1.) What do we do with daddy during delivery, and after babies are born?
Dad should be kept in a different room during the delivery and for 8 weeks or longer following the deliver. It really depends on your male and his personality and the mom.
2.) When can fetal heartbeats be heard with stethoscope?
Usually 7 to 10 days before delivery.
3.) When will movement be detected?
Usually 7 to 10 days before delivery.
4.) What is the recommended heating source for the nesting box?
I use a whelping pad that keeps a constant temperature of 100 degrees. I place the pad where it is just covering 1/2 the whelping box.
5.) How much do babies usually weigh at birth?
Puppies can vary greatly in size. I have heard of 1 oz pups and 8 oz pups. It depends on genetics, size of mom, number of pups mom is carrying and length of gestation. The problems with breeding the smaller females it that they could have a pup that is too big for them to deliver and that would require a c-section. Also the smaller females are more likely to have their uterus rupture. Most people do not recommend breeding females that are under 5 lbs.
6.) Should I cut cords or let mom do everything that she will?
I never let the mom cut the cord. Yes, many of them can do it successfully but I have heard too many horror stories where the mom chews off a foot, a ear, or cuts the cord to close and exposes the intestines. |