Every dog pregnancy test compared, with timing and cost
There are four ways for a vet to tell whether a female is carrying puppies, and each one works at a different stage. Choosing the right one saves money and worry. This VerifiedStuds guide compares them side by side.
Test
Earliest reliable day
Best for
Relaxin blood test
About day 22 to 27
A simple yes or no
Ultrasound
About day 25 to 35
Confirming live puppies
Palpation
About day 28 to 35
A quick, low-cost check
X-ray
Day 45 onward
Counting puppies before birth
Days are counted from the breeding, or better, from ovulation. If you do not know the date, start with the dog pregnancy calculator.
Relaxin is a hormone made by the placenta. Therefore, it appears only in a pregnant female, and it is the basis of the blood test most clinics use. The vet takes a small blood sample, and many clinics give the result in minutes.
The catch is timing. Tested before about day 22, a pregnant female can show a false negative, because the hormone has not yet built up. Small litters can also read low. So if the first test is negative, most vets repeat it a week later before ruling pregnancy out.
An ultrasound scan is the most useful single test. From about day 25, it shows the fluid-filled sacs, and soon afterwards the heartbeats. As a result, it confirms not only that she is pregnant but that the puppies are alive.
However, ultrasound is poor at counting. Puppies overlap on the screen, and it is easy to miss one or count one twice. Use the number as a rough guide only.
Between about day 28 and day 35, an experienced vet can feel the puppies through the belly wall. At that stage, each one feels like a small, firm swelling. After day 35 the swellings merge, and the method stops working.
Palpation costs little, but it depends heavily on skill and on the dog. For example, tense, heavy or deep-chested females are hard to examine. Never try it yourself, because rough handling can harm the puppies.
Puppy skeletons begin to show on an x-ray from about day 45. The picture is clearest after day 55, when the skulls and spines can be counted one by one. For that reason, a late x-ray is the best way to learn how many puppies to expect.
That number matters during the birth. If you know there are seven puppies and only six have arrived, you know to call the vet. Our whelping guide explains the warning signs.
Prices vary widely by region and clinic. As rough estimates, a relaxin test or palpation during an office visit often costs under $100. An ultrasound commonly runs $100 to $300, and x-rays are in a similar range. Ask your own vet for a quote.
Many breeders choose two tests: an ultrasound at about four weeks, then an x-ray in the final week. Together they answer the two big questions, which are whether she is pregnant and how many puppies there are.
Human pregnancy tests do not work on dogs. They detect a hormone called hCG, which dogs do not make. Likewise, there is no reliable urine test for dogs. A few relaxin kits are sold to breeders, but they need a blood sample that must be separated first, so most owners leave it to the clinic.
Meanwhile, watch for the signs a dog is pregnant and follow her progress with how long dogs are pregnant, week by week. Planning the next litter? Then find a health-tested stud and compare prices in the stud fee guide. Stud owners can list their stud free.
How early can a dog pregnancy test work?
A relaxin blood test works from about day 22 to 27 after breeding. An ultrasound works from about day 25.
Can a dog pregnancy test be wrong?
Yes. A relaxin test taken too early, or in a female with a very small litter, can give a false negative. Therefore, vets often retest a week later.
Is ultrasound or x-ray better for dogs?
They answer different questions. Ultrasound confirms live puppies early, while a late x-ray counts them.
Is an x-ray safe for a pregnant dog?
Vets consider a single late-pregnancy x-ray low risk, and the information it gives is valuable for a safe birth.
Is there a home pregnancy test for dogs?
Not a simple one. Human tests do not work, and dog relaxin kits need a prepared blood sample.
Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals, pregnancy testing in the dog, American Kennel Club, dog pregnancy, Merck Veterinary Manual, pregnancy determination. This page is general information, not veterinary advice.
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