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By Harriet Meyers Jan 27, 8 Minutes. Jan 27, 8 Minutes. Key Points. How Long Are Dogs Pregnant? Palpation If you know the date your dog was bred, your veterinarian can perform abdominal palpation starting at approximately the day mark.
At this stage in the pregnancy, the puppies feel like little golf balls or grapes depending on the size of the dog. Abdominal palpation should not be attempted without the assistance of a veterinarian, as it could damage the pups. The sacks lose their distinct shape after one month, so the timing of this test is important.
Ultrasound Alternatively, your veterinarian can do an ultrasound between 25 and 35 days of gestation. An ultrasound can usually detect fetal heartbeats, giving you an estimate of the number of puppies the bitch is carrying. Relaxin is only produced during pregnancy, making the test relatively accurate. X-ray X-rays are one of the most effective ways to determine if a bitch is pregnant.
An x-ray at this time allows you to get an accurate count of the number of puppies, which will prepare you to know when your dog is finished delivering. There are signs of dog pregnancy you can watch for, including: Increase in appetite Weight gain Increase in nipple size Swollen belly Tires more easily Nesting behavior More affectionate Irritability In addition, some dogs may vomit and have a decrease in appetite for a few days in the first few weeks due to changes in hormones.
Proper Nutrition One of the most important things you can do for your pregnant bitch is make sure she receives proper nutrition. Visits to the Vet Before you breed your dog, take her to the vet for a prenatal checkup. Regular veterinary visits can help your dog stay healthy during pregnancy.
Possible Dog Labor Complications Sometimes during delivery, things go wrong. More than 2 hours pass in between the delivery of puppies, or your dog experiences strong contractions for an hour without a birth or if the mother seems exhausted. Trembling, collapsing, or shivering are warning signs of serious complications that could put both the bitch and the puppies at risk. Your dog shows no signs of whelping 64 days after her last mating.
Selecting a Puppy How do you know what breed is right for your family? How do you find a reputable breeder? What questions should you ask a breeder?
Download this e-book for guidance on these questions and other important factors to consider when looking for a puppy. After one month, the sacs lose their distinctive shape, and the uterus develops a floppy feel that can be mistaken for fat or a pyometra. An x-ray is a great way for breeders to determine how many puppies to expect from their bitch. Waiting until after day 55 allows veterinarians to give an accurate count of the number of expected puppies and and to determine the best timing for an elective cesarean.
An ultrasound is the best way to find out if a dog is pregnant early on in gestation. Veterinarians recommend ultrasounds between days 25 and 35 of gestation. Ultrasounds not only detect pregnancy, they also determine whether the fetus is alive by registering fetal heartbeats. Ultrasounds can also be used to rule out other causes of uterine distension, like a pyometra, and can help calculate the gestational age of the fetus. The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days from conception, although this can vary by several days.
While this might seem like a straightforward answer, conception is often hard to determine. Sperm can live for several days inside the female, and eggs can remain fertile for up to 48 hours, which means the act of mating itself is not an exact measurement of gestation. This makes it hard to predict the length of pregnancy without the assistance of a veterinarian. Hormone measurements give a much more exact time frame for gestation.
Many breeders use vaginal smears and blood tests to monitor reproductive hormones during the breeding process. This helps them determine the best time to breed their bitch, as well as the length of gestation and the potential due date.
Pregnancy in dogs is relatively short compared to humans, about 9 weeks total, and each day matters. Knowing the length of the gestation period is important for the health of the pregnant bitch and the puppies and is used to monitor nutrition and veterinary care during pregnancy. Dogs pass through the stages of pregnancy quickly. Gestation periods are comparatively short in dogs, which means that the pups develop rapidly inside the womb over a period of two-to-three months.
During the first month, the embryos travel to the uterine horns, usually around day 7, and the embryos are embedded in the uterine lining around day The fetus begins to take shape by day 22, and by day 28 or 30 a veterinarian should be able to detect fetal heartbeats on an ultrasound.
Many dogs do not show any symptoms during the first three weeks of their pregnancy. Some symptoms to watch for during the first month are:.
Fetal development moves quickly during the second month. Eyelids form by day 32 and toes are visible by day The claws form by day 40, and the coat and skeleton follow a few days later day By day 50, an x-ray will reveal the number of puppies in the litter, and the bitch will start looking for a place to nest at day The bitch is ready to whelp by the start of the third month.
Once the gestation period is over, labor begins. There are three stages of labor. The first lasts to hours and is often not outwardly noticeable. Contractions in the muscular wall of the uterus increase throughout stage one, both in strength and frequency, but no visible contractions are evident. Instead, look out for the following symptoms of labor in dogs:. Puppies are delivered during stage two. To help with the serious problem of overpopulation, talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your dog.
This is the only birth control for dogs. The cost of an unwanted pregnancy can be very high. Giving a litter of up to 14 puppies proper veterinary care adds up quickly, and emergency cesarean sections can cost thousands of dollars. In general, small breed dogs should be spayed at a younger age, while large and giant breed dog spays may be delayed until they are a bit older. Small breed dogs tend to go into heat sooner than large and giant breeds, and there is recent evidence that allowing some large breed dogs to become skeletally mature before spaying or neutering may reduce the risk of joint problems later in life.
Because there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation of when to spay or neuter your dog, ask your veterinarian for their specific recommendation. Most dogs are spayed or neutered around 4 to 6 months of age. It is also important to consider the risk of pyometra infection in the uterus , which is a life-threatening condition that can happen in intact not spayed dogs. The best way to prevent this serious and expensive medical condition is to have your dog spayed.
Spaying before the first heat cycle which can occur as early as 6 months of age can also reduce the risk of mammary cancer in your dog.
Although you may want to pet and hold the puppies constantly, it is important not to intervene too much in the first week or two of their lives, as they are very susceptible to disease, and it can be stressful to mom and babies.
Use caution when approaching the puppies, as some mothers may show aggression to humans or other household pets if they perceive a threat. As the puppies get older and more rambunctious, your dog will want more and more time to get away and sleep, exercise, or socialize with members of the household. Give your dog space to get away from the puppies, but make sure that she is returning often to check on them.
Puppies are unable to regulate their own body temperature until they are 3 to 4 weeks old. For the first four weeks of their lives, you should provide a warm, clean box or bedding for the mother and puppies to share. Use a heating pad below the whelping box, or a heating lamp above it to keep the puppies warm. Ensure that there are unheated areas as well, as the puppies will need to be able to move away from the heat source if they become too warm.
At this point, if the mother dog will allow it, you can get the puppies used to your presence. Socializing them at an early age can help ensure that they fit well into a household. If you notice that one of your puppies is smaller or has less energy than the others, consult your veterinarian.
Puppies should not be taken away from their mother and sent to their new homes too quickly, as they learn very important social rules and behavior from their mother and siblings. Puppies should not be separated from their mother if they are younger than 8 weeks old. Wait until they are 10 weeks old so they will have had the maximum benefit of social interaction with their mother and littermates.
Once the puppies are 3 to 4 weeks old, you can begin the weaning process by giving them access to puppy food. You can mix dry kibble with water or canned puppy food to make it easier for them to eat. They should still have constant access to the mother, as she will continue to nurse them.
Over the next few weeks, they will rely more and more on puppy food rather than nursing. Most dogs will wean their puppies by 5 to 6 weeks of age. Contact your veterinarian to ask for their recommendation regarding when the puppies should first be examined. They may want to see them right away to evaluate for cleft palates, umbilical hernias, and other health concerns, or they may advise you to wait until they are a bit older.
Many veterinarians recommend deworming at regular intervals starting at 2 to 4 weeks of age, and vaccinating at 6 weeks of age. Home Diseases A-Z. Published: July 09, Here are some important considerations to keep your dog and her puppies healthy and happy. Is There a Pregnancy Test for Dogs? What to Feed Pregnant Dogs Pregnant dogs should be transitioned to a higher-calorie diet at four weeks of gestation about a month into their pregnancy.
Health Considerations for Pregnant Dogs It is recommended that you have a fresh stool sample checked by your veterinarian, as intestinal parasites can be spread to the puppies both in utero in the womb and during nursing. First Stage of Dog Labor: Start of Contractions The first stage is defined as cervix relaxation and the start of intermittent contractions.
Second Stage of Dog Labor: Stronger Contractions and Birth The second stage of labor begins with stronger, more frequent uterine contractions that eventually lead to the birth of a puppy. The average litter size varies widely depending on the breed. Small breed dogs typically have one to five puppies. Issues to Watch for After Your Dog Gives Birth Here are some things to expect and what to watch for following the birth of the puppies.
Vaginal Discharge The vaginal discharge may last in small amounts for up to eight weeks after the puppies are born. Fever It is normal for mother dogs to have a fever greater than Metritis Inflamed Uterus Metritis, or inflammation of the uterus , can occur when the placenta is retained or some form of trauma occurred during delivery.
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