Starts calcification of teeth.
Day 57
Movements of embryos are more pronounced. Significantly swollen mammary glands.
Day 58
The puppies have developed lungs and from this stage the puppy is viable if born.
Avoid any rough and tumble play or stimulation which might lead to the onset of early labour, as ideally your pups should spend another week in the womb.
Your bitch will probably begin 'nesting' at this stage, and you may even be able to see and feel the puppies moving within her tummy when she's lying down.
Towards the end of week eight, your bitch will start producing colostrum, the forerunner to her nutrient- rich milk, and then the milk itself.
Continue to feed as much as your bitch will eat and prepare for the birth!
Day 59
The abdomen of the bitch will become loose, uterus decreases and body of female is preparing for birth.
It is time to be prepared, and to have everything at hand.
The female may start to give birth any day now.
You need to start measuring and recording body temperature in the rectum of the female each morning and evening.
Day 60 - 65
Shortly before birth (12-24h) most bitches refuse to eat normally
and there is a decrease in body temperature from 38-39 °C to 36.5-37.5 °C. (1-2 °C)
Previous hormonal changes lead to the induce of uterine contractions, which subsequently causes abdominal contractions (contractions),
and starts gradually exclusion of fetus. The progress of the delivery can be for each female very different.
