Good Dog Whelping Through Day 35 Your Litter A to Z Calendar Events

Your Name*

First NameLast Name

Email*

example@example.com

Your bitch's name*

Important: Do not click the ENTER/RETURN key after adding your date below. Doing so will submit the form immediately and you will not see the display here of your calendar reminders.

Insert Date of Whelping Below

Date mm-dd-yyyy

This form is equipped with LIVE LINKS. Click that link to be taken to the exact place in Your Litter A to Z where that reminder is discussed further.

With a mouse: You can hover over a reminder and the link will show on the right side of the reminder. Click the link to be directed to that information. (phone/table instructions below)

See picture below for using a mouse:

On a phone/tablet: You can click the words of the reminder and the link will show on the right side. Click the link to be directed to that information.

See picture below for using phone/tablet:

Neonatal Period Resources Resources:

Intro to Neonatal Period video

Power of Mothers during the Neonatal Period video

Creating Supportive Environments video

Monitoring Dams and Puppies video

Stimulating Neonate Senses video

Early Scent Introduction video

Week 1 Reading:

The First 48 Hours report

Your Litter's First Week report

Mastitis Report

Eclampsia Report

Week 1 Resources:

A2Z, Module 8, The First 48 Hours

A2Z, Module 9, Your Litter's First Week (Days 1-7)

Week 1 Checklist:

Your Litter's First Week Checklist

NEONATAL PERIOD AND 1st WEEK (Days 1 - 7)

Download and use the Your Litter's First Week checklist.

Be sure your pups are nursing so they get colostrum during the first 4 hours of life. Colostrum, the first milk, is critical to their health over the next few months.

Once the last pup is born, your bitch should be very attentive to her pups, licking and cleaning them throughout the day. She most likely not want to be away from them for more than a few minutes. (Days 1 & 2)

Give your bitch a clean-out shot of oxytocin to help her uterus begin healing, if your vet approves. (Days 1/2)

Record your bitch's temperature twice a day. If her temp is 103F (39.4C) or higher, call your vet and start cooling her off with cool towels. (Days 1-3)

Supervise your bitch and pups 24/7 for the first few days, especially if she had a c-section. She is tired and may be confused. The pups are very vulnerable to chilling and squishing. If you must leave, use a webcam to monitor the litter. Have someone come in every 3-4 hours to air her and check on the pups. (Days 1-3)

It may not appear as if your bitch has a lot of milk. That is normal. As long as your pups are gaining weight, don't take any action. Her milk will come in over the next few days. (Days 1-3)

Supplement pups that lose weight twice in a row or who are falling way behind their littermates. (Days 1-20)

Your pups are neonates. They can't see, hear, control their own body temperature, pee or poop on their own, or even back up. However, they can feel, taste, and smell very well. (Days 1-21)

Be sure your pups have excellent traction in the whelping box. (Days 1-35)

Add sunflower lecithin powder to your bitch's daily diet from now until the pups are fully weaned to reduce the risk of mastitis. (Days 1-63)

Check your bitch's mammary glands several times today for mastitis. (Days 1 - 63)

Supplement your bitch with calcium if she shows any strange behaviors. (Days 1 - 63)

Your bitch may have loose stools and quite a bit of vaginal discharge for the first few days. This is normal and doesn't require treating unless she is messing in the house or appears ill. (Days 2 - 4)

Your pups should be relatively quiet. If they are crying a lot, something is wrong. Most likely, the whelping room is too hot or cold or the pups may have gas. (Days 2-7)

Neonate puppies have excellent proprioception. They know where their body is in space and will right themselves quickly if put on their backs. (Days 2-7)

Record your pups' weights twice a day and record it in the weight chart. It is NOT normal for pups to lose weight! (Days 2-7)

Your pup's normal body temperature this week is 96 to 97 F (C). They need external sources to keep them warm enough but don't make it too hot! (Days 2-7)

Keep room at a temperature that keeps your dam and pups snuggled together. (Days 2-7)

Keep your bitch on a reproductive diet but do not increase the amount beyond what she was getting before whelping. Too much food can cause diarrhea in bitches and puppies. (Days 2-7)

Be sure your whelping room makes your bitch feel secure. (Days 2-14)

If your bitch doesn't want to eat, offer her liver water and Mother's Pudding. (Days 2-14)

If you started deworming your bitch prior to whelping, continue to give her fenbendazole daily until Day 14. (Days 2-14)

If your bitch is lethargic or seems "off," take her temperature ASAP. If it is 103F or higher, call your vet and start cooling her down. (Days 2-63)

Download, complete and print the Puppy Development and Care Schedule. (Days 3-7)

Download, complete and print the Administration Schedule. (Days 3-7)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

You may want to cool your puppy room a little cooler now to keep your pups and dam close together (Days 3-7)

Send photos to your puppy buyers; request deposits if you haven't yet (Days 3 - 14)

Do Early Neurologic Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction with your pups (Days 3 - 16)

If your bitch's temp and behavior are normal, you can stop monitoring her temperature now.

Your bitch's milk should be "in" by today. If the pups aren't gaining, use galactagogues to increase her milk, as well as private nursing sessions and supplementing AFTER they nurse. (Days 4-28)

Inform stud owner of litter's birth, if you haven't yet. If you are registering the pups, prepare and mail your final stud payment and litter registration forms to the stud owner within the next week. (Days 4-7)

Your bitch may start leaving her puppies for short periods now. Don't worry about this but also don't welcome her with open arms outside of the whelping box. (Days 5-10)

Rotate one or two large, soft toys in the whelping box each day to stimulate pups. (Days 5-10)

If you still have puppy reservations available, review The Puppy Application Process. (Days 5-14)

Do not do any formal exercise with your bitch during the pups' first three weeks. She can go for short walks, if she wants but don't worry if she does not want to do so. (Days 5-20)

Your bitch will likely continue to have vaginal discharge for many weeks but her discharge should not have pus in it or smell badly. If it does, go see your vet. (Days 5-42)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and sores beneath.

Your bitch may sit up to nurse now. (Days 6-14)

Trim any hair around your pups' genitals to avoid UTIs and other infections.

Keep your bitch on a reproductive diet but be cautious increasing the amount beyond what she was getting before whelping. Too much food can cause diarrhea in bitches and puppies. (Days 7-13)

Week 2 Reading:

Your Litter's Second Week report

Week 2 Resources:

A2Z, Module 10, Your Litter's Second Week (Days 8-14)

Canine Development video

Week 2 Checklist:

Your Litter's Second Week Checklist

NEONATAL PERIOD CONTINUES AND YOUR PUPS' SECOND WEEK BEGINS (Days 8-14)

Download and Complete Your Litter's Second Week Checklist (Days 8-14)

Your pups are still neonates. They will be able to see, and pee and poop on their own towards the end of this week but they still can't hear or fully control their body temperature. However, they can feel, taste, and smell very well. (Days 8-15)

Your pup's normal body temperature this week is 97 to 98 F (C). They still need external sources to keep them warm enough but don't make it too hot! (Days 8-15)

Maintain your bitch's food amount this week unless she has a large litter. Monitor her condition and adjust her food amount based on that.(Days 8-15)

If your dam isn't spending enough time with the pups so they are losing weight, put an ex-pen around the whelping box to confine her nearby (but not IN the box). (Days 8-15)

Monitor your pups' eyes for swelling or pus. If you see either, put warm compresses on the eye and make a vet appointment. (Days 8-18)

You may see the inner corners of your pups' eyes beginning to open but your pups still can't see or hear. Darken the room and avoid flash photography while the eyes are opening. (Days 8-15)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Most pups love sleeping in cat beds so add them to the toys in your box, if you have some. (Days 9-21)

If your pups have very smelly diarrhea, treat with toltrazuril for coccidia. (Days 10-63)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

If you are registering your litter, complete the litter registration and send to stud owner with the remainder of the stud fee. (Days 13-21)

Your pups' eyes should be opening now. Once they are open, you can go back to normal lighting in the room. (Days 14-21)

Trim any hair around your pups' genitals to avoid UTIs and other infections.

Week 3 Reading:

Your Litter's Third Week report

Week 3 Resources:

A2Z, Module 11, Your Litter's Third Week (Days 15-21)

Canine Development video

Transition Period Puppies

Week 3 Checklist:

Your Litter's Third Week Checklist

TRANSITION PERIOD AND YOUR PUPS' THIRD WEEK BEGINS (Days 15-21)

Download and use Your Litter's Third Week checklist. (Days 15-21)

Your pups are in the Transition Period this week. By the end of this period, they will be able to hear and see, and will be peeing and pooping on their own. (Days 15-21)

If you've been with your pups 24/7, they are now mobile and seeing well, you may be able to leave them for long period, including overnight. (Days 15-18)

Unless your bitch has a very small litter, increase your bitch's food to 300-400% of maintenance over this week since lactation is becoming more demanding. (Days 15-20)

Begin potty training your pups by putting 1-2 pee pads on one side of the whelping box. Potty trays can help keep the pads in place but few pups are ready for potty boxes at this point. (Days 14-20)

As milk demand increases over the next two weeks, your bitch may need more oral calcium. If you see any signs of odd behavior in her, increase her calcium. (Days 14-28)

Encourage visitors for your pups but use good biosecurity to keep the pups' safe. (Days 14-70)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Schedule all vet appointments for GP (and specialist) visits for between 8-10 weeks. (Days 15-20)

Order microchips if you are going to chip pups before going home. Most vets will allow you to bring your own microchips to the 'chipping appointment, which will save quite a bit of money. (Days 15-20)

Check ears for function by clapping before pups see you; keep room quiet if pups alert to the sound. (Days 15-21)

Draw bitch's blood for a nomograph (vaccine antibody titer testing), if you didn't do it before whelping. (Days 15-42)

This is your last day to do Early Neurologic Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction with your pups.

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Your pups will begin startling to sounds now. (Days 18 - 21)

If you plan to give your pups' their vaccinations, order vaccines. (Days 20-35)

If your pups are mobile enough, replace the pee pads with potty boxes. (Days 20-21)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Your pups should be able to hear now. Start playing sound recordings at low volume. (Days 21-25)

Deworm your dam and pups with either pyrantel pamoate or fenbendazole. (Days 21-23)

Week 4 Reading:

Your Litter's Fourth Week report

Week 4 Resources:

A2Z, Module 12, Your Litter's Fourth Week (Days 22-28)

Review Canine Development video

Sensitive Period Puppies video

Week 4 Checklist:

Your Litter's Fourth Week Checklist

SENSITIVE PERIOD BEGINS & 4th WEEK (Days 22 - 28)

Download and use Your Litter's Fourth Week checklist. (Days 22 - 28)

Your pups enter the Sensitive Period this week. You will see dramatic changes in them as they become little dogs. (Days 22 - 28)

Although your pups can see and hear now, their nervous system is not fully myelinated yet. They are still "slow learners." Give them lots of opportunities but don't judge them, as a group or individually. (Days 22 - 28)

The next few weeks will place the highest demand on your bitch's body as she produces enough milk for her growing pups. Feed her well and supplement with calcium, if needed. (Days 22 - 42)

Feed your dam four times a day. She may be up to 400-800% of her maintenance amount if she has a large litter. (Days 22 - 28)

Continue to supplement with oral calcium, if your bitch needs it. (Days 22 - 28)

Read Calcium Report (Days 22 - 28)

Your pups can maintain a normal dog body temperature now so you don't need to manage the temp in the puppy room as closely

Your pups will begin startling to sights now. (Days 23 - 25)

Play all kinds of sounds and music at low to moderate volume in the puppy room. (Days 23 - 28)

Move pups out of the whelping box and into the puppy pen this week. Large-breed pups should move early in the week while toy-breed pups should move later this week or even next. (Days 23 - 28)

Your pups will start playing with each other this week. (Days 23 - 28)

Keep monitoring your bitch for mastitis daily. (Days 23 - 49)

Your dam may stand, sit or lie down to nurse this week. Let her decide what works best for her and the pups.

Weigh your pups daily if they aren't gaining each time. Otherwise, you can weight every two days.

Give the pups raw recreational bones, like marrow, rib or even knuckle bones to build jaw strength before you start feeding them next week. (Days 23 -27)

You can feel your pups' teeth coming in this week. (Days 24 -28)

If our bitch no longer wants to go into the pen with the pups, et her nurse them outside the pen to keep her engaged. (Days 24 -35)

Your bitch may still have some vaginal discharge this week. As long as it is drips not puddles, this is normal. (Days 24 -56)

Make the pen smaller each night to help the pups with nighttime potty training. (Days 24 -42)

Rotate toys in the puppy pen daily. Vary the size, shape, and type of toy. (Days 24 -70)

If your bitch is bored, you can begin to do walks, low-risk skill training, flexibility, balance and proprioception exercises. Hold off on strength training a little longer. (Days 24 -35)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Introduce the Adventure Box to your pups, either in or outside the pen.

Order supplies for your new owners.

Try to have new visitors once or twice this week. (Days 25 - 35)

Plan to start weaning your pups towards the end of this week. (Days 26 - 28)

Schedule litter photo, for the next two weeks, if you are going to do one. (Days 27 - 38)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Trim genital hair on both male and female pups to reduce risk of UTI/vaginitis.

If you haven't yet submitted your bitch's blood for a nomograph, do it now. (Days 26 - 28)

Week 5 Reading:

Your Litter's Fifth Week report

Week 5 Resources:

A2Z, Module 13, Your Litter's Fifth Week (Days 29-35)

Review Canine Development video

Sensitive Period Puppies video

Why is Developing Sensitive Period Puppies So Hard? video

Week 5 Checklist:

Your Litter's Fifth Week Checklist

YOUR PUPPIES' 5TH WEEK (Days 29 - 35)

Your pups are in the Early Sensitive Period this week. (Days 29 - 70)

Download and use Your Litter's Fifth Week checklist. (Days 29 - 63)

The next few weeks will place the highest demand on your bitch's body as she produces enough milk for her growing pups. Feed her well and supplement with calcium, if needed. (Days 29 - 42)

Your pups' nervous system are wrapping up myelination. They are getting quicker but they are still "slow learners." Give them lots of opportunities but don't judge them, as a group or individually. (Days 29 - 35)

Continue to feed your dam four times a day. She may be up to 400-800% of her maintenance amount if she has a large litter. (Days 29 - 35)

If your bitch is bored, you can begin to do walks, low-risk skill training, flexibility, balance and proprioception exercises. Hold off on strength training a little longer. (Days 29 - 35)

Have at least two new visitors this week. (Days 29 - 35)

Stay focused on potty training this week. (Days 29 - 35)

Begin weaning by feeding 1-2 meals today.

Add more climbing and balance equipment to the pen but remember, pups will still fall off of things so not too high. (Days 30 - 35)

If your bitch no longer wants to go into the pen with the pups, let her nurse them outside the pen or even outside the house to keep her engaged. (Days 30 - 35)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Start feeding pups four times a day.

Take your pups for a short car ride today.

Call puppies to you every time you feed them with voice and/or whistle.

Add Probalance to to the pups' daily rations.

Give pups free play in a safe room in your house.

Take litter and individual photos.

Add Geneflora to to the pups' daily rations.

Call puppies to you every time you feed them from now till they go home.

Add obstacles, like tunnels and Bosu's, to puppy pen.

Expand pen if pups are doing well with housebreaking but close it down at night. (Days 33 - 35)

Trim pups' toenails & check collars for tightness and skin abrasions.

Add wild fish oil and a new protein, like chicken eggs, to the pups' daily rations.

Take puppies outside, weather permitting.

Take your pups for a short car ride today.

Trim genital hair on both male and female pups to reduce risk of UTI/vaginitis.

Deworm your dam and pups with fenbendazole, day 1.

Important - if you would like these dates saved in our system, you must click Submit below.

The dates will also be emailed to you after clicking submit.

Your Litter A to Z Calendar Events

GET STARTED