I like to try and show the journey of the puppies as they develop, so here is a peek into Tilly’s tummy!
Over the past five weeks a lot of changes will have been taking place.
The fertilised eggs do not attach to the uterus until approximately 19 days. If the bitch has normal colour gums, you should see between 19 and 21 days that the colour of their gums go a little paler when the eggs implant. Tilly doesn’t have your regular pink gums so I can never spot this particular stage! By the third week of pregnancy the embryos will be 5mm long, they progress in the following week to have developed little buds which will develop into their legs! In the space of that one week they will have grown rapidly, growing four times in size! They are now 20mm!
When Tilly was 4 weeks pregnant she didn’t have any obvious signs of pregnancy apart from her teats protruding and her chest being wider.
Tilly at 5 weeks pregnant now has quite a pronounced tummy!
The stage Tilly’s pregnancy is at now, the puppies will have developed eyelids and ear flaps (though they are not flaps they are very small buds). The growth is rapid as they will have reached approximately 35mm.
Tilly is fine in herself, enjoying plenty of cuddles and being very affectionate! We haven’t increased her food. This is a common mistake that people increase the food too early when all it will do is slow her fitness levels down at this stage, which is not desirable when we need her to continue being fit, not fat!
We give Tilly folic acid supplement everyday until the puppies are born – which she has had since she was mated. This helps with the development of the pups.
