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Fiona – Day 56 (Week 8 – Pre-Parturition Update)

 

One more week to go!

The puppies’ skeletons are fully developed and can now be seen clearly on ultrasound or X-ray, which we have scheduled for this coming Saturday.

Fiona has lost the fur on her abdomen, which is normal and helps the puppies nurse more easily.

She has also begun preparing for birth — nesting behaviours are now evident. This is when soon-to-be mommas seek out quiet spaces, dig, or scratch at bedding. Indoors, this often translates to scratching her dog bed or entering the whelping box which she hasn't really accepted yet! We have a spotlessly clean and quiet area ready for her delivery. A few days after the pups are born, we’ll set up the 24/7 camera, so families awaiting a Dutch × Fiona puppy can watch them grow from birth!


Fiona has definitely slowed down over the past couple of days. With a HUGE belly, there’s less room for food, so we’ve adjusted to five smaller meals daily. She is now measuring approximately 35.5 inches (90.17 cm).

Everything is now ready for the big event. Her whelping box is set up in our bedroom, where she will stay with her puppies for the first several weeks. This allows me to ensure she can move in and out of the box safely without laying on a puppy, and if there’s any crying overnight, I can respond immediately.

Stay tuned for one final update before the puppies arrive!

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Location: Caledon, ON, Canada

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