Tulip Day 55 (pre-parturition)

Tulip last weekend showing off her baby bump!

Tulip's abdomen measures 35 inches as she enters the final week of her pregnancy. Tulip currently receives three meals per day but are increasing this to four meals as her due date approaches. Smaller, more frequent meals are easier for Tulip to digest. She is also being given folic acid, a form of the B vitamin folate that pregnant human mothers take as a supplement. Folic acid can help reduce the risk of midline birth defects.

In the days leading up to the puppies' arrival, we will closely monitor Tulip's temperature. A normal dog temperature is around 101°F (38.3°C). As Tulip's progesterone levels drop in preparation for delivery, her temperature may dip as low as 97°F (36.1°C). This temperature drop signals that the time for delivery is approaching. We can expect Tulip's temperature to fluctuate for about 72 hours, but it will rise back to normal right before she gives birth. By tracking Tulip's temperature drop and subsequent rise, I'll know when delivery is imminent.

Another sign will be Tulip's nesting behaviour - she'll start digging up the neatly laid towels in her whelping box, which is a natural maternal instinct. While I'll have to continually tidy up after her, this behaviour indicates the puppies will arrive soon.

The puppies are growing rapidly, making their movements easy to feel. We will continue to dote on Tulip as we eagerly await her big day.

A Golden Retriever puppy fetus almost fully developed

By around the 50th day of gestation, the fetuses' skeletons have fully ossified (hardened). At this stage, the puppies' fur coats are fully developed, and they will continue to rapidly grow as they prepare for birth. The puppies have essentially completed their developmental process and are now just focusing on physical growth prior to delivery. Newborn puppies are born with their eyes closed, which do not open until approximately 10 days after birth.

Stay tuned ....

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