Today is the time to answer one of the most important questions many dog owners have. Is my dog pregnant or not? Don’t think that this is an extremely complicated process and you will need days to learn the basics. All the things you need to know are right here. You will need less than 10 minutes to learn it all. As such, let’s begin.
Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
The first thing you will need to look for is the symptoms. These appear early in the pregnancy which can help you deduce the obvious. Is my dog pregnant? If she is, you will see probably all of the symptoms below. Keep in mind that some appear sooner than others. Also, all dogs will have most of the symptoms from the list below.
- Stomach is swollen
- Lack of appetite (first couple of weeks only)
- Vomiting (at an early stage of pregnancy)
- Lack of energy
- Irritability
- Weight gain
- Increased appetite
- She is more affectionate
Test For Dog Pregnancy
Yes, there is such a thing. As a matter of fact, there are a few tests you can use. The first one is palpation when you will touch the stomach of your dog to try and detect fetuses or change in the uterus. This test is not very accurate. Also, you will have to do it at 3 weeks of pregnancy to get the most accurate results.
The best test here is abdominal ultrasound. You may know all about it if you were pregnant in the past. It is most accurate when a dog is at least 3 weeks pregnant and you can easily see puppies inside. Most vets will perform this test over any other and it is the best option you have.
Yes, X-rays are an appealing option as well. This method is only accurate in the last semester of pregnancy. See, X-rays can only detect bones and those are properly formed in the last trimester of pregnancy. As you can see, ultrasound is the most appealing and the most common test for pregnancy in dogs. It is also the most accurate and the one you can do sooner than later.
How Long For Dog Pregnancy
Pregnancy in dogs is obviously much shorter than in humans. In most dogs gestation period is between 58 and 68 days. On average, the pregnancy lasts 63 days. Keep in mind that this will depend on the breed, age, and many other factors so there is no way we can give you a 100% accurate time frame.
If there were 2 matings you need to record the date of each one. In that case scenario, the gestation will typically last between 63 and 65 days.
Pregnancy Stages Of A Dog
As you can assume, pregnancy in dogs does have stages. We will explain all of these below and you will see how interesting these are. It is a nice thing being able to know precisely what happens to puppies every single week. These stages apply to all dogs of all breeds.
1. 1-2 week
During this time frame, we can see that fertilization is completed. At the same time, the implantation of the egg happens. This is the beginning of pregnancy and your dog will not have any signs or show any symptoms at this stage.
2. 3-4 weeks
The puppies will now start with the development of spinal cords. They also show facial features and you can use this time frame to perform an ultrasound and confirm pregnancy. This method is the most accurate one we have available.
3. 5-6 weeks
At this stage, the sex organs of puppies will be formed. But, puppies will also develop eyes, legs, and many other body parts. In other words, this is the stage when puppies start to look like, well puppies.
4. 7-8 weeks
As you can see, this is a late stage and here we can see well-formed puppies. They are big as well and they like to move. You can see them moving inside the abdomen all the time. You should start with preparations.
5. 9 week
This is the last stage and here we have puppies that are almost ready for birth. An interesting fact is that at this stage puppies may stop moving. They will be very still which looks like a problem for some dog owners. But it is perfectly normal.
Do And Don’ts Of Dog Pregnancy
For some of you, this is the most important section. Here we will discuss all the things you should do when your dog is pregnant and also the things that you should avoid. Yes, you need to care well for your dog, and here are a few tips that will help you with that.
- Your dog needs regular and short walks daily.
- Feed your dog with premium food and allow her to eat more.
- Separate the dog during the last 3 weeks from other dogs, if you have them.
- Allow her to rest in a comfortable area when she wants.
- Take her to regular vet’s controls and exams.
- Massaging her can relieve stress and make your pet more comfortable.
Here are the things you will not want to do when your pet is pregnant. These are don’ts obvious and they can be extremely dangerous.
- Don’t give her supplements during pregnancy. Too much of certain minerals can cause all sorts of issues.
- Don’t allow your pet to exercise too hard.
- Don’t take her to areas where infected dogs may be.
- Don’t expose her to loud noises or ‘’scary’’ situations
Conclusion
Is my dog pregnant or not? You can see here that you will need to wait a couple of weeks since mating to get the most accurate answer. If your dog is pregnant, congratulations and you can expect puppies soon. As always, try to help your dog stay comfortable during this stage of life and try to protect her from any possible threats or issues that may have a negative effect on the pregnancy.