Calculate expected delivery dates and generate a clinical milestone gestation calendar from mating to whelping.
Day 7–14: Blastocysts travel to uterine horns.
Day 21–22: Embryo implantation in uterine wall complete.
Day 28–32: Veterinary ultrasound window to confirm heartbeat & viability.
Day 35: Organogenesis complete; fetal facial features and paws develop.
Day 45: Fetal skeletons begin calcification; switch dam to high-calorie lactation nutrition.
Day 54–58: Abdominal X-ray window for accurate puppy skeletal count.
Day 58: Introduce dam to whelping box; sanitize supplies and heating pads.
Day 60+: Begin 2x daily rectal temperature checks (drop below 98.5°F / 36.9°C indicates labor in 12–24h).
Day 63: Expected whelping date (Labor stage 1: restlessness, panting, nesting).
Seek emergency veterinary attention if: active green discharge before first puppy, 2+ hours between puppies with active straining, or gestation exceeds 68 days without labor signs.