact on her pregnancy. These vaccines are very safe, & do not cause any problems with puppies developing in utero. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, I think it is fine to get her the Bordatella vaccine in 2 days. But if the vaccine isn't absolutely needed now (for boarding or grooming) I would just wait until the puppies are born and weaned. There is no issue vaccinating while they are in heat we just rather be conservative if pregnant but if she is it is VERY early. Good luck!