Sustained stress during pregnancy may negatively affect both maternal welfare and the development and stability of the litter. This protocol promotes the identification and reduction of factors that may generate anxiety, fear, or overstimulation during the gestational process.
Key recommendations include maintaining stable routines, avoiding unnecessary handling, and reducing exposure to conflict, excessive transport, loud environments, or unpredictable social interactions. Behavioral changes such as excessive isolation, hypervigilance, altered sleep patterns, reduced appetite, or increased reactivity should be monitored as potential indicators of elevated stress levels.
Calm and respectful interaction by caregivers and veterinary professionals is especially important during the final stages of pregnancy. The objective is to promote a more emotionally stable and physiologically healthy reproductive experience for both the mother and the developing litter.