Dog Breeding and the Signs of Pregnancy

Like pregnant women, pregnant dogs deal with body changes, hormone increases and mood fluctuations. These changes can cause a pregnant dog to act strangely compared to her normal behavior. Owners who purposely breed their dogs use these behavioral and physical signals to determine the success of a breeding event. According to Web MD Pets, a normal dog pregnancy averages 63 days from the day of ovulation. Within this time, dog pregnancy signs and symptoms evolve rapidly as the pregnancy progresses.

  1. Early Pregnancy

    • Many dogs do not exhibit noticeable symptoms during the first three weeks of pregnancy. You may notice a lack of energy, a reluctance to play, somewhat anti-social behavior and a reduced appetite. Some pregnant dogs experience morning sickness, and may actually vomit when they eat normal serving sizes of food. Many breeders choose to feed pregnant females frequent, but small, servings of dog food.

    Mid-Pregnancy

    • About 30 days into the pregnancy, the female recovers her appetite and weight gain becomes apparent. Her mood shifts and she seeks out affection from her owner. Some breeders request ultrasounds or blood pregnancy tests from the veterinarian between 20 and 45 days gestation. An increase in the hormone relaxin results in a positive blood test around 30 days gestation.

    Late Pregnancy

    • During the last weeks of pregnancy, the dog's abdomen may bulge outward and downward as the puppies approach full-term size. Movement becomes uncomfortable for the dog, and she may seek out a soft comfortable place to sleep. Slight puppy movements may show on her belly when she sprawls out to cool off or rest. Her breast tissue may swell and she may leak some milk as the birthing time approaches.

    Birthing

    • In the final hours of her pregnancy, a female dog has contractions. She may seem anxious or nervous. She may pace back and forth, get up and down and struggle to find a comfortable position. A fluid sac begins to protrude from her vulva shortly before the birth of the first puppy. Birthing can take several hours, but call your veterinarian for assistance if something seems wrong or unusual.