Previously, we discussed what would happen during week 1 of your dog’s pregnancy. We discussed the different trimesters, as well as some of the potential signs of early pregnancy. Well, now we’re moving on to taking a look at what happens in week 2 of a dog’s pregnancy.
During this more active and tiring stage of your dog’s pregnancy, what kind of behavior can you now expect from your pregnant dog?
How will your pregnant dog’s body change at 2 weeks? And, what sort of things should you be on the lookout for? In this series of articles, we take a look at what will happen during every week of your dog’s pregnancy, from week 1 right up to week 9.
How can you tell if a dog is pregnant at 2 weeks?
2 weeks is still quite an early time in your dog’s 63-day pregnancy. Sure, your dog is now likely quite big. But your dog’s pregnancy is unlikely to affect their life or behavior at just 2 weeks in.
A dog who is 2 weeks pregnant may seem a little tired, and sometimes eats less food than usual. They may develop morning sickness at this point too, though this is unusual so early. If your dog begins to throw up, it’s a good idea to start giving them smaller meals more frequently over the course of the day.
At this point, it’s a good idea to take your pooch for their first prenatal check-up at the vets. Your vet can give you advice on what to feed your dog while pregnant, as well as how best to prepare for the puppies, and can treat and identify minor health concerns too.
What do dogs’ nipples look like in early pregnancy?
Yes, one of the early signs of a dog’s pregnancy is changes to the way their nipples look. At 2 weeks, your dog’s nipples may begin to grow in size, with a darker hue than normal, due to the increased blood flow. Though your dog’s nipples can start to look pretty unusual, there should be no discharge or unusual odor, so flag these signs with your vet if they occur.
Do pregnant dogs have discharge?
Later on in your dog’s pregnancy, when they are ready to go into labor, you may notice a dark green discharge from your dog’s privates. This indicates that your dog’s placenta has detached. During these last weeks, your dog’s nipples may begin to leak milk now and then, too.
However, discharge as early as just 2 weeks into your dog’s pregnancy is not normal, and is a reason to get in contact with your vet.
Exploring the Different Stages of Dog Pregnancy
As we mentioned upon in our previous article, your dog will be pregnant for approximately 63 days. For the first two weeks of your dog’s pregnancy, the puppy embryos spend time moving to the uterine horns, where they implant into your pooch’s uterine lining.
The puppy fetuses then begin to take shape by the 22nd day. Then, if you go to the vet at around day 30, you and your dog will be able to hear the puppies’ newly-formed hearts beating.
By the second month, development moves more quickly – the puppies will have developed their eyelids by 32 days, followed by toes at day 35. Then, on the 40th to 45th day, the puppies’ coat, claws, and skeleton will form!
Finally, on day 50, you’ll know for sure how many puppies are in the litter if you take your dog an x-ray. Your dog will then instinctively begin to look for a place to give birth around 58 days. Then, at 61 or 62 days, look out for a drop in your dogs body temperature and restless behaviour like digging, panting, or pacing!
How long are dogs pregnant in weeks?
So, your dog will be pregnant for around 63 days of rapid growth and countless changes. This equates to about two whole months of new things happening to your dog and exciting preparation for you. In weeks, this means your dog will generally be pregnant for about 9 to 10 weeks maximum.
7 ways of assessing the Success of Dog Mating
7 ways of assessing the Success of Dog Mating
1. Observation: Observe the mating process and look for signs of successful mating such as courtship behaviour, mounting, and thrusting.
2. Ultrasound: Ultrasound can be used to detect puppies in the womb and can give an indication of successful mating.
3. DNA Testing: Take a sample of the male and female dogs’ DNA and compare it to the puppies’ DNA to determine if they are related.
4. Blood Test: Testing the female’s hormones can show if she is pregnant and give an indication of successful mating.
5. Progesterone Test: Measure the progesterone levels in the female’s blood to determine if she is pregnant.
6. Artificial Insemination: Artificial insemination is a way of assessing the success of dog mating as the sperm can be tested and the puppies can be tracked to the exact sire.
7. Breeding Records: Keeping accurate records of the mating process can help assess the success of mating by tracking the female’s cycle and her behaviour before and after mating.
Find 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
