11/04/2021
Week-by-Week Care for the Pregnant Labrador
You can break down your care strategy into 9 separate weeks for your pregnant Labrador. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect, week by week, and what you need to be doing at each stage.
Week 1
In week 1, mating has just occurred and the gestation period begins. The egg has been fertilized by the s***m and the egg is now a living organism. The embryo is formed, but at this stage, it is still situated very high up in the uterus. As the end of week 1 nears, the embryo makes its way downward, towards the uterine horns to spend some time suspended within the uterine liquid.
During this time, everything feels normal for your pet and there is no need to make any changes to your feeding schedule or exercise routine. You may want to hold off on grooming or bathing at this stage, just to ensure that she experiences no stress. Beyond that, it should be business as usual for both you and your pet.
Week 2
The initial phase of gestation, called embryogenesis, is often a confusing time for pet owners. They expect the embryos to grow exponentially and do not pay much attention to their pet’s weight gain. This is unfortunately incorrect thinking. Up until day 42, which is the initial gestation phase, your dog’s weight gain should not increase more than 10%.
During week 2, your main objective should be to maintain your dog’s healthy weight and avoid overfeeding. The embryos do not grow as much during this phase and so no additional nutritional supplementation should be required.
If your dog appears relaxed and at ease, you can probably resume regular gentle grooming and continue taking your Lab for daily walks.
Week 3
During week 3, the embryos have made a lengthy trip and finally embedded in the uterine wall lining. Here they grow in the protective sack for the remainder of the pregnancy, receiving all the vitamins and nutrients they require for healthy growth.
There is no need to make any dramatic changes to your regular routine with your dog. You can feed your Lab as per normal, keep up with regular daily exercise, and keep up gentle grooming. You might notice that your dog has a bigger appetite and you can increase food quantity at this stage, but only slightly.
Week 4
During week 4, around the 25th day of the pregnancy, you will need to make an appointment with your vet to confirm pregnancy. In most instances, the vet will carry out an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, inform you of the size of the litter, and to investigate if there are any problems or abnormalities.
If you do not wish to have an ultrasound, you can have blood drawn and tested to check for the presence of Relaxin. This is a hormone that is only found in the blood of a pregnant dog.
At this stage, you need to think about changing your exercise routine slightly. Daily walks for a decent distance should be fine, but running, jumping, and rough play should be put on hold until after she has given birth. Your regular feeding schedule can also be very slightly increased as your Lab might start to feel more hungry during this stage. Keeping your pregnant Lab calm and comfortable in week 4 is the only thing you really need to do.
Week 5
Embryogenesis ends in week 5 and so begins the second stage called the fetal phase. From around day 35, the puppy is forming. In fact, at this stage, the organs are beginning to take on their form and the total weight of the growing pup will increase exponentially.
With a 75% growth in weight, you can expect for your Lab to start feeling tired, hungry and potentially a bit moody. You can provide your Lab with a bit more food and you can expect a bit of weight gain too. Weight gain is not something that happens to all Labs at this stage, so do not panic if you do not notice any.
The risk of miscarriage at week 5 is far less than in the prior 4 weeks. While everything is more balanced, it is still a good idea to maintain reduced exercise routines and to ensure that there is no rough play, jumping, or running.
Week 6
Week 6 is going to be a challenging week for your pregnant Labrador. While the puppy is growing rapidly at this point (there are already claws and a more rigid skeleton), she will need to get a bit more out of our nutrition. Unfortunately, eating regular sized meals will not be comfortable for her, so try to offer snack-sized portions more frequently throughout the day.
At this stage, you need to adjust her diet to include high-energy and high-protein ingredients. You will find various dog food products on the market aimed at dogs undergoing this particular stage of pregnancy. These are jam-packed with protein and nutrients and are highly flavorful in order to encourage the dog to eat even with a decreased appetite. You can also get a multivitamin from your vet to ensure that your pet’s condition is maintained during this phase.
Week 6 is the start of the third and final trimester. The toll on her body will probably lead to your dog feeling tired, so if she appears lethargic, do not be alarmed. Just focus on making her comfortable.
Week 7
In week 7, from around the 45-day mark, you will notice that your Labrador starts to shed the hair on her abdomen. This is completely normal. At this phase, the puppies inside are almost fully formed. Their coats are now starting to grow and their skeletons and bones have hardened a great deal more through a process called ossification.
Usually at this stage, during preparations for birth, parasites (worms) become a concern. If your pregnant Lab has worms, they will be passed on to the puppies at birth. To ensure that this does not happen, your dog will need to be dewormed. During pregnancy, it is not a good idea to deworm your pet with their regular medication. Consult with your vet to find out what is the most suitable and safest product to use during week 7 of pregnancy.
During week 7 you will also need to start making preparations for the actual birth. It is important to start making preparations early as you cannot be certain that your Labrador will carry to full term. Creating a “whelping” area or box is a good idea. This is a spot where you can lay some blankets and cushions and where your dog will feel comfortable giving birth and rearing her pups for the first couple of days.
It is also a good idea to include a heating pad so that the pups will be kept warm and that sucking will not be disturbed. Do not set up the whelping area in a busy, high-traffic area of the home. Choose a place that will be relatively undisturbed during the day. It may also help to observe your Labrador’s behavior during this time. She may start visiting certain areas in the house where she feels more comfortable. She is looking for the right birthing spot.
Week 8
Week 8 it should become much more apparent that your Lab is about to give birth as this is when she will start lactating. While this is not necessary, you can trim your dog’s fur around her ni***es to ensure that pups can feed easily when the time comes.
At this stage, it is a good idea to get some alternative milk, just to have at hand. Sometimes newborn puppies have trouble suckling or the mother might not lactate as expected, and then you will need to ensure that there is sufficient milk to feed the pups for her.
It is also not uncommon for some people to visit their vet during this week, usually around day 50, to get an X-ray. This can be uncomfortable for the dog and is not essential, so you can skip this step if you prefer. The reason most people do this is to confirm the size of the litter so that when whelping takes place, those present at the birth can be sure when all of the pups have been delivered.
Week 9
Your Labrador is soon to give birth and you need to be prepared. You should layer newspaper on the floor around the whelping area and make sure that the room temperature does not drop below 26 degrees Celsius.
You can monitor your dog’s temperature. Something as small as a 1 degree Celsius drop can show that birth is about to happen. At this stage, you need to make sure that your Labrador is comfortable, warm and feels supported. Do not be afraid to shower her with love and affection – this is also an emotional and physically challenging time for your pet.
Labrador Birth
After week 9, your Labrador will most certainly go into labor. It is best not to get too involved in the process as you could cause more harm than good if you do not know what you are doing. Your only job is to keep your dog calm and provide her with emotional support while monitoring the birth. If something does not seem right, it is best to call your vet for advice and guidance.
There is no hard-and-fast rule about how long it will take for a Labrador to give birth. Some Labradors calmly deliver their puppies in a few minutes, while others can take longer – sometimes up to 4 hours. Do not panic – this is not unusual If you cannot be with her the entire time, you only need to check in on your dog about every 15 minutes.
Some pet owners panic when they see a puppy being birthed “backward” (hind legs first). Do not worry – this is normal. Puppies can be birthed head first or hind legs first. There is nothing unusual about either delivery.
As each puppy emerges, they may still be in a fetal sack which the mother will tear open. If she does not, you can safely tear the sack open yourself. The placenta must come out during birth, the mother usually eats this. Each puppy will have its own placenta attached. She might not eat this immediately, so give her some time and only remove it if it appears that she has no intention of eating it a few hours after birth.
You can throw these away if she has no interest in eating them. This is a behavior that is uncomfortable for many people, but the placentas are packed with nutrients and minerals and by eating them, she can renourish her system. Be aware that in some instances, a puppy will sometimes be stillborn (born dead). This is simply a fact of life that you should prepare for.
But not all puppies that are motionless at birth are necessarily stillborn. If any of the new pups seem a bit still when born, you can safely stimulate them by gently rubbing them with a soft, dry, plush towel. This will often get them breathing
