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Jun 2, 2024 · The only possible symptom of the dog's pregnancy may be slight behavioral changes. Depending on the individual dog, these may not manifest. Week 3 (days 15-21): in the third week the fertilized eggs are implanted in the dog's uterine lining. The main sign of this is a slight bulging of her belly, between 0.8 to 1 cm.
At this stage of development, begin to limit rough play and particularly strenuous exercise in your dog. Counting numbers. Day 29. Above is a typical 29 day ultrasound scan - this one was a singleton puppy The reason I always recommend an ultrasound to give an estimation on numbers, singleton puppy's have a lot against them.
- Overview
- Enlarged or discolored nipples
- Weight gain
- Swollen belly
- Increase in appetite
- Tires easily
- More affectionate or irritable
- Nesting behavior
- Physical examination
- Hormone test
So, your dog’s acting different, but she’s not in heat…could she be pregnant? The early stages of pregnancy can be a bit tricky to spot right away, but if you know what to look for, you’re golden. Luckily for you, we’ve laid out everything you need to know in this article, including what to look for and veterinary tests. Knowing if your dog is pregnant is a breeze with our help, so read on to learn about the leading signs.
A pregnant dog will start to gain weight around her stomach and waist before her pregnancy starts to show.
A tell-tale sign that your dog might be pregnant is if her nipples “pink up” and become rosier and more pronounced.
If your dog’s pregnant, she may start eating more, get tired easily, or crave more or less attention than usual.
One of the earliest signs that your dog is pregnant is if she “pinks up.”
A pregnant dog’s nipples will be rosier in color (more so than usual) and grow in size, so they’re more prominent.
If your dog’s put on a bit of weight, it may be because she’s pregnant.
Pregnant dogs tend to gain weight around their stomach and waist during the 2nd or 3rd week of pregnancy. This is completely normal—your dog is making more room for her puppies!
A rounder and firmer stomach could be a sign of pregnancy.
Believe it or not, most dogs don’t “show” their pregnancy until the third half of pregnancy, which is 6 to 9 weeks since conception. If your dog’s stomach is more pronounced than usual, she’s most likely pregnant (especially if her nipples and mammary glands are swollen and plump).
Try gently placing your hand on your dog’s belly. As the dog’s pregnancy progresses, there’s a greater chance you’ll be able to feel the puppies inside.
The mammary glands produce the milk the puppies will drink, which causes a pregnant dog’s nipples to swell.
If your dog is pregnant, she’ll most likely eat more than usual.
As her tummy grows, expect her to want to eat bigger meals and snack more throughout the day. After all, she has more mouths to feed!
Talk to your veterinarian about how to
care for your pregnant dog
and when to increase her food rations, as additional calories could benefit her and the growing pups.
Know that your dog will likely have a reduced appetite 12 to 24 hours before whelping or giving birth.
A sudden change in a dog’s energy levels could signify pregnancy.
A pregnant dog may be drowsier or more lethargic than normal, especially as her belly grows. This is most noticeable if your dog is naturally full of energy.
Take note if your dog would rather take an abnormal nap than play fetch like usual.
This isn’t necessarily a sure sign of pregnancy, as many other underlying illnesses and conditions could cause changes in behavior. Always bring your dog to the vet, just to be sure.
Your dog’s behavior could change subtly or drastically if she’s pregnant.
How a dog emotionally reacts to her pregnancy all depends on her personality. Some dogs become more affectionate and attention-seeking, while others shy away from pets and cuddles.
So, notice if your dog suddenly wants to be pet all the time or hides in a room away from people and other animals.
This change doesn’t automatically mean your dog is pregnant, but it could be a good indicator if she’s showing other pregnancy symptoms.
Like humans, a dog will start preparing for her baby’s arrival.
Your dog may gather blankets, shred paper, or bunch together bedding or clothing to make a warm nest for her puppies. This behavior isn’t always observed, but if your dog does this out of the blue, she’s most likely about to whelp (give birth).
by providing her with a cardboard whelping box and plenty of extra blankets or towels.
Talk to your veterinarian about
helping your dog give birth
and specify any health or behavioral concerns to get the most personalized care.
A veterinarian will most likely do a palpation test to check for pregnancy.
This physical examination is painless, and only requires the veterinarian to feel the outside of your dog’s belly with their forefingers. This helps them examine the womb and feel the outline of the potential puppies.
Palpation works best when the dog is between 3 and 4 weeks pregnant, as the embryonic vesicles can be easily felt.
If the veterinarian feels anything, they’ll move on to an ultrasound or X-ray test to ensure they’re feeling fetuses rather than feces.
A veterinarian can take your dog’s blood to run a pregnancy hormone test.
With this test, they’re looking for the hormone
, which is generally present during the 4th week of pregnancy. If relaxin is present, your dog is definitely pregnant.
A relaxin hormone test is often used to decipher pseudo pregnancies from real pregnancies, as a dog won't produce the hormone unless she’s actually pregnant.
Around day 35, they start to look like little dogs, and their heartbeats may be detectable by ultrasound. Day 36+: The fetus continues to grow and develop and your dog's belly will enlarge. This is a good time to increase the pregnant dog's food intake, usually by about 25%. Day 40: Claws take shape.
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Oct 4, 2018 · Week Five. Around day 35 during week five, the first stage of gestation, or embryogenesis, ends and the second will begin. The puppies’ organs have begun to form at this stage, and will now be known as a fetus. The weight of the fetus will dramatically increase in weight at this time up to as much as 75 percent.
Nov 28, 2023 · Stage 3. Days 45-65. As your dog begins this third dog pregnancy stage you may notice a decrease in appetite. Your pregnant dog may also start to show signs of nesting behaviors, and looking for a ...
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The normal temperature for a dog is between 100-102.5ºF. This decrease in temperature typically lasts around eight hours. Dogs may also have vaginal discharge before birth that is clear to white. If a clear or white sac is noted protruding from the vulva (external genitalia), whelping should be imminent. If green discharge is noted, it should ...
