Misty's before care

Pre care for our Danes is to make sure they are healthy so of to the vets they go for a check up first. A good rich diet of raw meats  is the order of the day but we do this with all the Danes in our care. 

I add in folic acid to aid her in getting pregnant a month before the season begins. If needing anything done we do so now before pregnancy happens as cleaning of teeth, claw cutting, bathing, etc. She is wormed every 3 months as she is a raw fed dog as a matter of course. 

I already have a whelping kit and if a little short I add to it for what I need. 

I have playpens for whelping boxes as these come apart for easy use and I line them with old quilts as labour is messy also old carpet up the sides so there is no drafts or old quilt covers over them as pups are dependant on mum and humans for the first fortnight after birth so drafts are bad.  This time we have put everything up in the kitchen for her a bit cramped for us but cosy for Misty. 

Now she came into season on the 1st December 2012. We then had a gander over stud dogs and who we could use, loads of studs out there for us of course and we in the end chose Deacon. I liked his head and conformation, his stance and his nature. 

Mating then took place on the 15th December 2012. 

We scan all Danes and whelp was confirmed on 16th January 2013. The vet counted 8 but we knew this was a guess. 

Delivery date was set for the 16th - 18th Febuary 2013.

Once she was scanned she went huge but I assumed because she had been pregnant before that she would look bigger. The pregnancy continued uneventful and her nature didnt change at all she was calm and good natured as usual. 

She started to sleep more at week 7. All normal at this stage for her. 

We set up the whelping box on the night of the 12th Feb 2013 so she could get used to it. Loads of old quilts thrown in there and I was going into the box with her the next night. well she decides she isnt waiting on anyone.

To be continued.................