How Long Is My Dog Pregnant For?
Does a dog pregnancy last as long as human pregnancy?
No, a dog pregnancy does not last as long as human pregnancy. You may think that a dog’s pregnancy is similar to a human, in fact, many people believe that the gestation period, which is the time it takes for an embryo to develop, is the same in animals as it is in humans. This is not the case, and every animal will have a different gestation period. In this article, we will answer the question of how long a dog is pregnant, as well as other questions you may have about a dog’s pregnancy.
What is a dog’s gestation period?
Female dogs are not actually pregnant for as long as you first may think. A female dog, also called a bitch, has a gestation period that lasts for just over two months, or approximately 62-65 days. Whilst some breeders will know the exact date breeding took place, it can still be tricky to judge the exact due date. This is because the physical act of conception can occur inside of a dog a short time after the date of breeding. The actual length of pregnancy can also vary based on a number of factors.
Some factors that influence pregnancy length include the breed of the dog in question, as well as the number of puppies the mother is carrying. The average number of puppies a mother will have is around five to six, however, this number can be higher or lower. The world record for the most amount of puppies born alive is held by a Neopolitan mastiff named Tia, who birthed 24 puppies in 2009, 15 boys and nine girls.
What are the signs that your dog is pregnant?
If you suspect that your dog might be pregnant even though you did not have a planned mating, which can happen, or if you had a planned mating, you may be wondering how you can check to see if your dog is actually pregnant so that you can get a rough estimate of a due date. After around 30 days of potential pregnancy, your vet will be able to feel some small fluid-filled balls inside of your dog's uterus. This is not a 100% accurate tell-tale sign of pregnancy, however, it is widely accepted as being a good indicator of pregnancy.
For a more accurate result, your vet will want to do an ultrasound examination around 25 days into pregnancy. The ultrasound examination will at this time be able to pick up the heartbeats of the puppies inside of the mother's abdomen. This can also be used to provide an estimate of the size of the litter you can expect. Similarly, a vet will also be able to do an x-ray on your dog's stomach around 50 days into pregnancy. At this point, the bones of the puppies will be dense enough to be picked up during an x-ray. An x-ray later into pregnancy also allows the vet to know the location of the puppies, which is valuable information if your dog has a difficult time during giving whelping (giving birth).
A vet can also do a blood test to check for hormones that are released during pregnancy. However, this is often not the preferred method of testing for pregnancy in a dog as it will not give any indication into the size of the litter, information that owners and breeders will often want to know.
How can I tell if my dog is pregnant?
Even if you did not intentionally try to breed your dog, you may begin to notice some signs of pregnancy yourself before you have spoken to a vet. One of the biggest giveaways that your dog might be pregnant is the physical changes it will go through. Your dog’s nipples will change, and they will begin to put on weight, especially around their stomach. They may also become much hungrier, as they are now eating for their puppies too. Their behaviour can also change, and they may become more irritable than normal, this is due to the hormonal changes going on inside of your dog.
When you know that your dog is pregnant you must then take extra care of them to ensure that she will grow a healthy litter of puppies. For tailored advice, you can speak to your vet. However, there are some more general tips that you can follow to ensure your dog is healthy and its litter is too.
Some general advice that you should follow includes:
Can food affect a dogs pregnancy?
Making sure that your dog is on high-quality complete dog food is a good way to ensure they remain healthy during their pregnancy. As your dog's pregnancy comes towards the end they will require an increase in calories. To do this correctly you should do it gradually and you may wish to consider getting advice from your vet on what food would be best for them.
Can exercise affect a dogs pregnancy?
Just because your dog is pregnant does not mean that they do not need exercise. You should still walk your dog, but pay close attention to how they are behaving. A pregnant dog may not want to exercise much, you should only walk them when they want to. At the end of pregnancy your dog may only want short walks, and you should make sure not to pull them if they do not want to go.
Can Parasite treatments affect a dogs pregnancy?
When your dog is pregnant it is even more important that they are properly protected against issues such as parasites. Your vet will provide you with the advice you need regarding this, however, you may wish to ask them about the best way to protect your pregnant dog and her puppies as some parasite medications are not appropriate for pregnant dogs.
Speak to a vet at PocketVet today for expert, tailored advice.
Google Web Story: How long does a bitch's season last?
Sources
https://pocket.vet/blog/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant/
https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-health/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant/
https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/health-care/dog-neutering-spaying/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant
https://dogtime.com/dog-health/59669-long-dogs-pregnant-happens-pregnancy
https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/health/pregnancy/spotting-the-signs-of-pregnancy https://wildearth.com/blogs/dog-knowledge/how-long-are-dogs-pregnant
