Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy: Gestation Period, Weekly Milestones, and Care Guide

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy: Summary

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have been favored breeds of British nobility, but these gentle, playful canines are great pets for any family. They form close bonds and will shower their households with affection. They’re a patient breed who love attention and respond well to training. If you have a pregnant CKCS in your home, you’ll want to give this special dog the special care she needs.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy: Pregnancy Symptoms

While a diagnostic test is the only way to be certain, if you have reason to believe your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is pregnant, you can watch for signs like an increase in appetite, weight gain, increased nipple size, or a swollen belly. But your best bet is to keep track of how much time has passed since mating, and bring your dog to the vet for a pregnancy test after four weeks or so.

Gestation Period: How Long Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Pregnancy Pregnant?

A canine pregnancy takes about 63 days from conception to birth, plus or minus a few days on either side. There’s evidence that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels fall on the shorter end of this range. Since conception can take place a day or more after mating, Your best bet to estimate the delivery date is to see your vet to get your dog’s pregnancy checked.

Pregnancy Care for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy

Your vet will have specific information for you, but as a rule of thumb pregnant dogs should be put on a high-calorie diet during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Your dog’s stool should be checked for parasites, with follow-up treatment if needed. You should make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations and shots before pregnancy.

Average Litter Size for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy

The usual litter of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is five puppies, but first-time mothers tend to have smaller litters, typically two or three puppies.

What to Expect in Week 1

In the first week after mating, you won’t notice any physical differences in your spaniel. Your pet’s behavior won’t change either. You can feed your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as you usually do, and your dog can be as active as always. There’s no need to make any changes in her routine at this point.

What to Expect in Week 2

At this stage, it’s time to start tracking your dog’s weight. Your pregnant spaniel shouldn’t gain more than 10% of her normal body weight until the sixth week. So be sure to take a baseline weight measurement, and weigh her regularly going forward. No changes in diet should be needed at this time, and your dog’s energy level should be the same as always.

What to Expect in Week 3

It’s still early days, so you probably won’t see any physical changes in your dog, or need to change her daily routine. You can feed your spaniel a bit more than normal if her appetite goes up, keeping in mind that you want to avoid any excess weight gain.

What to Expect in Week 4

Time for a vet visit! It’s around this time that a dog’s pregnancy can be detected by various procedures. A hormone test, or a palpitation (your vet feels for the fetal sacs) are options. But an ultrasound is considered the best method. If any problems or abnormalities turn up, you and your vet will make a plan to handle them.

What to Expect in Week 5

This is where your spaniel will start putting on significant weight, as those puppies start building mass and developing their little bodies. As your dog’s appetite amps up, you’ll want to give her more food. Your vet will advise you on how much food to provide, and other nutritional adjustments to make.

What to Expect in Week 6

As the pups’ growth kicks into high gear, you’ll want to provide your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a diet that’s high in energy content, protein, and minerals. Continue to follow your vet’s instructions for addressing your dog’s changing nutrition needs. Also be aware that her appetite may decrease somewhat due to the discomforts of pregnancy. So a good strategy is to split up her food among multiple small feeding throughout the day, so she won’t have to eat too much at once.

What to Expect in Week 7

The big day’s getting close! Continue to keep up her feeding, and consult with your vet about any appetite issues or nutrition questions. This is a good time to make certain everyone in the household understands what to do during the birth, and to be sure you have a plan in place for an emergency or complication during delivery. It’s also the time to set up a whelping box (see below) and get your dog acquainted with it.

What to Expect in Week 8

Your vet may recommend an X-ray during this week, as a final check that everything’s as it should be. By now you’ll start seeing your spaniel’s nipple enlarge, and possibly release some fluid, as the milk glands develop. Your dog’s abdomen will be enlarged and you might see or feel the puppies moving inside.

What to Expect in Week 9

During the last few days of pregnancy, you can expect some noticeable behavior changes in your spaniel, like restlessness, pacing, panting, digging, or shivering. Her appetite may decrease. The early stages of labor are not visibly noticeable, but your may dog refuse to eat, become reclusive, and engage in nesting behavior. There may be vomiting or a clear vaginal discharge.

Heavy panting and a drop in body temperature (you can check with a rectal thermometer) are signs that labor is 8-24 hours away.

The total delivery time tends to take one hour for each puppy. Each puppy will be delivered in a separate fetal sac that the mother will remove. There might be a long pause between deliveries after the first few. Be sure your dog has water to drink. Generally, dogs don’t need any help during delivery. But your vet should advise you on trouble signs to watch for, and how to handle any difficulties. For example, if the mother doesn’t break the fetal sack or tear the umbilical cord, you’ll have to do it.

How to Prepare for Labor and Delivery

Sometime during the last few weeks of pregnancy, you should prepare a whelping box, a safe, comfortable, warm enclosure where your spaniel can give birth to and nurse her new puppies. The idea is to create a comfortable spot that your spaniel can easily get in and out of, but will keep the pups confined. You might use a child’s plastic swimming pool, for example. Pre-made whelping boxes are available too.

Set up the whelping box in a quiet, draft-free area of your house, and let your dog become familiar with it. The hope is that she’ll choose it for her delivery when the time comes. The American Kennel Club has a checklist of materials you’ll want to include with your whelping box.

Keep new puppies warm by covering them with a light towel. Make sure the new pups are placed along the mother’s belly, and watch that they’re all nursing within a few hours of birth.

How to Care For Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Afterward

Monitor your dog’s body temperature after birth; a high temp could indicate an infection. Call your vet if your spaniel shows any signs of being ill. Otherwise, keep her on a high-calorie diet while she’s lactating. Keep fresh food and water available to her at all times. Provide a clean, quiet space in a low-traffic area where mom and pups can feel safe together.

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