It's really special when your own dog has puppies – and for us as dog owners, it's probably just as exciting as it is for the animal itself. It's important that you, as the companion of the expectant dog mom, always remain calm – and have the emergency number of your vet handy.
A few days before the due date, you should have completed all preparations for a smooth birth. Prepare a whelping box where the mother and puppies can spend the first few days and weeks after the birth. Get the dog used to the box before the birth. You can furnish it with a favorite blanket, pillows, and old towels. Everything should be washable and puppy-proof. The box should be large enough to give the puppies space and high enough so that they are "framed" for long enough and cannot crawl away.
Especially if this is your first birth together, make a list of the most important points that you can refer to on the day of the birth. Don't forget to include the phone number of your vet. You may need to call them if complications arise during the excitement of the birth.
Watch for signs of labor in the days leading up to the birth. Your dog should be physically and mentally stable. This will ensure that the conditions are right for an uncomplicated birth. You should also measure and check your dog's body temperature rectally on a regular basis. It will drop around 12 to 24 hours before the birth. The temperature will then rise again as labor begins.
The so-called opening phase lasts about six to twelve hours. During this phase, the cervix opens and a mucous secretion is discharged. Sometimes the dog becomes restless and anxious during this phase and looks for a suitable place. She may even vomit. The first contractions are already working on the amniotic sac, but are usually not yet clearly noticeable to us.
This is followed by the expulsion phase. The contractions start in earnest. The mother begins to push. The first puppy is pushed into the birth canal. The amniotic sac may already rupture in the womb. The puppy is pushed out and the mother will free it by, for example, biting through the rest of the amniotic sac. She will bite through the umbilical cord. She then licks the puppy intensively to stimulate breathing and circulation and remove any remaining mucus from its coat.
If a puppy remains stuck in the amniotic sac outside the bitch for more than a few minutes, human assistance is required to prevent the puppy from suffocating. But be careful not to intervene too quickly. Some dog mothers do not like it when you interfere too much. This may cause the birth process to stall and put the unborn puppies at risk. Then rub the little puppy gently with a towel to stimulate vital bodily functions.
In a normal birth, a dog gives birth to her puppies one after the other. The process repeats itself. She cuts the umbilical cord of each puppy. In multiple births, the puppies are usually born at intervals of 30 minutes. However, it can sometimes be only a few minutes – or up to several hours. However, a normal birth is usually complete after 24 hours. If you are concerned about complications, do not hesitate to contact your vet.
The afterbirth should be expelled after each puppy is born. In most cases, the bitch will eat it straight away. Make sure that the number of afterbirths matches the number of puppies. If not, contact your vet immediately.
After birth, the puppies should suckle as soon as possible and drink the very important colostrum. This first milk is rich in maternal antibodies and strengthens the puppies' immune system.
Your dog needs rest for herself and her puppies after giving birth. Good food and fresh water are essential.
If you notice that your dog has a greenish-brown discharge in the first 72 hours after giving birth, this may indicate a problem. If the animal is also apathetic, has lost its appetite or has a fever, consult your vet immediately.
Urolithiasis, colloquially referred to as urinary stone disease, refers to the formation and deposition of various concretions in the urinary tract of horses. Although this disease occurs sporadically in horses, it can lead to serious symptoms and significant impairments. The deposits can occur in the form of crystals, grit, sand, or stones and are most commonly found (approx. 60%) in the urinary bladder. Geldings are more severely affected than stallions or mares.
Almost all of us are familiar with asthma in humans. But chronic respiratory diseases are also becoming increasingly common among our horses. Over the past few years, various terms have been established to describe a similar complex of diseases. In English-speaking countries, the umbrella term "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" (COPD) was used for a long time, as it was assumed that the changes affected not only the bronchi but the entire lungs. In German, the term "chronische obstruktive Bronchitis" (COB) was mostly used. Although these terms are still often used today, in veterinary medicine for horses, a distinction is now only made between "RAO: Recurrent Airway Obstruction" and "IAO: Inflammatory Airway Disease." The central component of all terms is always the obstruction or narrowing of the small bronchi, which leads to breathing difficulties and coughing. The precursor to these chronic diseases is usually acute bronchitis.
This rapidly progressing muscle disease, also known as grass disease, has only been known since the beginning of the last century and is feared by horse owners because most of the horses affected die from it and the causes were unclear for a long time. It primarily affects young, well-fed horses that graze on rather unkempt, nutrient-poor pastures.
Heart disease is also relatively common in our four-legged friends, affecting almost one in ten dogs. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood into the circulatory system, meaning that the body is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen.
As a general rule, every dog needs a certain amount of grooming, some more than others. For some dogs, it is even worth taking them to a professional groomer. As a dog owner, you can also do some grooming yourself at home.
Taking in a foal and choosing the long road to happiness on horseback is a real adventure! It is an opportunity to form a bond that can mature over many years and to watch a foal grow into a horse. But it also requires commitment on your part.
A dull coat, hairless, inflamed areas of skin and often very severe itching are characteristic of this parasitic skin disease, which occurs worldwide and can affect dogs of all ages. It is triggered by a mite, Demodex, which is also found on healthy dogs. Why it multiplies at an above-average rate in certain cases and leads to the skin changes mentioned above is still not fully understood. The disease is not considered contagious.
The decision to neuter is difficult for many dog owners. On the one hand, you want to see a change in behavior, but on the other hand, you are concerned about irreversible consequences. With a Suprelorin implant, you can test how neutering affects your dog's behavior and health without taking the final step right away. The implant can also be used for ferrets.
The dog, which is descended from the wolf, has teeth that are designed for hunting, killing, and tearing food apart. However, the search for food has changed for our four-legged friends: today, we open a can or even cook for our beloved furry friends. Breeding different breeds has also changed the length of dogs' noses and the spacing between their teeth. Unfortunately, all of this can lead to dental problems.
The cuddly soft chinchillas are nimble climbers and jumpers. They are great fun to watch. And with a little patience, they will even become tame!
Thanks to improved preventive care, senior dogs are no longer a rarity. Similar to humans, they suffer from classic age-related ailments such as osteoarthritis, cataracts, and dementia. Around 20% of nine-year-old dogs and almost 70% of 15-year-old dogs suffer from dementia, also known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS or "dog Alzheimer's").
Winter affects humans and animals differently than summer. The body has to adjust to the cold, darker season. We can also help our dogs get through the winter very well.
