The Top 10 signs your dog might be pregnant

How do you know if your dog is pregnant?

Being able to tell if your dog is pregnant can be tricky in the early stages. An unaltered female dog will come in heat about every 6 months, at which time she ovulates and is able and anxious to conceive. A dog’s normal gestation is roughly 63 days, with only a day or so variation from that time frame.

As many dogs become pregnant by accident it is often difficult to determine when to start counting those days but if you know when her heat cycle started you can narrow it down to about 10 days into that cycle as a rough guide. Even if you are intentionally trying to breed her, it is often hard to tell which breeding was the one where she actually conceived.

A female dog who is pregnant may exhibit signs such as these:

1. Increased appetite

2. Decreased appetite

3. Engorged mammary glands

4. Milk production

5. Change in Normal behavior

6. Increased sleeping

7. Nesting behaviors

8. Vaginal discharge

9. Firm abdomen

10. More frequent need to urinate

About False Pregnancy

Many of these signs may be present if a dog goes through a “false pregnancy” following a heat cycle so it is always a good idea to have a veterinarian confirm the pregnancy. Ultrasound, palpation, and other simple tests can be performed to confirm a pregnancy as well as how many new mouths to feed you can expect. X-ray is the best way to determine how many puppies are on board…the little skulls and backbones show up best and you can do a physical inventory in the image.

Diet, Appetite and Stress

During her pregnancy and while she is nursing, your dog will require a special diet to help her with proper nutrition for the growing family. Usually a high quality puppy food and perhaps a vitamin supplement will be the best approach to increasing the quality of her nutritional needs.
Watch for signs of stress toward the end of the pregnancy. Her appetite will often decrease dramatically when she is due to whelp. She will usually be focused about nesting. Such behaviors as digging and re-arranging her bedding will usually increase. Her temperature will usually drop a couple of degrees just before she goes into labor.

What Else to Watch For

It is important to watch her closely during these last few days. If she acts as though she is in discomfort but does not seem to be progressing into labor, or if she starts to deliver and goes more than two hours between puppies then she is probably in trouble and requires immediate veterinary intervention. This is one of the best reasons to know how many puppies to expect…that way you know when she’s done. She will get toxic if a puppy remains undelivered.

About The Author
Laura Anderson is a veterinary technician with a 15 year history as a veterinary office manager and emergency technician. She founded Puppys-place.com to help new puppy owners find a compatible lifestyle with their new friends.
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