What You Need to Know About Dog Pregnancy
When your dog is pregnant, you want to provide optimal care to support her and her puppies. Knowing how long dogs are pregnant lets you plan proactively to help maintain that support throughout the gestation.
Dog gestation periods vary slightly by breed, but on average, dogs are pregnant for just over 2 months. Keep reading to uncover helpful tips for managing dog pregnancies, including knowing if your dog is pregnant and what happens with false pregnancies.
How Many Months Is a Dog Pregnant?
Dog pregnancy lasts an average of 63-65 days for small and large dogs alike. Full dog pregnancies go through three trimesters, and you often don’t notice visible physical changes until the second trimester.
Some dogs, such as German shepherds and golden retrievers, have slightly longer pregnancies, but the difference is typically measured in only a few days. Other factors that can impact the length of a pregnancy include:
- The health of your dog
- Litter size
- Nutrition and support your dog receives during pregnancy
Signs of Dog Pregnancy: Is Your Dog Expecting?
If you wonder if your dog might be pregnant or you’re actively trying to breed your dog, you need to know the signs.
A female dog could be pregnant if she exhibits the following symptoms.
Early signs your dog is pregnant:
- Changes in appetite that aren’t explained by other factors, including eating more, eating less or snubbing once-loved treats or foods
- Lethargy that indicates your dog is more tired than usual without any other signs of illness
- A slight weight gain, but you probably won’t notice a gain in the belly yet
Symptoms that tend to show up in mid-pregnancy:
- Swelling in your dog’s abdomen can indicate a growing litter inside
- An increased appetite, even without additional exercise
- Nesting behavior that indicates your dog is getting ready to give birth to puppies
Late-pregnancy indicators:
- Milk production as your dog’s body prepares to feed a litter
- Swelling in your dog’s nipples aligns with milk production and preparation for latching
- Restlessness, such as uncharacteristic pacing
- A body temperature drop, which can occur just before labor begins
You may notice changing behavior throughout all three trimesters. This can vary from dog to dog. Some dogs become more territorial or irritable when pregnant, while others may become more loving and maternal. If you have small children in the house, for example, a pregnant dog may start treating them with greater care as if they were puppies.
Dog Pregnancy Test: How to Confirm If Your Dog Is Pregnant
Veterinarians diagnose pregnancy via means such as ultrasounds, hormone tests and X-rays. You can get an accurate testing result as early as 21 days with ultrasounds and 45 days with X-rays. Your vet can also conduct a blood test to determine if your dog is pregnant.
At-home dog pregnancy test kits, provide the supplies you need to test for the hormone relaxin to help confirm pregnancy in dogs. Pregnancy tests designed for dogs can detect this hormone as early as 3 weeks. High-quality test kits can be reliable, but getting what you need to run the test can be tricky. This creates limitations for most people, making it best to have a veterinarian confirm whether your dog is pregnant.
False Pregnancy in Dogs: Understanding the Causes and Symptoms
False pregnancy in dogs does occur. Known as a phantom pregnancy, this condition happens when a female dog’s body mimics the signs of pregnancy even though conception hasn’t occurred. False pregnancy is caused by the hormone changes that occur in dogs after the heat cycle. The decline in certain hormones can signal a dog’s body to act in a way that makes pregnancy seem likely.
Some symptoms of false pregnancy in dogs include nesting and material behavior, changes in appetite and milk production. Because it can be difficult to tell the difference between a false pregnancy and a real one, it’s generally best to take your dog to the vet to have a professional confirm the diagnosis.
Caring for a Pregnant Dog
Before you can welcome an adorable litter of puppies into the world, your dog has to get through all three trimesters. Dog parents can help with this by providing care and comfort. Some tips include:
- Ensuring high-quality nutrition. Talk to your vet about dietary needs for a pregnant dog. Offer increased protein to help your dog get the energy and nutrition needed to support a healthy pregnancy.
- Create a safe nesting area. Provide a large whelping box or other container that’s easy for your dog to get in and out of, and place it away from loud, crowded and noisy spaces in the home. Add soft bedding, such as a dog bed or blankets.
- Offer opportunities for appropriate exercise. Your dog still needs to walk while pregnant, but she may not want to run and romp like normal. Make sure to encourage your dog to get exercise so she remains healthy throughout all three trimesters and is better able to recover after giving birth.
What to Expect During Dog Labor
Understanding the average gestation length for dogs can help you know when to look for signs of labor. A drop in body temperature, sudden pacing, and obvious signs of discomfort due to contractions are signs that labor is about to begin.
The whelping timeline depends on how big the litter is and how healthy your dog is. On average, it can take up to 6 hours total for a dog to deliver an entire litter of puppies. The phases of whelping mimic the phases of labor in humans. You can expect a time of contractions as the puppies make their way down the birth canal and the cervix opens. Then, the puppies are born. Finally, in a healthy dog pregnancy, a placenta is typically delivered.
If you see signs of severe discomfort, your dog becomes lethargic and unresponsive or you have any other concerns, call your vet for help.
From Pregnant Pup to Happy Mom: Ensuring Post-Birth Care
The work for pet owners isn’t done once the birth is over. Providing post-birth care for your dog and her puppies after labor is over can help ensure satisfactory outcomes for all.
Begin by monitoring your dog’s appetite and general health following delivery. Complications can occur afterward, including excessive bleeding or birth canal injury. If you suspect something isn’t right, call your vet for guidance and peace of mind.
You can also clean your dog after she gives birth, help her get outside to urinate and ensure she can rest in calm warmth with the new puppies.
Pet parents should also care for nursing puppies. Keep an eye on them to ensure they can latch on and nurse properly. If necessary, help provide colostrum for the newborn puppies. If any of the tiny pups are failing to eat, seem too cold or sluggish or otherwise show signs of illness or injury, contact your veterinarian.
Final Thoughts: Supporting Your Dog’s Pregnancy Journey With Halo Collar 4
Caring for a pregnant dog and looking forward to an adorable litter of puppies can be joyful. However, it’s essential to address a few challenges and take proactive steps to ensure your pup’s safety and well-being throughout the gestation period.
The features of the Halo Collar 4 offer utmost convenience in monitoring your dog’s safety. You can use the wireless fence option to create appropriately sized portions of yard to reduce risks your dog will exhaust herself, and the GPS feature lets you find your dog if she wanders off.
Whether you’re looking forward to new puppies, enjoying life with an older dog or are just entering pet parenthood, explore Halo Collar 4 as a tool for keeping your pet safe and active.
