How to Care for a Pregnant Dog

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as you suspect your dog may be pregnant. The veterinarian will perform a health evaluation on your dog to confirm the dog is healthy and that she is indeed pregnant. Your veterinarian will give your dog a check-up to see if she is healthy and tell you how far along she is. A dog's pregnancy will last about 62 days, but it can be slightly shorter or slightly longer.
Step 2:
Incorporate puppy food into the pregnant dog's diet about 30 days into the pregnancy. For the first 30 days, the dog may keep her regular diet. For the final 30 days, gradually add more and more puppy food to her diet until she is eating all puppy food in the final week of her pregnancy.
Step 3:
Take the pregnant dog on daily walks until the final 3 weeks of pregnancy. The daily walks are important for consistent exercise. However, during the final 3 weeks it's important to avoid exposure to infection. Time outside and around other dogs must be limited.
Step 4:
Prepare a large box for the birth. The box should be big enough for your dog to care for her puppies until they are 6 weeks old. Cover the bottom of the box with newspaper and old towels and sheets. The birthing process will be messy, so only use old towels and sheets.
Step 5:
Monitor the pregnant dog's temperature toward the end of the pregnancy. The dog's temperature drops about 2 degrees 24 hours before giving birth. A normal dog temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

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