How Long is a Dog Pregnant with Puppies?

It is fascinating when we see puppies anywhere. Just like humans, dogs have a complex pregnancy cycle with many stages. We must understand this cycle, even if we do not have a dog. It is because dogs are one of the most common animals.

It would be best if you looked out for some signs and signals to understand their situation. It is a sensitive time for everyone involved, and it is best if you know what to do. Even if you do not, you can gauge the situation correctly and ask a medical professional for help. 

What Will Generally Happen Before Your Dog Gets Pregnant?

Before you can see signs of pregnancy in your dog, there is a significant period of heat that all dogs go through. It is essential you know about this period and the kind of changes that they will go through.

It may be difficult for them because these changes are temporary and erratic. Here are some things you need to know before you start looking for signs of pregnancy in your dog: 

• Going in the heat: Dogs go in heat almost every six to eight months. This period can last up to three weeks. It generally varies for every dog. You will notice that your dog’s behavior slightly changes during this period.
• Physical symptoms: You will notice that the vulva is swollen, and your dog excessively licks. It could also be dismissed as their reaction to the summers or the weather in general. There may also be some discharge with a bit of blood in it. It is one of the most definitive signs that your dog is in heat.
• Behavioral changes: Your dog will become excessively clingy and could also be more aggressive towards other male dogs.

As soon as their heat is over, these symptoms will go away, and if you do not see any discharge at the end of this period, it indicates that there has been no sexual activity.

How To Know When Your Dog Is Pregnant Without a Vet?

While you can always take your dog to the vet to understand if they are ill or expecting, dog pregnancy symptoms can easily be detected at home if you know what to look for. You will ultimately have to take them to the vet.

However, you should also know these symptoms for dog pregnancies to at least understand what is happening with them. It is important so that you can get them the proper medical attention. Here are some changes you will notice when your dog is pregnant:

Sudden Change in Appetite

Since the gestation period is so short in dogs (as compared to humans), they will go through these changes rather quickly. She would eat less than she usually does and even vomits occasionally. It is their morning sickness. However, this is variable in every dog. Many start to eat quite a bit because it takes a significant toll on their bodies, and they need that fuel. There is also a considerable shift in the kind of hormones that are being produced in the body.

Decreased Energy

No matter what changes occur in their diet; your dog will need a lot of rest. They will not be their usual energetic self; however, if you are used to seeing your dog lounge about and keep to themselves usually. It may be difficult for you to notice this change in them. The only way to detect this change is by seeing if they get tired too quickly on their daily walks.

Clingy Behavior

They may seek your comfort more than usual. Dog wants to feel safe in their place, and you must ensure they avoid clingy behavior. It would be best if you gave them a lot of comfort and attention during this time. It is best if you give them a warm place to lay in. A heating pad, covered with a cloth, is the best solution.

Gained Weight

This change will only occur in the latter half of the pregnancy. It is obvious when your dog has so many puppies growing in them, but it is also because of the changes in their hormones. It may cause a lot of weight gain, slowing them down. They will not be able to move up and down stairs after a certain point. It is best if you transfer them to one area in the house and move all their things to that corner so that it is not difficult for them to move. The abdomen will get enlarged in the last leg of the pregnancy. It means that they are getting ready to give birth.

Nesting Tendencies

You will see your dog digging a hole in the ground when they are ready to give birth. They will start searching the floor if you do not have an open environment. If they are generally on their bed, they will begin shredding the bed or at least try to. It means go time. They will give birth in a few hours.

These are some symptoms that they feel during their gestation period. There can be complications and problems as well. There needs to be a safe and comfortable environment for them throughout the period. You always have your vet whenever you have doubts or a problem.

What To Do When Your Dog Is Pregnant for The First Time?

It is likely that when you see sudden changes in your dog, physically or otherwise, you will panic. It is because you may not always know what signs to look for.

Even if you see changes, you may not always pin them to pregnancy. Here are some things you can do when your dog is pregnant for the first time:

Don’t lose temper

This advice is for the owner alone; whether or not you wanted that pregnancy is irrelevant because it has now happened. Your dog will go through changes that you have not seen before. It is why you cannot panic. If you have doubts, you need to consult with a vet who can give you medically sound advice. Only you can provide them with the comfort they seek.

Consult their Vet

You need to get a medical test done to confirm the pregnancy from their vet. It is essential to do so urgently because of how short their gestation period is. If this is the first your dog will have puppies and your first time dealing with a dog’s pregnancy, you need all the help you can get. You can even ask people around you who have dealt with this situation. It will ease your mind, and you will know how to act when. There are many things that they will advise you to take care of. You may have to give your dog some medications. It is already a difficult task with dogs, and it is bound to get more complex when they are pregnant.

Get an Ultrasound

The vet will conduct an abdominal ultrasound on your very first visit to the vet. This test will only be able to determine pregnancy in your dog if it is at least three weeks old. However, this test will not be able to tell you how many puppies your dog is going to have as that is quite difficult to read at times. To determine other factors about her pregnancy, there are several different tests that you will have to take. These will be advised to you by your vet. You must only follow the advice of the vet, who already knows your dog’s medical history. Many tests will be done to conduct the dog’s hormone levels to ensure that everything is fine with her and not just the puppies. 

An Experienced vet is Always Best

While there are a lot of tests that your vet will conduct, many physical examinations will also be shown. You want the most experienced vet to ensure the puppies are growing correctly. It can only happen well when the vet has experienced it.

Last Stages of your Dog’s Pregnancy

On the 45th day, you will be able to get an x-ray of your dog’s abdomen which will tell the doctor about the bone structure of the puppies and how well they have developed. However, for high-risk breeds, the pregnancy can last longer. However, your vet will already break down the stages of your dog’s pregnancy for you.

How Long Is a Dog’s Pregnancy Before She Gives Birth?

The gestation period or the pregnancy in dogs lasts up to 57 to 67 days, with the average being around 63 to 65 days.

What Should you do Before your Dog Gives Birth?

It is scary when you don’t know how to take care of your little dog and try your best to comfort them. You can do a few things to make them feel more comfortable and relaxed.”

Try to Isolate Her

As soon as you find out that your dog is pregnant, you must ensure that she does not mate with any other dog. Many people isolate their dogs in a comfortable spot in the house. It is important because it is not essential that the dog’s heat would pass after she is pregnant. It is more difficult for them to be pregnant during their heat because their hormones are still pretty high. It will become more difficult for them to exert energy as their pregnancy progresses.

Increase Her Diet

You do not immediately have to increase their diet in any way. Only when the vet examines the dog will you know what all she needs. The usual advice is to give them a highly nutritional diet and an increase in omega- 3 fatty acids. It will give them strength during their pregnancy and help them produce milk when the time comes. Their diet should increase towards the last leg of their pregnancy because that is when they need it. If any other supplements are required, they can only be issued by your vet.

Understand Her Changed Routine

As explained in so much detail above, your dog will undergo many changes. Every day might be a challenge. However, they will mostly want to be in a cozy corner. This period is difficult for them because they cannot always express what they need. They need to get in some walks, but you cannot force it. It would be best if you stopped when they do.

Keep a Constant Check

More than changes in her behavior, you need to check your dog for vaginal discharge. There will be some of it, especially towards the end of the pregnancy. However, if there are a lot of releases, you need to inform your vet immediately. Your vet will tell you the warning signs you need to look for.

You will have a lot of doubts and anxieties during this period, and it is okay to have them. You need to ensure that you are consulting with a good doctor and only take their advice. It is easy to be swayed by what you read on the internet and what others around you might be saying. However, it would be best to listen to your vet because every medical advice does not suit everyone. Just like it is valid for humans, it is also true for your dogs.

What Are Some Dog Pregnancy Symptoms Analyzed Week by Week?

Here is what you need to look for in your dog’s pregnancy with a week-by-week analysis:

• Week 1: Breeding only occurs once the dog is in heat, and pregnancy is only successful in most cases when the mating takes place between 10- 20 days into the heat cycle. Since ovulation can happen in several eggs at once, there may be a possibility that more than one dog is the father of the same litter. Breeders are conscientious about ensuring that there is no chance for pure-bred or mixed-bred dogs to have this occur in any of their litters.
• Week 2 and 3: The embryo will start to grow, where you will begin seeing behavior changes in your dog. She may become aggressive towards other dogs, which may not have been the case with them earlier. They will also experience a difference in their appetite and energy levels because this is where the hormone production has also begun. 
• Week 4: The vet will be able to feel the embryos growing. It is also when they start to conduct physical examinations on the dog herself. You must go to an experienced doctor to conduct these examinations. While the growth needs to be adequately monitored, it can hurt the puppies or dogs if not done right. The development of the puppies is most noticeable this week. 
• Week 5: This is when the second stage of her pregnancy will begin. This is when the embryos will develop into fetuses. It will make the mother’s weight grow significantly because the organs of the puppies will now grow too. Instead of eating a larger meal, giving them smaller meals throughout the day is better. It is more likely to maintain their energy levels.
• Week 6: Mobility will become difficult for your dog now because the coats and fur of the fetuses will now develop. This will make the dog’s belly will become larger and more rigid. It is variable for every pregnancy, depending on how many puppies you have in one litter. However, it is true in most cases.
• Week 7: While a noticeable change in the color of nipples is a definite sign of pregnancy in your dog, it is also a sign of the final stages of your dog’s pregnancy. The breasts will increase in size and be tender too. This is also the perfect time to give your dog a heating pad because of how sensitive her body must be in this stage. Her breasts may also start to secrete the first signs of her milk. It may look like a cloudy secretion, so there is nothing to worry about.
• Week 8: You will need to give your dog warmer space now because the puppies will start moving towards the birthing canal. The mother will feel insecure and want to protect her puppies. You will also see the puppies inside her belly now- almost like an outline in her stomach.
• Week 9: You will have to start monitoring your dog’s temperature this week. A significant rise in the temperature will mean that she is ready to give birth. It will only be a few hours before she can start the process. She needs a burrow sort- of environment. It is best if you give her that space, or she will keep scratching any surface she can find on the floor.

These are some general changes that occur in a dog in all the weeks she is pregnant. There will be exceptions, but this is the general trajectory followed. 

How Can You Prepare Your Home to Welcome Newborn Puppies?

You have to start by giving your dog a rubber tub or even a basket laundry basket. Ensure that the basket you give them needs is a little deep because of their nesting tendencies during this period. It would be best if you also used a lot of blankets and heating pads. A lot of clean towels and rubber gloves will help you as well.

You will also need to buy a lot of puppy food, which you can start giving to the mother, just a small portion, in the last leg of her pregnancy.

Conclusion

All the essential information you need to know for your dog’s pregnancy. You need to look out for all the signs and how you can start taking care of them. When you have all this information, you will be able to act faster than not, precisely what your dog needs from you- to be understanding and be there for them.