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Olivia - Day 42 Pre-Parturition

Olivia sporting her baby bump.

 Olivia - Day 42 Pre-Parturition

Olivia has always had a voracious appetite, consuming her meals at a rapid pace. She is acutely aware of her feeding schedule, anticipating mealtimes to the minute. Over the past couple of weeks, Olivia has been enjoying three daily meals, a departure from our typical practice, but one necessitated by her evident hunger. Her diet continues to consist of a healthy regimen of fresh foods, including a variety of proteins, puréed vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, folic acid, and pre- and probiotics. As Olivia's abdomen expands, measuring 76 cm (30 inches), her capacity for food will diminish, prompting us to increase the frequency of her meals while reducing the portion size of each.

National Geographic embryo at 25 days of gestation.

The provided image from National Geographic depicts an embryo at 25 days of gestation, approximately the stage captured during Olivia's recent ultrasound on day 27. From day 35 onward, the developing offspring are classified as fetuses, with the embryonic sacs measuring just over 4 cm. While six sacs were detected during the ultrasound, the precise number of puppies Olivia will deliver remains uncertain. These fetuses, currently 1.3 cm in size, will undergo rapid growth, tripling in size within a single week.

Between days 29 and 35 of gestation, the puppies' spinal cords, hands, and vital organs begin to form, and their heartbeats become easily detectable. Their facial features, including their canine characteristics, are also taking shape, with the development of eyelids, ears, whiskers, claws, and separated toes. Interestingly, the puppies' eyes are initially open but will fuse shut around day 35 to protect them during the remainder of their development, reopening approximately 10 days after birth.

With a gestation period of approximately 63 days, Olivia's pregnancy is nearing its conclusion, with only 21 days remaining until the anticipated miracle of birth, expected to occur around June 22nd or 23rd.


Stay tuned!

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Location: Caledon, ON, Canada

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