lactation of dog ?

The time frame varies with different dogs, so there is no set formula. Lactation is in response to the pregnancy hormone, which can be variable at different stages of pregnancy. As a generalization, most female dogs will begin producing milk about 3 weeks before giving birth.

If you are needing to know when to expect puppies, you can go by days (approx 63 after breeding)or food habits.....I give a treat, like a piece of chicken. If she gobbles it, she won't go into labor for a few more hours. The best method to keep you alerted is: You need a notebook for recording your *****'s temperature twice a day from about day 58 onward.

Morning temperature differs a bit from evening temperature but when you see that temperature plunge from her normal (of about 101 F.) to close to 98 F. degrees, you know that the puppies will be whelped within 24 hours.

I like to feed cooked carrots in her food after whelping, as it seems to bring in the milk good. Keep carrots in her diet while she is raising the pups. Be sure to have canned goat milk or Esbilac and a bottle (at pet supply) on hand for the pup that doesn't nurse well