Is it common for puppies to die after birth?
Death usually occurs within the first five days of life, but can happen up to ten weeks of age. It is responsible for about 50% of deaths of new-born puppies. Around 30% of pedigree puppies die in their first few weeks of life, with only about half of them dying due to identifiable causes.
Does a dog get pregnant the first time she mates?
Dogs can become pregnant on their very first estrous cycle, increasing the chance that an accidental breeding may occur. Dogs are indiscriminate, so a brother may breed with its sister, a father may breed with his daughter, and a son may breed with his mother.
Uterine inertia is a condition that sometimes happens at the end of a canine pregnancy when it is time to give birth. The problem occurs because the uterine muscles cannot contract and push the puppies from the uterus. Causes can include anything from obesity and lack or exercise to hormonal balance or oversize puppies. Uterine inertia can be fatal to the mother and puppies if medical assistance or surgical treatment is not given without delay.
There is always a chance your dog could lose her puppies while she is pregnant, and this sometimes contributes to the mothers death, too. Miscarriages, or spontaneous abortions, are caused by a number of things, including bacteria, fungi and parasites, but the most common cause is hormonal imbalance. A pregnant dog will usually recover after a miscarriage, life-threatening infection or internal hemorrhaging can occur if she is unable to expel the fetus, placenta or other pregnancy matter effectively on her own.
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All dogs have parasites in their bodies at some point in their lives. However, most dogs develop immunity that keeps the parasite population to a minimum. This immunity can falter during pregnancy and activate the dormant larvae of parasite like ascarids, hookworms and threadworms in the female dogs tissues. The parasites can cause a range of problems, including serious infections and deadly diseases. Your veterinarian can test your pregnant female for parasites and may even be able to safely treat her with some medications.
Canine distemper is a contagious and incurable viral illness that is often fatal to dogs. Nonimmune pregnant dogs who are exposed to distemper are at risk for serious illness or death, as are their puppies. The American Animal Hospital Association and other organizations typically discourage vaccination during pregnancy but say it is preferential to vaccinate even pregnant dogs when the risk of maternal, fetal and neonatal distemper is present. This is especially true in the case of shelter dogs when isolation isnt possible or the immunity of the dog is unknown.