Gwalia Gardens
Cardigan
SA43 1DB
Tel: 01239 612479 (24Hr)
[email protected]
5, Darkgate Street
Aberaeron
SA43 0JH
Tel: 01545 571341
[email protected]
BREEDING FROM YOUR DOG OR CAT
1. PREPARATION
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The duration of pregnancy in both dogs and cats is approximately 9 weeks.
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If you would like to be sure that your animal is pregnant you can book them in for an
ultrasound scan with your vet from 4-5 weeks post mating.
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Dogs will need worming with a daily low dose course of wormer from day 45 post
mating until 2 days after giving birth. This reduces the risk of passing worms to the
newborn puppies.
Cats should be up to date with worming.
Please check with you vet prior to using any wormer during pregnancy as some can
be harmful, your vet will also need to know your pets weight to work out an accurate
dose.
•
In the later stages of pregnancy both cats and dogs will have greater food
requirements which will continue throughout lactation. A gradual change of diet to a
complete Puppy/Kitten food for the last 2 weeks will support their needs.
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A nest area should be prepared about 3 weeks before she is due to give birth to allow
the mother to become used to it. A warm, clean, draught proof area in a quiet room
of the house is ideal, but some household noise will help with socialization of the
puppies.
There should be a whelping box that is big enough to allow the mother to fully
stretch out and plenty of space for a growing litter. The box should have sides large
enough to prevent the young puppies/kittens escaping but allow easy access for the
mother to move in and out.
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Useful Equipment :o A heat lamp for keeping newborn animals warm
o Plenty of bedding material (newspaper, shredded paper and blankets/towels,
NOT straw or shavings)
o A milk substitute e.g. Welpi/Cimicat and feeding bottles for supplementary
feeding if necessary.
Directors:
J.E.LL.Jones, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, D.W.Lewis, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, C.A.W.Mitchley, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, R.A.M.Evans, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, M.Just, MRCVS
Company Secretary: N. Forrest
VAT Reg. NO. 122 9269 71 Registered in Wales No: 4666199
2. GIVING BIRTH (PARTURITION)
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1st stage labour lasts 1-12 hours and milk should be present at this point. The mother
may appear uncomfortable or restless and may not want to eat. Cats may find a
quiet area to have their kittens away from people. There are no visible contractions
at this stage. If this stage persists beyond 12 hours you should consult your vet.
•
2nd stage labour, the mother begins to have visible contractions. The birth of a
pup/kitten should occur within 30 – 60 minutes of active (visible) labour; it may take
up to 4 hours of intermittent labour before the 1st pup/kitten is born.
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Each pup/kitten has its own sack and may be born within it or the sack may have
ruptured already. The mother will usually lick the newborn to remove the sack and
clear fluid from the airways. If she does not, the sack should be broken and the
newborn pup/kitten rubbed with a clean towel to stimulate breathing.
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The after birth (placenta) will be passed with the pup/kitten or shortly afterwards,
there should be the same number of pups/kittens and afterbirths. A dark red and
green colour is normal.
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The mother will usually break the umbilical cord by chewing at the placenta, watch
that she is not too vigorous as this may damage the newborn pup/kitten. If she has
not broken it after a few minutes you may cut the cord 1-2 inches away from the
pup/kitten with clean scissors, bleeding at this stage is unlikely but if it occurs the
end of the umbilical cord may be tied with a piece of cotton thread.
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Once the first pup/kitten is born, the others should follow in intervals of between 5
minutes and 2 hours. The whole litter will usually be born within 12 hours, if the
labour lasts more than 18-24 hours you must consult your vet.
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Occasionally a pup/kitten will be stillborn; you may try to resuscitate it by rubbing a
clean towel on its chest and blowing gently in its nose. If this does not work it is best
to remove it from the mother if there are other pups/kittens for her to concentrate
on.
•
You must consult your vet if:o The mother has been straining intensely for 20-30 minutes without passing a
pup/kitten.
o You see a green discharge from the vulva or the waters have broken and a
pup/kitten is not born within 30 minutes
o You think there might be more pups/kittens inside and none have been
passed for 2 hours.
Directors:
J.E.LL.Jones, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, D.W.Lewis, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, C.A.W.Mitchley, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, R.A.M.Evans, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, M.Just, MRCVS
Company Secretary: N. Forrest
VAT Reg. NO. 122 9269 71 Registered in Wales No: 4666199
3. CARE OF THE NEWBORN AND AFTERCARE OF THE MOTHER
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When the pups/kittens are born you need to ensure they are out of the sack and
have clear airways. If the mother does not do this you must clear the airways,
stimulate respiration and cut the umbilical cord approximately 1 inch from the belly
button. The newborn pups/kittens should quickly begin to wriggle and cry out.
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The pups/kittens should be encouraged to suckle as soon as possible and must have
suckled within 6 hours. You can encourage suckling by placing the teat in the mouth
of the newborn and massaging the mammary gland to stimulate milk let down.
Initially the pups will need to feed every 2-3 hours.
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The pups/kittens need to be kept warm and draught free for the first few weeks.
Initially a temperature of about 30ºC reducing to about 25ºC by the end of the first
week. If using a heat lamp ensure it does not cover the entire whelping area to allow
the mother to be comfortable and avoid overheating the newborns.
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Newborn pups/kittens cannot toilet for themselves, urination and defecation is
stimulated by the mother cleaning them. If she is unable to do this the pups/kittens
should be rubbed with damp cotton wool, downwards over the lower belly after
feeding.
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The pups/kittens should be checked on a daily basis to ensure they are active,
growing and suckling well; weighing them can help monitor their progress.
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Pups/kittens will usually open their eyes by 2 weeks and be walking by 3 weeks. You
can introduce soaked puppy/kitten food from 3 weeks.
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Pups/kittens should be wormed from 2 weeks of age but please check with your vet
as not all products are safe in young animals.
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Once the mother has finished giving birth she should be offered the chance to
exercise and toilet. She should be cleaned up and offered food and water, clean
bedding should be provided at this stage.
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The mother should be checked daily, her teats should be warm, soft and non-painful.
There should be plenty of milk. Consult your vet if there is any discomfort, redness
or hardness within the mammary area.
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The mothers’ food requirements are at their highest level from birth until the litter is
weaned, she should be offered 5-6 meals daily. She may have some diarrhoea after
birth (especially if she has eaten several afterbirths – it is normal for some to be
eaten and can help with letting the milk down), if she is well in herself the diarrhoea
should resolve in a few days.
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She may have a green vulval discharge for up to 1 week and a clear vulval discharge
Directors:
J.E.LL.Jones, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, D.W.Lewis, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, C.A.W.Mitchley, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, R.A.M.Evans, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, M.Just, MRCVS
Company Secretary: N. Forrest
VAT Reg. NO. 122 9269 71 Registered in Wales No: 4666199
for up to 6 weeks. If this is prolonged or you notice a creamy or smelly discharge or
she becomes off her food or off colour you should consult your vet.
•
In general most animals will give birth with minimal help from people and the less
intervention the better. Enjoy this busy time and do not hesitate to ring your vet at
any stage for advice.
Directors:
J.E.LL.Jones, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, D.W.Lewis, B.Vet.Med., MRCVS, C.A.W.Mitchley, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, R.A.M.Evans, B.V.Sc., MRCVS, M.Just, MRCVS
Company Secretary: N. Forrest
VAT Reg. NO. 122 9269 71 Registered in Wales No: 4666199