Fiona – Day 50 (Week 7 – Pre-Parturition Update)

Seriously! This is not my best angle!

Around day 50, the puppies’ skeletons are now fully ossified and continue to strengthen each day. By this stage, their major organs have formed, and they’re beginning to look like tiny, perfectly formed puppies. Their bones are becoming more defined, and their size continues to increase quickly.

Fiona’s abdomen is now noticeably enlarged, and her nipples have become more prominent as her body prepares for nursing. She’s enjoying three meals a day and seems quite pleased about it — although she appears a little puzzled about her growing belly! We often catch her glancing back at her rear end as if wondering why she’s gaining so much weight. This being her first litter, her curiosity is understandable.

Her abdomen now measures approximately 33 inches (83.82 cm), and it seems to expand a little more each day. Next Saturday, Fiona will have an x-ray to determine how many puppies she’s carrying. This will help us prepare for whelping day, as most dogs deliver overnight. Puppies are typically born 30 minutes to 2 hours apart, so depending on litter size, the birthing process can last several hours.

At this point, each fetus measures around 1.6 to 2 inches (4–5 cm) and has developed skin pigment. Although we detected several sacs during her ultrasound at day 30, it’s still difficult to know exactly how many puppies Fiona will have. Their heartbeats are strong, and their little canine features are becoming more defined each day.

The average gestation period in dogs is about 63 days, so we’re expecting the miracle of birth around October 23rd.

Pre-natal fun fact:
A puppy’s sense of touch develops before birth, meaning unborn pups can actually feel gentle movements and touch through the mother’s abdomen. When the mother is lovingly petted, her puppies can sense it — helping them become more comfortable with human touch after birth. Needless to say, Fiona is getting plenty of belly rubs around here!

Stay tuned!

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