How long are dogs pregnant? A week-by-week guide
Nine weeks is the short answer. A dog's pregnancy lasts about 63 days from ovulation, which is far shorter than most new breeders expect. This VerifiedStuds guide walks through each week, so you know what is normal and when to call the vet.
Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days, counted from the day the female ovulates. Because mating can happen a few days before or after ovulation, the count from a first mating runs from about 58 to 68 days.
Breed and size make little difference. A Chihuahua and a Great Dane carry for about the same time. However, very large litters sometimes arrive a day or two early, and single puppies can run late. For an exact date, use our dog pregnancy calculator.
Week
What is happening
What you may notice
1
Eggs are fertilized and begin to divide
Nothing yet
2
Embryos travel toward the uterus
Nothing yet
3
Embryos implant in the uterine wall
Perhaps a dip in appetite
4
Organs form, and heartbeats begin
Nipples pinken, and a vet can scan
5
Puppies grow fast, and toes and whiskers form
Her waist thickens
6
Skeletons start to harden
A clear belly, and a bigger appetite
7
Coats grow
She may shed belly hair
8
Puppies are nearly complete
Movement, nesting and milk
9
Puppies settle into the birth canal
Restlessness, then labor
Very little shows in the first three weeks. The embryos do not attach to the uterus until about day 17 to 21. Therefore, no test can confirm a pregnancy yet, and she can live as normal.
Even so, treat her as if she is pregnant. Keep exercise moderate, avoid new medicines without asking the vet, and do not give flea or worm products unless they are safe in pregnancy.
Week four is the time to see the vet. An ultrasound from about day 25 shows the puppies and their heartbeats. In addition, a relaxin blood test works from about day 22 to 27. Read more in dog pregnancy tests.
During these weeks her appetite rises and her belly begins to round. Some females also have a short spell of nausea. Meanwhile, the puppies grow quickly, so gentle daily walks are better than hard runs.
In the last third of pregnancy, the puppies gain most of their weight. As a result, most vets advise a gradual move to a puppy or performance food, fed in several small meals. Do not add calcium, because it can raise the risk of eclampsia after birth.
From about day 45, an x-ray can count the puppies. Set up the whelping box by day 55, and start taking her temperature twice a day from day 57. A drop below 100 degrees Fahrenheit usually means labor within 24 hours. Our whelping guide covers the birth itself.
Discharge that is green, bloody or foul-smelling before any puppy has been born.
Loss of appetite for more than a day or two, or repeated vomiting.
Signs of pain, fever or great tiredness at any stage.
No labor by day 68 from the first mating, or 65 days from ovulation.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice. Every pregnancy is different, so follow your own vet's plan.
Good timing makes everything easier. Learn the signs a dog is pregnant, and read about the dog heat cycle before her next season. When you are ready, find a health-tested stud and check typical prices in the stud fee guide. Stud owners can list their stud free.
How many months is a dog pregnant?
About two months. The average is 63 days, or nine weeks, from ovulation.
Can a dog be pregnant for 70 days?
Counted from a mating, pregnancy can seem to last up to 68 days or a little more. However, anything past that needs a vet check.
Do small dogs have shorter pregnancies?
No. Size has little effect. Litter size matters slightly more, since big litters can come a day or two early.
When does a pregnant dog start to show?
Usually around week five or six. Before that, most females look the same as usual.
When should I switch a pregnant dog to puppy food?
In the last third of pregnancy, from about week six. Change over gradually across several days.
Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual, labor, delivery and postpartum care, VCA Animal Hospitals, pregnancy testing in the dog, American Kennel Club, dog pregnancy.
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