If you think you are seeing signs of dog pregnancy in your Bichon Frise, the first thing you need to do is to confirm it as early as possible.
Dog pregnancy symptoms are not that easy to detect in animals, unlike in humans.
Fortunately, there are procedures to help you find out if your dog is pregnant including a dog pregnancy test and ultrasound.
Pregnant dogs need proper care and nutrition, just like humans, so it is best that you give these to her, right from the start of the pregnancy.
from a healthy dog diet and good nutrition.
Dog Pregnancy Signs
- Behavioral Changes - Bichon Frises are normally fun and friendly dogs. If one day, you suddenly notice a certain aloofness and irritability in her mood, then it’s time to get her tested. Pregnant dogs experience mood swings just like any pregnant woman. Handle this by adjusting to her moods.
- Bodily changes as Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
- Decreased Appetite - At the early stage of the pregnancy, your dog will lose its appetite and may even refuse to it. This is normal so don’t panic. She’ll eventually regain her appetite as the pregnancy progresses. This dog pregnancy symptom is quite similar to morning sickness with or without the vomiting part.
- Engorged Nipples - Early signs of dog pregnancy include swollen nipples. The swelling will continue all throughout the pregnancy in preparation of feeding the new pups when they finally arrive.
- Sudden decrease in activity - Loss of energy to do things is one of the dog pregnancy signs that you should observe if your dog is normally active. This sudden feeling of exhaustion is caused by certain hormonal changes in your dog’s body.
- Weight gain and larger abdomen - If the activities of your dog have not changed, yet you notice that she is gaining weight, then there is a possibility that your dog is pregnant. Observing your Bichon Frise’s stomach will also help you determine if she is pregnant.
What to Do if Your Bichon is Expecting
The first thing you need to do is to visit your veterinarian. You’ll want to get your dog onto a good supplement and make sure her diet is appropriate for a pregnant female.
Your vet will probably perform some tests including a Canine Pregnancy Test Kit (which you can do at home), to determine if your dog is indeed pregnant. The vet’s test involves getting a blood sample from your dog to determine the presence of relaxin, a hormone that only a pregnant dog will be able to produce.
A belly palpation will also be performed by your vet. During this procedure, your vet feels the stomach of your dog for significant changes and puppy movements.
You may also have your dog undergo an ultrasound. An ultrasound is one of the surest ways to find out if your dog is pregnant.
A pregnant dog must be properly cared for and given the healthiest food there is. This is primarily the reason why you need to confirm if your dog is pregnant upon seeing signs of dog pregnancy.
Give your dog a fair amount of exercise and and make sure that you are understanding of her mood swings. Being pregnant is not easy, after all.
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