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 Pepper – Day 49 (pre-parturition)

 

Pepper enjoying the first snowfall of the year. Sporting her baby bump!



Our precious Pepper is expecting her babies in 2 weeks. She is soaking up all the attention and getting lots of princess snuggle time. Pepper loves her cuddles - especially when we relax with her at the end of the day all the while stretching and moaning as we rub her belly. She ravenously eats all her meals which consist of an unprocessed raw diet with veggies and fruits. We add in folic acid, fish oil and probiotics – everything a pregnant mom needs. Next week we will increase her food and spread it over three meals daily.
 
Pepper is now sporting a baby bump and measures 32 inches (81.3 cm). She is still quite active with no signs of slowing down as she continues to explore the fence line in search of potential intruders.
 
Pre-natal period: It is an interesting fact that a dog's tactile perception develops before birth, therefore unborn puppies can detect touch when the mother is petted from the outside of the abdomen. This establishes the basis for puppies to tolerate being touched, when compared to puppies born to mothers that were not petted.

Pregnant dogs that are exposed to stressful events tend to release hormones that can be detected by the fetuses, which can negatively influence their future development. This underscores the importance of providing pregnant dogs a stress free and tranquil environment.
 

National Geographic - Fetus at approximately day 39 

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