As a French Bulldog breeder in Canada, I know how exciting it is to wait for a new litter. They win your heart the moment they are born because they are so tiny and cute. Before caring for the puppies, you must have knowledge about French bulldog pregnancy. During pregnancy, your female is going to need special attention, care, and nutrition.
Signs of a Pregnant French Bulldog!
As a breeder, I am often asked what the first signs of a pregnant French bulldog. Most Frenchies can’t have puppies the normal way, so to have successful breeding, breeders artificially inseminate their breeding Frenchies. Once the female has been inseminated these are the following signs of a of a pregnant dog.
- 20 days after insemination
- symptoms such as early nausea that lasts for a few days
- decreased exercise
- enlarged nipples
- increased hunger
- pink discharge can occur.
Pregnant French Bulldog Nutrition
During pregnancy, it’s important to give your Frenchie a balanced diet, since the success of a French bulldog pregnancy can depend on a lot of different things. It’s crucial to keep an eye on her weight and make sure she doesn’t lose too much. Early pregnancy weight increase can interfere with delivery (risk of dystocia). To avoid her gaining more than 10% of her total weight, it is crucial to keep an eye on your pregnant french bulldog’s weight. I normally weigh my dog once a week to make sure she’s at a healthy weight.
The first 39 Days
French Bulldogs, and pregnant dogs in general, won’t need more calories to get more energy in the early stages of their pregnancy. During this time, the pregnant dog needs to eat a high-quality diet that is well-balanced and full. Stick to the normal guide for what to feed your dog. Even though it’s normal for your dog’s appetite to change because of the hormonal changes she’s going through, you should talk to your vet if the changes keep happening or seem to be getting worse.
Day 40 and On
Once my pregnant dog reaches day 40 from the first breeding, the puppies are going to start growing. FAST! This means mom needs more energy to help support those growing pups. The space she has for food in her stomach starts decreasing. My pregnant dogs will sometimes not want to eat, so I will have to hand-feed them or give them multiple meals a day. It’s important for them to get enough food, not just to support their puppies but to keep their energy up. Extra proteins will give her energy and she will be less prone to gaining weight quickly.
What Diet Is Right?
Most French Bulldog breeders will feed their dog’s kibble and switch them over to puppy kibble. The higher intake of vitamins, proteins, and minerals will give their pregnant dog more energy. I normally keep my dogs on their raw diet and just increase the amount of food they get. I also make sure they are getting some extra vitamins and minerals to support their hormones.
Importance of Water
Regardless if you are feeding RAW or Kibble, there should always be fresh water readily available for your pregnant dog. This is really important for that feeding kibble, as you increase their kibble they will get more dehydrated and thirsty.
This is also really important during the summer months when it can be really hot and humid.
How Long Does A French Bulldogs Pregnancy Last?
This is always a shock to people when they ask this question. A French bulldog’s pregnancy lasts, on average, 63 days from the first breeding to birth. Even though labor could begin a few days earlier, it shouldn’t begin earlier than the 58th day.
Your Frenchie’s body will go through different stages of pregnancy, and the majority of dogs that are expecting will look for a safe, peaceful place to nest. It is important to place your French bulldog’s bed in a quiet area of the house. As one of the final stages of getting ready to give birth, your expecting Frenchie will start losing hair from her belly.
How To Care For Your French Bulldog During Pregnancy
I keep my pregnant Frenchies regularly groomed and clean. I check up on their coat, and their bits, and make sure they are clean. In addition to regular grooming, I want to make sure the temperature at home is good and comfortable for all the dogs. Since Frenchies are prone to hyperthermia and hypothermia, I always make sure to check their body temperature.
I try and maintain a room around 21-22C. It can be a challenge to take care of a pregnant french bulldog during the summer months when it’s hot. I try and get my dogs out before it gets hot outside and do shorter bathroom trips during the day. I also keep an eye on their body language for signs of overheating and discomfort.
Some French bulldogs might need to take different supplements during pregnancy, however, I don’t recommend including them on your own. Supplements that I use are:
- Folic Acid ( From the first day of heat to prevent cleft pallet)
- OxyMama
- B-Strong B Vitamin Complex
