My dog is 53 days pregnant, but this morning I noticed her belly dropped a bit, just changed shape?

It just means the puppies are growing and taking up more space. By this stage in her pregnancy, depending on her breed, you'd expect her to be much bigger. Doesn't mean she'll go into labour early. But now's not too soon to start introducing her to her whelping box and having your whelping kit handy.

Yes a dogs belly drops whilst pregnant.I think a vet visit may be required to check on her.pregnant dogs bellys usually drop 1 week to a day or so before birthing.A good way of knowing if the pups are ready to be born is you can see them kicking alot in the mothers stomach when this happens it is usually a day or so before the dog gives birth. My advice is take her to a vet as a pregnant dog should be checked anyway,and well done for adopting a pregnant dog many people dont want the job of taking care of a nursing mother and pups.Good Luck

I totally agree about how ready people are, around here, to sling mud, without knowing the whole story. People are, usually, on here to learn, to ask question, and yes, for reassurance. Quit the preaching. This is a done deal (the b itch is pregnant and about to whelp) so try helping. Not too much to ask is it?

Rather than 'drop', my bitches shape changed depending on the size of the litter, usually. I've had singletons and just two, and in both cases, because of the small number, my bitches didn't 'drop'. Unlike humans, bitches normally don't whelp many days earlier than the expected date and in fact if they do, it's unlikely the puppies will survive.

If you can, take a note of her temperature from now on. It may fluctuate over the final week, before dropping to around 98/99 about 24/48 hours before whelping. If your vet doesn't already know, I'd let him know you are expecting a litter to arrive, and when, and once she starts actual contractions, phone the surgery, just in case you need an emergency C.Section. And if you don't already know, do not allow her to continue with strong contractions for longer than an hour without seeing a puppy arrive. As this is an unknown mating, you may not know the size of the sire (in relation to her) and if he was much bigger, it's highly likely that she will need surgical assistance to produce the puppies.

Finally, don't drag mum around all over the place if she's due anytime. She needs to rest and build up her energy rather than being exposed to all kinds of stress, and potential infection. She should be sleeping in her whelping quarters a week before she whelps, so it's familiar.

Good luck

Yup - get ready!

Gestation is usually from 59-63 days, but depending upon breed and when she was actually bred, you could be in for puppies very quickly.

Do you have an advisor who has produced puppies before? Let me know if you need help. This is a lot of work, and it will make a huge difference in the puppies outcome and temperament if you do things a certain way.

Firts of all, make sure the motehr-to-be is given a clean (and easy-to-clean) quiet room BY HERSELF now... she should have a draft-free place that is small and protected, with a door between herself and any other pets, children, or traffic. She should be transitioned over to puppy food now, and given many small meals per day, as there is not much place to puit food in your belly when there are so many puppies taking up the space!

If she has not been traded over to puppy food in a big bowl, try and do it very gently, but she will need a big bowl of puppy kibble to snack on, and a big bowl of clean water next to it.

She needs a whelping box or clean plastic kiddie pool to have her puppies in, along with a constant supply of newspaper to rip up as part of her nesting activity. Keep a big paper leaf bag there to dispose of *part* of the ripped up papers, but don't take all of them or you'll alarm her - they are 'her stuff'. She'll need a good thick layer down when she delivers, plus you will need more later to change onto dry paper, so ask everyone you know for a big stack, or ask the local store for their leftovers.

You will need to contact the vet, and make sure that someone will be available on duty or on call at least when the time comes - you should call them if you hear her <GRUNT> and let them know she is starting labor.

In the meantime, you will need the following:

Laundry basket

collection of clean dishtowels or washcloths, a dozen!

regular sized towel - two

surgical gloves

betadine

dental floss

flashlight

leash with slipcollar

clipboard with pad of paper

- with vet's number at the top in big numbers!

clock

bulb syringe (in the baby section at the drugstore)

paper towels

heating pad, make sure you can plug it in next to the whelping box

fully charged portable phone w/ vets number on speed dial

DO <everything> that MamaB just said, and and read up on whelping puppies. Leash walk the mom-to-be and keep her in her ivory tower until after the puppies are 3-4 weeks old...this is time for her to be the mom, not anyone's pet, so don't let her get distracted.

Here is a link to some excellent information:

http://solagratiakennels.googlepages.com/haveapreg...

Proper training and socialization are some of your dog's most basic needs. Learn how to set a basic foundation before you begin to train your dog https://tr.im/8mL4l

At first, dog training can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if this is your first dog. Truth be told, training your dog is a very big project. However, if you take it step by step, you will find the task to be far less daunting.

yes they can drop but sometimes htey can go another week

also remember they can deliver anytime from 57 - 65 days the 63 days is an average.

you should start taking her temp 2 times a day once the temp goes below 99 she should deliver within 24 hors. ( a dogs norm temp is 100-101)

Teh mom and pups should go to the vets within 24 hours after delivery to make sure mom delivered everything and no infection and the pups shoud be checked ot make sure all is ok and they are getting enough milk,

My vet sugest the pups and mom should be wormed at 2,4,6,8 and 10 weeks old ( only get teh wormer form the vet)

the pups should start getting vaccines at 6 weeks old but tehy should stay with mom until 8 weeks old.

1

If this is the case of fostering you would have all the help you need through the shelter and the vets there.Why are you asking this question here??? You don't own this dog the shelter or rescue does and there are there for you 24/7...I have fostered and know how it works so sorry you bred this dog by being irresponsible!!!!

it could be although usually about 62- days it can also be between 54-72 days. each dog is diff. Good on you for taking in a preg dog. I know people can mail nasty things when they read about a dog/cat being preg but its alot harder when you rescue an animal preg already.

I have found a site which may help.. try google? Good luck on your lil bundles of joy http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dogpregnant.ht...

take her to the vet n get a xray done to get a count on how many pups shes carrying.my pom you could tell when she started dropping too.