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| Signs of Pregnancy:
Right after breeding the bitch will have an enormous appetite. It is very important to keep track of the due date, some females will not go into labor "on time". The bitch should have steady exercise throughout her pregnancy to maintain good muscle tone. Neapolitan Mastiff's can be poor whelpers. And can tire easily giving birth. Keeping the bitch Physically fit and not too heavy will help her during whelping. 3 weeks later, she will not eat so much. Moring sickness (periodically)
may be present as
6 weeks later, she will begin to pick up her
eating and begin to eat alot again. At this time
Her last week, if she is VERY large, she will not eat as much again. |
| Ultra Sound:
An Ultra sound can be done as early as day 28 of the pregnacy, but I feel day 30-35 is best. It is during this time that you can see the heart beats of your puppies. An X-ray can be done this gives the most accurate "count" of puppies, but is recommended at day 55.  |
| Whelping:
12 - 24 hours before giving birth (Whelping) the bitch will urinate and defecate to empty herself out. She will have a painful look to her face, sometimes shivering and or chattering teeth. As the pain comes, she will pant and dig, she will want to go outside to dig. After these signs, it is best to place her in her Whelping Box. When the Neo gives birth, there is alot of fluid, blood, and placental discharge all over the place. You will need something to soak up the fluids, and that can easily be cleaned. Newspapers alone is NOT a choice option. They are messy, the babies can get lost in them, and can be squashed by the mother who can not see them. Read the Whelping Box section about the BEST flooring for a Whelping Box. Once she is in her Whelping Box, she will dig and rip up the flooring in the box. Finally, a bitch that is a good Whelper will start to push out the puppies. Some Neo Bitches do not push. They just lay there, You may have to reach in and pull out the puppies when they are in the birth canal. If she has gone into labor and is digging violently for upwards to an hour, and nothing is coming out, This usually means Dystocia or Stuck Puppy. In these situations a Cesarean Section is usually performed. *** Keep in mind each Whelping is an individual
happening. And it is difficult to make the right
decisions as to what to do. Whelping a Neo bitch can be tricky, expensive
and
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| Pregnancy:
The best days to palpate (feel for) puppies are about day 28 to day 35 of the pregnancy. Usually it is best to count from the last breeding day as most dogs actually ovulate shortly before they quit standing for the male. X-rays can confirm pregnancy after 45 days. Sometimes it is worthwhile to take X-rays to get an idea of the number of puppies -- usually we do this only if we suspect that there are problems or if the bitch has had trouble delivering puppies previously.
puppy food with normal food the first day and gradually increasing the amount). Most bitches require about 1.5 times the normal amount of food for their maintenance at the time of birth. As the puppies grow, she may require as much as 3 times normal amounts of food to support lactation. You should continue to keep her on a puppy formula until the puppies are weaned. Do not supplement calcium during the pregnancy. This seems to lead
to problems with
Know your veterinarian's emergency procedures before the delivery.
If your vet refers
Your vet is likely to have some references that cover construction
of breeding boxes to
Breeders are a good source of information in most cases and it would
be a good idea to
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| *** Neapolitan Mastiff's are difficult to breed. Because of there
massive size it is hard for the male to get up on the female for mating.
Artificial Insemination
is commonly used.
***** Building a Whelping Box will allow a wonderful place to let your Neo bitch have her puppies.  |
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