The first 24 hours after birth set the pattern for the whole litter. Puppies, kittens, and calves all need the same three things in the same order: warmth, colostrum, and a quiet place to nurse. Get those right, and most problems show up early enough to fix. Here is a simple checklist that works for…

Every animal has its own gestation period, and the range matters as much as the average. A dog that whelps on day 58 is normal, and a cow that calves on day 292 is normal, even though both are far from the textbook average. Here is a simple at a glance table for the animals…

Most dog owners suspect pregnancy before they can prove it. A dog is pregnant for only about 63 days, so early signs matter, because by the time her belly is obvious, you are already halfway through. Here are the 10 signs to watch for, in the order they usually appear, and when to get a…