Rabies, a feared ancient disease

Rabies is a rare but very serious viral infection affecting the nervous system. It is generally present in the saliva of the infected animals and transmitted to humans through their bite. Whilst currently eradicated from the United Kingdom and Western Europe, rabies still exists in over 150 countries around the world, particularly in Asia, Africa as well as Central and South America and is responsible for thousands of human deaths each year, half of which involving children under the age of 15.

Get to know a little more about one of the oldest diseases of mankind.

By Ricardo Ribas

Rabies is a serious and almost always fatal zoonosis that affect mammals. The term “rabies” was originated during Roman times, meaning rage/madness down to the disease’s frightening symptoms. As a matter of fact, humans have always been terrorised from catching this disease, and it was already the subjected of myths in the Mesopotamian civilization over 4,500 years ago.

THE WORLD OVERVIEW?

Rabies is a disease that is currently spread all over the world. However, some countries have achieved disease eradication, such as Australia, New Zealand and many Scandinavian and Western European countries.

By the early twentieth century, rabies was eradicated from all Europe, however, in 1940s, it was re-entered from the east, and since the virus is transported through wildlife, its progression was difficult to control and the disease spread to Western countries. Nowadays and thanks to efficient preventive measures, rabies is currently eradicated from most Western and Scandinavian European countries. The United Kingdom has been free of rabies for 100 years with the exception of a rabies-like virus that is still existent in a small number of wild bats.

Whilst dog vaccination is not necessary in the UK, some European countries still require a compulsory annual vaccination for all dogs to avoid serious public health problems in the event of an outbreak. If you’re planning on taking your pet abroad to another European country, remember that your animal will need to be at least 12 weeks-old and already microchipped to have the rabies jab.

According to the world health organisation, there are currently 3 billion people in the world at risk of contracting this disease and an estimate of 59,000 deaths every year. This means that rabies kills one person every 9 minutes. Unfortunately, when the signs and symptoms start to manifest, the disease is almost always lethal.

WHO IS TO BLAME?

The rabies agent is a bullet-shaped virus belonging to the family of the Rhabdoviridae. Carnivores such as foxes, wolves, bats, monkeys, racoons and coyotes are wildlife hosts of the virus. Domestic animals are usually contaminated by other domestic or wild animals, whilst humans are mainly contaminated through the bites of domestic animals (dogs and cats). Dogs contribute to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.

The virus lives in the saliva of the diseased animals and is usually transmittable through a bite, however, in rare cases, contamination is also possible via sneezing, coughing or through superficial wounds.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTONS?

Upon entering the host wound, the virus multiplies in their local muscle cells for several weeks or months before migrating to their central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), causing inflammation (encephalomyelitis) and leading to changes in the host behaviour. In animals, the incubation period (period from the entry in the body to the appearance of the first symptoms) is on average one to two months. In humans, the incubation period can range from four days to as long as 19 years, but in the majority of the cases it takes around 20 to 90 days for the first symptoms to appear.

IN THE PETS …

At the early stages of the disease, the animal exhibits increased nervousness and activity, difficulties breathing, fever and changes in vocalisation and sexual behaviour. Subsequently, two forms of the disease are possible: the furious and the silent forms. In the furious form, the animal becomes very alert and aggressive with dilated pupils, loss of appetite and changing in barking. Contrary, in the silent form, the animal becomes lethargic, paralysed, with muscle tremors and cries persistently. Cats present similar symptomatology with lack of mobility particularly in the chewing and swallowing muscles.

…AND IN THE HUMAN.

Humans affected by the disease show slightly different symptoms from the animals. Infected individuals, initially have flu-like symptoms, such as general weakness, headache and fever but with time those progress to neurological/behaviour symptoms. These include confusion, hallucinations, muscle spasms, bizarre beating and biting behaviours, fear of water (hydrophobia) and general deterioration of mental state, often culminating in death by cardiac or respiratory arrest.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF THE DISEASE

In order to keep control of rabies and to provide prompt actions to eradicate the disease in the event of the outbreak, several countries are implementing measures such as:

– Compulsory annual vaccination for all dogs aged four months old and older.

– Registration and compulsory licensing of dogs.

– Slaughter of all animals that are angry or have been bitten by animals infected with rabies.

– Veterinary examination and compulsory quarantine for all pets coming from countries with rabies.

– Wildlife vaccination by releasing oral vaccines into the ground to prevent the spread of the disease.

HUMAN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

It is recommended that people travelling to rabies endemic areas are vaccinated and avoid contact with domestic and/or wild animals, particularly dogs and cats.

Unfortunately, no treatment is available. Infected animals are usually slaughtered and humans rarely survive from the disease. For humans exposed to rabies, post-exposure treatments such as a course of rabies vaccine or a specific immunoglobulin can be effective in preventing the disease from developing particularly if given before the start of the symptoms. Washing the bite sites and scratches with soaped water or detergent may also reduce the number of virus entering the skin and may be somewhat effective at preventing transmission.

As of 2016, only fourteen people had survived rabies infection after starting of the symptoms.

By Ricardo Ribas, Veterinary Doctor, doctorate in veterinary sciences and researcher in the area of oncology in London

Reference Sources

1. Fooks, A.; Cliquet, F. et al. Rabies. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2017, 3 17091. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.91

2. Tarantola, A. Four Thousand Years of Concepts Relating to Rabies in Animals and Humans, Its Prevention and Its Cure. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2017, 2, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed2020005

3. Vitasek, J. A review of rabies elimination in Europe. Vet. Med. – Czech, 49, 2004 (5): 171–185

4. Shankar, SK; Mahadevan, A. et al. Rabies viral encephalitis with proable 25 year incubation period! Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2012 Jul-Sep; 15(3): 221–223. doi: 10.4103/0972-2327.99728

5. Rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last updated 17 September 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html

6. Rabies in the U.S. and around the world. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last updated 11 June 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/index.html

7. Every 9 Minutes, Someone in the World Dies of Rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0928-rabies.html

8. Rabies. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies

9. Rabies in Animals. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies_in_animals. Accessed December 2019

10. Rabies. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/health-topics/rabies. Accessed December 2019

11. Rabies. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies. Accessed December 2019

12. Epidemiology and burden of disease. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/rabies/epidemiology/en/. Accessed December 2019

13. Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals- Rabies. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/rabies/en/. Accessed December 2019

14. Rabies. National Health Service. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rabies/. Accessed December 2019

15. Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK. Rabies vaccination, boosters and blood tests. https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/rabies-vaccination-boosters-and-blood-tests. Accessed December 2019

Disclaimer

The subjects, ideas, control and prevention measures discussed in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information consult a vet or a professional in the area. Whilst every effort is made to make sure the article is accurate at the time of publication, I take no liability for any new developments on the subject as well as any errors or omissions.

Parvovirus, a killer of young dogs

Learn more about the disease that is responsible for a high mortality among puppies.

By Ricardo Ribas

Canine parvovirosis is a common and highly contagious disease affecting dogs. It is caused by a virus that attacks the cells of the intestine stopping them to absorb essential nutrients and liquids, what leads to vomit and diarrhoea and subsequent weakness and dehydration. Unfortunately, many animals diagnosed with the disease will die, particularly young dogs and puppies. The good news is that it exists a vaccine to prevent the disease.

Learn more about this disease…

WHO IS TO BLAME?

This disease is caused by a virus (CPV2) that belongs to the family of the parvovirus, one of the smallest type of virus know to date. Canine parvovirosis is a relative new disease, firstly discovered in late 1970’s. It is believed to be the result of a mutation in a very similar virus responsible for feline panleukopenia, a disease that affects cats. In spite of this, CPV2 does not cause pathology in cats and only mildly affects minks as raccoons, given that is a virus that exclusively infect canines. In addition, it is very resistant to a wide range of pHs, temperatures and the majority of disinfectants, allowing it to survive in ground soil for up to a year. Commercial bleach is the only disinfectant able to kills this virus.

There are two types of parvovirus that can infect the dogs: the type 1 or non-pathogenic and type 2, responsible for this intestinal disease.

…AND WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?

This is a canine-only disease, with the dogs being the most affected species. For unknown reasons, some breeds are more predisposed to the disease, such as Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, German Sheperds, Springer Spaniels, Rottweilers and Pit Bull. Young dogs and puppies particularly between six weeks and five months old are more vulnerable. This is because it is around the sixth week that puppies stop breastfeeding, thus losing the protection given by the mothers breast milk. In turn, the parvovirus vaccination schedule is not completed until around five months, at which time the likelihood of infection decreases.

HOW DOES THE VIRUS SPREAD?

Heavy concentration of the virus are found in the infected dog’s stool. Transmission can occur directly through contact with another dog, or indirectly, through contaminated objects such as cages, shoe soles, hands, clothing, etc. The virus can survive for up to one year outside the host, thus the man plays an important role in the indirectly transmission of the disease through the transport of contaminated faeces. The most dangerous places are those where there is a large concentration of animals, such as public parks, kennels, pet shops and dog shows.

VIRUS MULTIPLICATION

After ingestion, the virus multiplies in the tonsils before spreading through the bloodstream, to reach its favourite organs: intestines, bone marrow and lymphatic system, time which the first symptoms appear. This takes in average five to seven days. Generally, the intestinal signs, such as diarrhoea, are the most apparent. Rarely, in newborns, the virus can also lodge in the heart triggering cardiac arrest and subsequent death.

BE AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS

After an incubation period of five to seven days, the animal starts losing the appetite and shows signs of severe vomiting and diarrhoea, sometime accompanied by blood and foul odour. If treatment is not started quickly, the animal will start losing weight, will get lethargic and dehydrated what can rapidly lead to death. In some rare cases, the virus can also reach the heart causing cardiac arrest and death, or trigger heart failure that can persist a life time, leading to exercise intolerance, coughing and difficulty breathing.

AVAILABLE TREATMENTS

Since there are no antiviral drugs to combat parvovirus, the treatment aims to target and reduce the symptoms of the disease, avoiding unnecessary discomfort to the animal and ultimately prevent its death. Most deaths of parvovirus occur between 48 to 72 hours after the appearance of the symptoms, reason why the treatment should start rapidly. This involve administration of intravenous fluid to prevent dehydration caused by the lost of liquids during vomiting and diarrhoea. The administration of antibiotics is also advised to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Furthermore, food should be withdrawn until vomiting ceases and, in more severe cases, anti-vomiting products are advised to prevent dehydration. In cases of diarrhoea with blood, blood transfusions may be required. It is very important to keep in mind that early detection of this condition is the key for the successful treatment.

The survival rate of animals treated in the hospital is about 70% and the majority of death are as a result of dehydration, secondary bacterial infections, production of toxins or severe loss of blood during diarrhoea.

SEVEN STEPS FOR PREVENTION

1. The main form of prevention is the vaccination. Thus, dogs should begin to be vaccinated at six to eight weeks of age, they are not complete resistant to the disease until they have received several boosters until the vaccination is complete. Boosters are given every three weeks until the animal reach six months of age. From that point, the dog should be revaccinated annually to strengthen its immunity.

2. Animals that are not yet fully vaccinated should avoid contact with other dogs, as well as contaminated objects and public places, especially those where other animals circulate.

3. In kennels and places where many dogs live, disinfection should be often perform using bleach to prevent the spread of the virus.

4. In the event of the death of a dog with parvovirus at home, bleach disinfection should be performed as the virus can survive for up to one year outside the host.

5. It is particularly important to be careful not to carry faeces in the shoes, specially when around animals that have not been yet vaccinated.

6. At the first suspicious of the disease, contact the veterinarian immediately since quick treatment is decisive for the animal’s survival.

7. If the animal successfully recovers from the disease, it can remain contagious for up to 3-6 weeks and the virus can survive in the ground soil for up to a year. It is therefore important that the animal remains isolated and that neighbours and family members with other dogs are informed so they make sure their animals are properly vaccinated.

By Ricardo Ribas, Veterinary Doctor, doctorate in veterinary sciences and researcher in the area of oncology in London.

Reference Sources

1. Miranda, C & Thompson G. Canine parvovirus: the worldwide occurrence of antigenic variants. J Gen Virol, 2016 Sep;97(9):2043-2057. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000540.

2. Ohshima, T & Mochizuki, M. Evidence for recombination between feline panleukopenia virus and canine parvovirus type 2. J Vet Med Sci. 2009;71(4):403‐408. doi:10.1292/jvms.71.403

3. Nandi, S. & Kumar, M. Canine Parvovirus: Current Perspective. Indian J Virol. 2010 Jun; 21(1): 31–44. doi: 10.1007/s13337-010-0007-y

4. Canine parvovirus. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_parvovirus. Accessed October 2019

5. Anna Burke. What Every Owner Should Know About Parvo in Dogs. 29 March 2017. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/parvo-in-dogs/

6. Parvovirus in dogs. Blue Cross for Pets. Last update 21 August 2019. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/parvovirus-dogs.

7. Cecilia de Cardenas. Parvo in Dogs. 8 October 2008. PETMD. https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_canine_parvovirus_infection

Disclaimer

The subjects, ideas and prevention measures discussed in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information consult a vet or a professional in the area. Whilst every effort is made to make sure the article is accurate at the time of publication, I take no liability for any new developments on the subject as well as any errors or omissions.

Avoid a hot dog!!

During the summer months, animals suffer a lot with the heat. It is not easy to carry a “fur coat” around when thermometers are above 25° C. Here are some tips to help our pets enduring the hottest days.

By Ricardo Ribas

Image from rauschenberger, pixabay.com

Imagine yourself in your pet’s skin performing the daily routines with high temperatures. How would you feel if you were left for a long time in a locked car on the sun with a fur coat. All this in midsummer! The idea itself is suffocating. But how many trips to the supermarket led to this situations? Dogs and cats are highly susceptible to the heat specially because they have few sweat glands, which are necessary to control and maintain body temperature. Dogs actually sweat through their paws and use their tongue as a cooling mechanism, reason why they often walk with the tongue hanging when they are tired or feeling hot.

Frequent problems during summer season

Ticks and flea infestations are very uncomfortable for the animal because of the itchiness and the skin irritation they produce. Additionally, both parasites are carriers of other diseases, reason why the importance of controlling and prevent their infestations. There are various products on the market in the form of sprays, shampoos, collars, tablets, etc. The veterinary can assist making the best choice. For instance, heartworm disease is a pathology caused by a parasite, which is transmitted to the dog or cat by the mosquito bite. Once infected the animal, it will lodge in the pulmonary arteries and heart, causing coughing, tiredness, wheezing, weight loss and if left untreated, can lead to death. The control of mosquitos is usually the best preventative measure.

Since pets do not sweat through the skin, extra baths during the summer months are not necessary or advised. The frequent use of shampoos and soaps – even those indicated for dogs and cats – remove the natural oiliness of their skin causing dermatological problems. In fact, the animals should only be bathed when they are really dirty and is important to keep the coat suitably dry. Wet hair attracts bacteria and fungi that can cause diseases called mycosis. If your dogs have long hair, the best option is to trim the hairs during the hot months. Seasonal trim provides a great relief ensuring a good hygiene.

Heat shock

Direct exposure to sunlight, especially when temperatures are high, should be avoided as much as possible. Often dogs suffer from heat shock, especially when they are left inside cars on hot days. The owners have the best intentions not to leave the animal at home alone, but as most stores do not allow dogs, and the most practical solution is to leave the animal “just a little” in the car. However, sometimes the time flies inside the shops particularly with air conditioning and the owner takes longer than normal… These distractions however can lead to serious problems that ultimately can cause the animal’s death. In hot days, the temperature inside the car can easily reach 60° C within few minutes? Exposure to heat causes initially an increase in the body temperature and dehydration. The animal will then show difficulty breathing, starts salivating, presents with anxiety, fever, dry skin, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, and in extreme cases will suffer cardiac changes. If you notice these symptoms, remove the animal immediately from the sun and give him water to drink. Then try to lower his body temperature by wrapping him with moist towels or spraying him with warm water. Take all these precautions as calmly as possible. Avoid to pour cold water over his back as the shock created by different temperatures can be dangerous. Finally, take your pet to the veterinary immediately, since this is considerate an emergency.

Food Care

During the summer the food intake should be similar to the rest of the year. However, due to the heating, it is important to take extra care as food spoils quickly. Avoid leaving meals on the sun and remove them from the plate ideally after 30 minutes. It is also important to keep moist foods refrigerated until served and dry foods in cool, dry and ventilated places. It is normal that during hot weather, the animals have less appetite and are less energetic. This is generally normal behaviour and not a reason for concerned.

Always have fresh and clean water available for the animal to drink, making sure is it is kept away from the sun and is changed regularly.

Pay attention to the walks

In hot days, go for walks at the cooler hours of the day to avoid sunburn or burning of the paw caused by scorching floors. It is important to be well prepared if taken the animal for long walks. Animals should be physically well prepared before beginning a rigid exercise program. Forcing animals to a strong exercise beyond their physical capacity, especially in warm weather, can led to exhaustion. These are characterized by a rise in body temperature, cardio-respiratory problems, dehydration and potentially death. When walking puppies, take extra care as young animals can get tired very quickly. Puppies need a lot of rest to be able to allocate a lot of their energies to their grow. Also, if you have an old or obese animal that walk slowly, spare them from too much effort.

Beaches and pools …

Both swimming pools and beaches are places to avoid taking your dog. Dogs are often infected by a parasite called Ancylostoma caninum, that is eliminated by their stools and easily spread to people, causing skin problems. Children are particularly affected. If you are still keen to take your pet with you to the beach, make sure you deworm him beforehand.

It is also important to be careful when taking the dogs to swim in the sea or in swimming pools. Often dogs with drooping ears – where ventilation is less effective – suffer from ear infections due to water accumulation. To avoid these problems, place cotton in the ears before take the animal to the water. After swimming in the sea, is also important to wash their hair with fresh water to remove the salt, avoiding skin irritation.

Finally, always keep in mind that swimming pools are very dangerous places for dogs, as only a few animals can make their way up the vertical stairs. The vast majority, when dropped too long in the water will drown themselves from exhaustion. Further attention should be payed when dogs are accompanied by children in the pool as the animals may try to lean on the children causing them to drown.

Burns and skin cancer

It is important to take in consideration that the animal’s fur will not protect them from sunlight. All animals are at risk of developing sun burns and skin cancer. It is important to protect the dog from the sun whenever you take him to the beach. Avoid lying in the sun and always take fresh water with you so that the animal can drink whenever feels the need.

White-haired animals are particularly more susceptible to these diseases and extra care should be taken.

Ricardo Ribas

Veterinary doctor, doctorate in veterinary sciences and researcher in the area of oncology in London.

Reference Sources

1.Kate Goldbaum. Do Dogs Sweat? 27 July 2016. LiveScience. https://www.livescience.com/55553-do-dogs-sweat.html

2. Joanna Pendergrass. How Do Dogs Sweat?. 19 Sept 2018. PETMD. https://www.petmd.com/news/view/how-do-dogs-sweat-37585

3. Tick. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick. Accessed August 2019.

4. Dirofilaria immitis. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirofilaria_immitis. Accessed August 2019.

5. Heatstroke. RSPCA. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/heatstroke.

6. Ancylostoma caninum. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancylostoma_caninum. Accessed August 2019.

Disclaimer

The subjects, ideas and advices discussed in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information consult a vet or a professional in the area. Whilst every effort is made to make sure the article is accurate at the time of publication, I take no liability for any new developments on the subject as well as any errors or omissions.

Your dog is pregnant? Learn how to prepare for the great moment…

Whilst is very important to take care with your pet during pregnancy, preparation for delivery is also crucial.

The day has arrived! Your dog is finally ready to give birth. Don’t know what to do? From gestation to delivery, learn all you need to make sure everything goes well.

The pregnancy in a dog lasts on average 63 days, but varies depending on the breed and the number of foetuses. If you have doubts about whether your dog is really pregnant, there are some signs that you should consider. As a rule, there is an increase in the volume of the belly and the breasts and the animal tends to becomes more docile and calmer, spending more time sleeping and resting. In addition, there is a gradual increase in appetite due to the higher demand of energy and nutrients necessary for the development of the embryos. From the second half of gestation, the dog starts showing a clear and viscous discharge.

During pregnancy

Once you suspect your dog is pregnant, you should take her to the vet to confirm the diagnosis and to make sure that everything is going well with the pregnancy. It is also important to keep an eye on the female throughout all this period and if she experiences any signs of sickness, vaginal bleeding or discharge, don’t wait to take her to the vet for advice.

Food is particularly essential during this period. Pregnant dogs need more calories and nutrients so it is important to make sure they ingest increasing amounts of protein as well as supplement in calcium, minerals and vitamins that are crucial for the embryo development. The veterinarian can recommend a good commercial food containing supplements specific for pregnant females. Also be aware that the total amount of food should increase gradually during pregnancy to the point that by the end of this period, the dog should be eating approximately 30 percent more food each day. It is also very important to have fresh and clean water always available. Finally, make sure the pregnant dog continues exercising, but avoiding strenuous or stressful activities particularly during the second half of the pregnancy.

The birth day approaches…

Before giving birth, it is very important that the future mother becomes familiar with the place where delivery will occur. You should prepare a wood or cardboard box with sufficient space for the female to be comfortable, allowing her to lie down and to stretch her legs. You can cover it with newspapers, which must be changed every day. It is also important to keep the box in a warm and quiet place so that the animal can feel comfortable. When the delivery time approaches, the female will show some restlessness, loss of appetite, thirst, frequent urination, fast breathing, pain symptoms and she will be looking at hot and dark places. Usually, delivery is a natural event, and the animal should be able to perform it on its own.

The time has come!!

The birth begins with the first abdominal contractions and finishes with the birth of the puppies and placenta expulsion. It should be up to the dog to choose the right place to give birth, and if she refuses to do it in the box, do not contradict her. Moreover, some females demand full attention from the owner during delivery, while others prefer to be on their own. In the later case, make sure you are attentive and keep an eye on her without her noticing.

They were born…

Once puppies are out, generally the mother breaks the umbilical cords with her teeth. If this does not happen, you can cut the umbilical cord with disinfected scissors at a distance of two to three centimetres from the puppie’s belly. Also make a ligature with a thick wire about one centimetre of the belly. Finally, disinfect the animals navel. It is natural for the mother to lick the puppies after birth to make sure they are clean and to stimulate their breathing. If this does not happen, rub the animals with a soft towel. If the puppies still not breathe or cry, hold them upside down so they can release the mucus from the throat and nostrils allowing them to start breathing.

The best food for the puppies

As soon as the pups are born, they should start sucking the first milk from the mother. The milk produced immediately after delivery is called colostrum and is very rich in a type of proteins called antibodies, that helps protecting the new-borns against diseases. If the puppies are having trouble getting to the mother breasts you can help them to reach them. Similarly, if the puppy is having difficulty breastfeeding you can use a bottle of milk powder. Cow’s milk is not recommended since it has ccomponents that are not digested by dogs, leading to diarrhoea. It is also important to take in consideration that during breastfeeding, the mother is spending a lot more energy so the amount of food intake should be increased.

One step independence

After delivery, the mother will want to remain in the box, going out only to eat, drink water, defecate and urinate. Little by little, she will spend less time with the puppies. Intensive contact with the offspring finishes with weaning which occurs approximately 30 days after delivery and coincides with the growth of the teeth. At this point, the puppies can start eating their own commercial foods.

6 alerts to take into account:

• During and after birth, avoid the contact of the female with males, as sometimes males can kill the puppies due to jealousy.

• Make sure you take the mother and puppies to the vet 24 hours after delivery to certify that everything is normal.

• If needed, the tails should be cut around the third day after delivery.

• Wait at least 50 days after delivery to separate the puppies from the mother and between each other because only at this point they learn to relate to other animals.

• Do not get surprised if the puppies are born with their hind legs first.

• It is normal for the mothers to eat dead dogs and placentas.

Out of Curiosity

Pregnancy durations vary widely within the animal kingdom. Here are some examples:

Mouse	21 days
Rabbit	31 days
Dog	63 days
Cat	63 days
Pig	115 days
Sheep	151 days
Goat	151 days
Monkey	164 days
Chimpanzee	240 days
Gorilla	257 days
Human	280 days
Cow	283 days
Horse	336 days
Giraffe	430 days
Whale	535 days
Elephant	617-645 days

By Ricardo Ribas

Veterinary, Doctorate in veterinary sciences and Researcher in the field of oncology

Reference Sources

List of mammalian gestation durations. Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammalian_gestation_durations. Accessed July 2019

What Are the Signs of Dog Pregnancy? Purina. https://www.purina.co.uk/dogs/key-life-stages/pregnancy/spotting-the-signs-of-pregnancy.

Disclaimer

The subjects, ideas and alerts discussed in this article are for informational purposes only. For more information consult a vet or a professional in the area. Whilst every effort is made to make sure the article is accurate at the time of publication, I take no liability for any new developments on the subject as well as any errors or omissions.