Gestation In Dogs and Cats (Continued)

Oct 26, 2011

After Birth

It is important for the mother to accept the newborn by licking and cleaning it. Some new mothers, especially pampered little princesses, want nothing to do with the puppies/kittens. If the mother shows no interest for 24 hours, the owner must take over and start to feed the newborns. It is rare, but some litters must be hand reared because of the mother’s inability to produce milk or her disinterest in the newborn.
A new mother may be anxious and restless and may pant for 12-24 hours after giving birth. The uterus continues to contract which is uncomfortable to her. Panting can be a manifestation of stress or pain.
If the litter is being hand reared, the owner must stimulate the newborn to urinate and defecate by wiping the anal and genital area with a cotton ball dipped in warm water to simulate the mother’s tongue.
A nursing mother should have her breasts checked daily for any problems, redness or pain in a nipple and discolored milk can be signs of mastitis (infection in the breast). If this occurs, that nipple should be covered so the pups/kittens do not nurse from it and an examination by your veterinarian is in order. Antibiotics will be needed for the infection. The owner may have to take over and hand raise the litter from that point forward if the infection is severe.
The newborn should be weighted every 24 – 48 hours to be sure it is gaining weight at a steady rate.
There is a problem that develops in mothers with large litters or in toy and small breed dogs called eclampsia. It develops because the mother is producing large amounts of calcium rich milk and depletes her body’s stores calcium. She presents with anything from a mild twitch in her muscles to full body contractions that mimics a seizure. This is a true medical emergency and veterinary care is critical to saving the mother’s life. Once the condition is corrected, the mother must not be allowed to nurse again, and the litter now becomes the owner’s responsibility to hand raise the litter until the puppies/kittens can eat solid food. Eclampsia can occur at 2 – 4 weeks post delivery of the litter. Calcium supplementation to a nursing mother can be helpful in preventing eclampcia.
All puppies and kittens should be treated for intestinal parasites (they get them from the mother) at 3 ½ weeks of age and again at 6 weeks of age.
Vaccinations start at 8 weeks of age and are given on the schedule set by your veterinarian.
Having a litter of puppies/kittens can be smooth sailing especially if you have plenty of time to help the mother or it can be a very trying time – if you are raising your own family, working full time and have to hand raise a litter of 4 which requires bottle feeding every 3 – 4 hours for the first few weeks.
As with human mothers, some take to motherhood naturally and others struggle with responsibility of caring for their babies. Dogs and cats are the same and will naturally care for the strong newborn but may “cull” a weak or fading puppy/kitten. Nature can be cruel task master.
If you plan to have a litter of kittens/puppies, you must prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride of emotions. It can be the happiest of times or it can be the saddest depending on how well the mother and her litter does over the ensuring 8 weeks.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) adhere to the highest quality of standards, which help ensure the best care for your pet.

Knowles Animal Clinics Proudly provide veterinary services for the City of Miami Canine Units, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Miami Dade Corrections / Narcotics, and Miami Dade's Canine Units.

Gestation In Dogs and Cats (Continued)

Oct 26, 2011

After Birth

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