Pregnancy Calendar for Faith
Date:	Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Sire:	Dylan
Dam:	Faith
Breeder:	Highland Dalmatians
Wed 6 Sep 2006	First day of mating. 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilization taking place. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.
Thu 7 Sep 2006	Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
Thu 7 Sep 2006 - Fri 8 Sep 2006	Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Fri 8 Sep 2006 - Sat 9 Sep 2006	Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Sat 9 Sep 2006 - Mon 11 Sep 2006	Fertilized eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns. The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos. During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocystes.
Sun 17 Sep 2006 - Tue 19 Sep 2006	The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Sun 17 Sep 2006 - Sun 1 Oct 2006	The blastocystes will grow into an embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Wed 20 Sep 2006 - Wed 27 Sep 2006	Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Tue 26 Sep 2006 - Tue 3 Oct 2006	Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time. Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help. Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.
Sun 1 Oct 2006 - Thu 5 Oct 2006	An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant. It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.
Wed 4 Oct 2006	Start to increase the dams food ration. Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided. The foetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs.
Tue 10 Oct 2006	The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
Fri 20 Oct 2006	It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Mon 23 Oct 2006 - Mon 30 Oct 2006	Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming. Her breasts become even more swollen. She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.
Wed 25 Oct 2006	The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies. It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day. You can easily detect abdominal movement now.
Wed 25 Oct 2006 - Wed 8 Nov 2006	Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.
Fri 3 Nov 2006 - Mon 6 Nov 2006	Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
Sat 4 Nov 2006	You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
Tue 7 Nov 2006	Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees. Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.
Wed 8 Nov 2006	Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.