Identifying Signs of Pregnancy in Female Dogs

The bitch is not easy to detect pregnant. The first visible signs of pregnancy aren’t seen until about one month after fertilization. If you know your bitch’s mating date, however, you can calculate the amount of pregnancy she should have and ask a veterinarian to check it. Here you can learn about the signs, progress, and duration.

It is only in the third trimester of a bitch’s pregnancy that it becomes obvious from the outside. When the pups grow, the dog’s stomach becomes round like a ball. Your vet can tell you if your dog’s female is pregnant.

How long is a bitch pregnant?

In essence, bitches are only able to become pregnant in the second phase of heat due to ovulation. Pregnancy lasts between 61 to 65 days.

The period can be reduced if the bitch is inseminated following ovulation. The birth may occur after only 54 days in this case.

The duration of the pregnancy can be extended if the bitch is not mated until after ovulation. The sperm of the male can stay in the fallopian tubes of the bitch for up to six days following mating, and await ovulation. It can take 72 days for the pups to be born after mating.

Early pregnancy detection: tests at the vet

Your veterinarian can detect pregnancy by performing a test on your bitch no earlier than 21-days after conception. This “pregnancy” test is sometimes not reliable until after 25-28 days.

The hormone relaxin is produced by a pregnant bitch and can be detected through the blood. If the level of relaxin is high, this is a sign that the fetus is alive. This blood test is used to differentiate between a true pregnancy and a false pregnancy.

You can have an ultrasound exam at your veterinarian a month or so after the mating date. Although an ultrasound can theoretically be performed as early as the 18th day of pregnancy, it is more reliable to wait until later.

The doctor can then guess the size of the litter, whether the puppies are all alive, and whether the pregnancy is complicated. The number of puppies cannot be known with 100% certainty. The doctor can also confirm his guess by palpation. There may still be some surprises at the birth of a baby because one boy has been overlooked.

When does the stomach grow? Early signs of pregnancy
It’s not possible to tell if a fetus is pregnant from the outside. The situation changes after the 30th day. When the first signs of pregnancy in dogs are visible, they will appear. The first signs of canine pregnancy are:

Around 30 days after conception, a dense, milky-colored discharge will appear from the vagina.
During the third trimester, or after the 40th, you will see your bitch’s appearance change. The teats are visible and will vary in colour.
The dog’s belly will become rounder after the 40th-day mark.
A pregnant mother dog may also experience an increase in appetite.
Pregnant bitches require more nutrition. You should prepare a warm, cozy whelping box to give your bitch a place where she can rest comfortably and quietly during the birth.

Signs that you are expecting a baby

Your bitch is already changing in the third trimester of pregnancy. As the due date nears, signs that the litter is not far away will increase. Sometimes:

The bitch’s temperature will drop to 37-38 degrees Celsius ten to six days prior to the birth. It may even fall to 36.5 before rising again at the time of birth. The mother dog will show nesting behavior. The pregnant bitch may appear restless. She is licking the vulva. Reason: The ligaments of the pelvis are lowering.
Contractions are recognized by greenish discharge from the vaginal area and abdominal clenching.
Keep an eye on the bitch after the 54th pregnancy day. Keep the veterinarian’s phone number handy to quickly reach help in an emergency.

Pregnant, or pregnant-looking? This is the question!

By the way, it’s good to know that just because a bitch displays signs of pregnancy does not mean she is expecting puppies. Hormones can make her believe she’s pregnant. In this situation, it is called a false pregnancies. Our guidebook “Recognizing False Pregnancy in Dogs: Tips” contains more information on this topic.