18 Mar Step by step guide: Grooming a Pregnant Dog

Like any other dog, a pregnant dog should be groomed regularly to remove oil, dirt, and skin debris to be fragrant and clean. Pregnant dogs should be thoroughly cleaned before whelping to prepare the breast area for puppy nursing. This dog, like pregnant humans, may behave unpredictably or aggressively due to discomfort, increased size, and hormone fluctuations. Always adjust your grooming speed based on your dog’s comfort and relaxation.

Grooming a pregnant dog steps:

• Brush your dog daily with a soft brush to remove knots, dirt or mats from his coat. Remember not to put pressure on a pregnant dog when grooming and touching her belly, and avoid using stiff bristles on sensitive areas.
• Pregnant dogs should be washed one week before whelping to remove impurities, bacteria and excess hair from the skin. You can put one hand around her chest and the other hand around her hind legs under the tail for better cleaning. Put your dog in a safe bath that he can’t jump out of. If your pregnant dog is afraid of the bathtub, use the shower stall. Some dogs hate to take a shower; in that case, fill a jar with warm water and wash your dog. If your dog isn’t calm and still, restrain him so that he doesn’t hurt himself by jumping from the tub. Another important point is to protect the dog from slipping or falling; use a non-slip surface to do this. Also, if he hates water and bathing, don’t insist and cause him severe stress.
• Check the water temperature not to be hot. Use warm water with mild shampoos such as oatmeal. Clean the genital area but don’t rub with shampoo, as this will disrupt the natural bacteria and lead to a yeast infection. Clean the genital area from front to back to prevent the genitals from becoming contaminated with faeces. Wash your pregnant dog thoroughly so that no shampoo remains on his skin. The type of shampoo used is also essential. For example, anti-parasitic or flea shampoos aren’t suitable for bathing pregnant dogs because their contents are toxic to puppies. If these toxins are absorbed through the skin, there’s a possibility of puppy disease. To prevent this problem, always check the label of shampoos thoroughly. To get rid of fleas from a pregnant dog coat, you can mix 1/4 cup dishwashing soap, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water and spread evenly on the coat (regardless of eyes).
• Gently dry your dog with a clean, dry towel. Avoid putting pressure on the abdomen or near the mammary glands. If you use a hairdryer, use the least amount.
• Carefully trim excess hair around the nipples, genitals and anus to prevent contamination during whelping and make it easier for puppies to give birth. If your dog reacts to grooming during grooming, stop the process and postpone the work to another day.
• If you use electric or sharp tools, make sure they aren’t hot and don’t place them near pregnant dogs’ mammary glands. Keep in mind that a pregnant dog’s mammary glands are filled with milk before whelping, and the nipples protrude. Therefore, be careful not to damage the breast area and not put pressure on the mammary glands when cleaning and using sharp tools. If the pressure is applied to these glands, milk is secreted. The first milk of pregnant dogs is colostrum, which is very useful for puppies.

Precautions and Considerations:

• Don’t apply pressure to the abdomen when handling a pregnant dog. Don’t lift him from under his stomach.
• Clean your dog before whelping, but avoid excessive grooming, which can irritate the skin.
• Avoid contaminating the genitals with faeces.
• Take care of the breast area and glands. Gently clean them and remove excess hair.
• A pregnant dog behaves unexpectedly, and his mood may be changed. Be aware of these changes and avoid stressful factors. Stop grooming if provoked or aggressive.
• Prevent your dog from slipping and falling.
• Don’t use shampoos and other bath products with pesticides and chemicals.
• Prepare all the necessary equipment and materials for bathing and grooming so that you don’t leave your pregnant dog alone.

 Pregnancy is a stressful time for everyone, even your dog. Pregnant mother dogs should be handled gently to prevent injury to the puppy and mother. Take time for grooming and do it with caution and without haste. Pregnant dogs like to be clean and free of hair and waste on the day of whelping. Cleaning a dog is a fun, important, but difficult task that must be done according to safety rules and tips. Sometimes not following these tips can do a lot of harm to your dog. So to keep your pregnant dog and her puppy healthy, it’s better to leave it to our professional team in Mishka. We have the best and most suitable methods and tools for your grooming; we also give comfort and peace to you and your beloved dog.