Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

Female dogs typically go into heat about twice a year. If she is bred during one of these heat cycles she can become pregnant. There are no hormone tests for dog pregnancy so you will have to rely on pregnancy symptoms in the early stages. If you suspect your dog is pregnant, feed her quality food, exercise her regularly and take her for regular vet checkups.

  1. Time Frame

    • Normal gestation in dogs generally lasts between 58 to 68 days with the average at 63 days.

    Types

    • Early signs of dog pregnancy include a decreased appetite, clear vaginal discharge, enlargement of nipples, tiredness and behavioral changes.

    Types

    • Symptoms of a progressing dog pregnancy are weight gain and a firmness to the belly, as well as an increasing appetite.

    Types

    • Your veterinarian can palpate the uterus around day 28 to determine dog pregnancy. Do not try to palpate the uterus yourself as you may damage the pups. An ultrasound will reveal a dog pregnancy as well.

    Types

    • Late symptoms of pregnancy include a noticeably larger belly, puppy movement and the production of milk and colostrum.

    Types

    • When going into labor, your dog may become restless. She may prepare her whelping area and her temperature will drop down to 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Considerations

    • Other conditions with symptoms that are similar to pregnancy are false pregnancy, mastitis, mammary gland cancer and an infection of the uterus.