Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Pay attention to physical changes
• Method 2 of 4: Noticing changes in behavior
• Method 3 of 4: Get an expert diagnosis
• Method 4 of 4: Identifying early signs of pregnancy
• Tips
• Warnings

It can be difficult to tell if your dog is pregnant or not. You often only notice it in the last weeks of the 9-week pregnancy, when the belly has grown considerably. The vet will of course be able to give a definite answer, but you can also keep an eye on directions yourself. Below you can read about the different stages of pregnancy in a dog.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Pay attention to physical changes

1. Watch for color change of the nipples. One of the first signs of pregnancy in a dog is a change in the nipples. They then turn a little more pink, swell a little and appear more prominent. This can occur from 2-3 weeks after fertilization.
2. Be aware of physical changes. A pregnant dog's body does not change until the second half of pregnancy. After 4-5 weeks, the waist starts to thicken and the belly becomes fuller.
3. Do not feed too early. A pregnant dog does not need more food until the last stage of pregnancy (in the last trimester), but many dog ​​owners switch to additional feeding far too quickly. The extra calories will quickly be converted to fat, which is often mistaken for pregnancy. For a layman, it is difficult to determine whether a thicker stomach is caused by fat or by fetuses.
4. Continue to monitor the physical changes. In the last trimester of pregnancy (6-9 weeks), the dog's abdomen will become round and swollen. The nipple glands develop and swell, ready to start producing milk.
5. Look and feel for puppy movement. In the last trimester, you can see the sides of the dog's belly move as the puppies move in the womb. If you place your palm flat on the dog's stomach where you see the movement, you may feel movement.
   • Don't be disappointed if you don't feel anything. The puppies are deep in the stomach and each puppy is surrounded by a bag of liquid, so it is not possible to feel a puppy's outline.

Method 2 of 4: Noticing changes in behavior

1. Don't expect drastic changes. All dogs respond differently to pregnancy. Some dogs calm down and get tired sooner, but a dog who is sick can also be calmer, so that alone is an unreliable sign of pregnancy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, most dogs will not behave very differently.
   • In the last trimester of pregnancy, the dog will get bigger and will have difficulty moving. She will probably want to sleep more.
2. Expect changes in appetite. Towards the end of the pregnancy, the dog's uterus will expand and take up more space in her abdomen. There will be less room for a lot of food, so she will probably want to eat smaller pieces more often.
3. Notice if your dog is going to make a litter. When it is almost time for the delivery, the dog will probably start making a litter. For example, she may start dragging sheets or clothing to a safe place to prepare a suitable, warm environment for the puppies.
   • When dogs start to exhibit this behavior varies from dog to dog, but it is likely to be anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 days before delivery.

Method 3 of 4: Get an expert diagnosis

1. Go to the vet. If you suspect your dog is pregnant, it may be a good idea to see the vet to confirm your suspicion. There are several methods that a vet can use to determine pregnancy.
2. Have your dog physically examined. The vet will examine the dog and focus on the abdomen. From an external examination, the vet can sometimes feel the womb and maybe even a puppy in the womb. However, this is more difficult than it looks as it is difficult to feel the difference between a puppy and feces in the gut.
   • The best time to externally determine a pregnancy is 28-35 days after conception. For this time it is very difficult to feel the difference. After this time, the puppies may be confused with food in the gut.
3. Check for heartbeats. In the final stages of pregnancy (from 6 weeks), the vet can sometimes hear heartbeats by holding a stethoscope to the dog's abdomen. But with a dog this is much more difficult than with a human, because of a dog's coat and because dog bellies are round and not flat.
4. Have a blood test. The best way to test for pregnancy is a blood test. This can be used to demonstrate the presence of the pregnancy hormone relaxin.
   • This hormone cannot be reliably detected until after day 28 of pregnancy. Before then, the outcome may be negative, even though the bitch is indeed pregnant.
   • But on the other hand: a positive result is always correct, even for day 28.
5. Have an ultrasound made. Pregnancy can be demonstrated the earliest by means of an ultrasound. A skilled doctor can recognize puppies with an ultrasound from day 16 of pregnancy.
   • In an obedient dog, the ultrasound can be performed without anesthesia.
   • The doctor will need to shave some fur from dogs with a lot of hair, otherwise proper contact with the skin cannot be made.
6. Ask about an X-ray. The widespread use of ultrasounds reduces the need for X-rays. The main reason for having an X-ray taken is to count how many puppies are in the womb.
   • This information can be helpful as it will tell the owner if all puppies were born safely. The owner will then know when labor will stop and a puppy has not yet been born.

Method 4 of 4: Identifying early signs of pregnancy

1. Be patient. You may not be able to see or notice anything for the first 2-3 weeks (which is one third of the entire pregnancy period). Appetite should remain the same, and dogs don't suffer from morning sickness the way humans do.
2. Watch for changes in mood. Some people find that their bitch is pregnant when she is a little quieter than usual, but this behavior has not been proven. Pregnancy causes changes in the hormones that affect dogs in different ways.
   • Some dogs can become quieter than usual, other dogs become more affectionate, some dogs withdraw and want to be left alone.
3. Watch for other signs of illness. A change in a dog's mood or behavior can indicate pregnancy, but it could also mean that the dog is not feeling well. Pay close attention to symptoms of illness, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, or vaginal discharge.
   • If your dog is mated and does not want to eat for the following days, it probably has nothing to do with the pregnancy. Then take your dog to the vet. This is also the case if you notice a vaginal discharge (not common during pregnancy) or if she is vomiting regularly.

Tips

• Be careful about touching the abdomen, even if you are not sure if your dog is pregnant yet. This could damage the puppies.
• From the last stages of pregnancy (weeks 7-9), make sure you have a safe warm place inside or outside for the puppies, and stay alert for changes in mood and body.

Warnings

• A dog in shedding does not want to be disturbed. Make sure to leave her alone and instruct your family members to do the same. Your dog can bite if you get too close. Keep children and strangers away.
• False pregnancy is common in dogs. A dog may show signs of pregnancy such as swollen nipples and an increased appetite for a few weeks after going into heat, but your dog does not necessarily have to be pregnant. Have it checked by a vet.