So, you’re thinking of breeding your dog. Congratulations! But how do you know if your dog is pregnant? How can you care for your dog throughout their pregnancy?
How long will your dog be pregnant? And what are the different stages of your dog’s pregnancy? What happens in week 1 of a dog’s pregnancy specifically?
Well, in this article, we’re going to explore some of the different stages of a dog’s pregnancy, as well as when they occur and what you can do to care for your dog during these times. So, read on to become a more confident and better-informed owner!
How long will my dog be pregnant?
Did you know that your dog has a much shorter gestational period than humans and even many animals? In fact, your pooch will be pregnant for just a mere 63 days!
Your dog’s gestational period lasts from the day that they first release their eggs up to the day that their cute litter of pups is finally born. Just like humans, your dog will experience three different trimesters, each one usually around just 21 days long.
What are the early signs of my dog being pregnant?
The early signs of a dog’s pregnancy are different than a human’s. They are far more subtle, and there are very few. Morning sickness, for example, doesn’t usually happen with dogs at the start of their pregnancy. Even if it happens at all, morning sickness only occurs during the third or fourth week of a dog’s pregnancy, rather than at the beginning.
The only real main early sign of a dog being pregnant is weight gain. Pregnant dogs can also sometimes seem more tired than usual too. But most dogs are just as playful and active as ever at the start of their pregnancy. Some nipple swelling during early pregnancy is possible, but again, is very unlikely.
What should I do if I think my dog is pregnant?
If your unspayed dog may have mated recently, take them for a prenatal check-up about 2 or 3 weeks after. This gives your vet an opportunity to get a good picture of your pooch’s overall health. They can treat any minor issues and give you advice.
You can also ask your vet any questions you have, like what food you should give them while they’re pregnant. Plus, if your pooch does turn out to be pregnant, the vet can give them their first ultrasound.
If your vet thinks your dog is early in their pregnancy, your vet will give your pooch a blood test to check for a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin is a hormone that dogs produce more of when they’re pregnant.
If your vet thinks your dog is in at least their fourth week of pregnancy, they may skip the blood test and instead opt to palpate your pooch’s belly to confirm pregnancy. Your dog’s belly should only be felt in this way if it is certain that they are between the 28th and 35th days of their pregnancy.
If an untrained person tries to confirm pregnancy in this way, they can easily cause harm to the growing puppies, who are all still just the size of walnuts at this point. So, leave confirming pregnancy to your vet.
So, what happens in week 1 of my dog’s pregnancy?
During this first unique week of your pooch’s pregnancy, your dog’s many eggs have just been fertilized. This means plenty of puppies, of course! Your dog was likely 10-20 days into their heat cycle, or menstrual period (this lasts for 1 and a half to 2 weeks, and happens around every 6 months) when a male dog inseminated them.
Did you know that, since your dog ovulates so many eggs during their heat, it is actually possible for their litter of puppies to have more than one father? So, if the puppies grow up to all look completely different from each other, this could be a factor! Want to see what happens in week 2 of a dog’s pregnancy? Find out here.
How do I get ready for my dog’s new puppies?
So, it’s time to start preparing for the new arrivals. Set up a snug den area that your pooch and their new puppies can have all to themselves. Layer the den with plenty of plush and cozy blankets and pillows. Keeping the furless young puppies warm will be very important. So, consider using a small electric heating pad in your dog’s new den.
There may be some staining and waste in the den when the puppies are born, so make sure that you choose bedding that can be easily and quickly washed.
Your vet will probably have told you most of the things you need to know, like how the puppies will be unable to eat solid food until they are about four weeks old when they can start to eat a mixture of puppy food and milk. Nonetheless, do make sure to stock up on solid food before the pups are born. Ask your vet if they have any recommendations for your litter.
What about when the puppies are born?
Now that the puppies are born, caring for your dogs is going to get a whole lot more busy and hands-on! Your dog will want to be alone with their new puppies, and may not welcome human intrusion. But, do keep an eye on the whole litter and stay in the area.
It is indeed quite important for the puppies to spend as much time as they can with their mother during these early days. Nonetheless, do try to drag your dog away for at least a short walk every now and then so that they can do their business away from the puppies.
It’s important to be vigilant about possible signs of illness, too. If any of the puppies are not nursing, crying excessively, have diarrhoea, are being rejected by your dog, or anything else, get in touch with your vet right away, however minor you feel your concerns are!
Check out every week of a dogs pregnancy below
- What happens in week 1 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 2 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 3 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 4 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 5 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 6 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 7 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 8 of a dog’s pregnancy
- What happens in week 9 of a dog’s pregnancy
