Dog Pregnancy: How Long Dogs Are Pregnant and What to Expect

Signs Your Dog Is Pregnant

There are few reliable signs in the first month. Later, her belly and mammary glands enlarge and her appetite increases.^5,3 Because many unspayed females show the same signs during a false pregnancy, a vet check is the only way to be sure.^10,7

• Ultrasound: most reliable from about day 25 to 35, and shows heartbeats.^4,3
• Blood test: a hormone test that can turn positive after about day 22 to 27 and is reliable by about day 30 to 35.^4,5
• X-ray: puppies' skeletons show from about day 45, and an X-ray after day 55 is the best way to count them.^4,5

Caring for a Pregnant Dog

• Food: don't change her diet until pregnancy is confirmed. Later in pregnancy, gradually increase her food by 35% to 50%, using an energy-dense food such as puppy food, in smaller, more frequent meals.³
• Supplements: don't give calcium or extra dairy unless your vet advises it.⁸
• Whelping box: set one up a few weeks before her due date in a quiet, draft-free spot, and encourage her to rest in it.³
• Temperature: in the last week, take her rectal temperature at least once a day, ideally 2 or 3 times. A drop to about 99°F, or a fall of about 2°F, usually means labor is within 24 hours.^3,1,13

Signs of Labor and What to Expect

As labor nears, dogs often nest and shred bedding, become restless, pant, refuse food and may have a clear discharge.^1,5

• Stage 1 (usually 6 to 24 hours): restlessness, panting, nesting and sometimes vomiting, without visible straining.^1,3
• Stage 2: strong contractions and delivery. A puppy should arrive within about 1 hour of strong straining, and puppies usually come less than 1 to 2 hours apart.^3,1,5
• Stage 3: each puppy is followed by its placenta. Count them, and tell your vet if there are fewer placentas than puppies.^5,3

Breeds with flat faces or large heads, such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Boston Terriers, have a much higher risk of labor problems, so talk to your vet about a birth plan well before her due date.⁶

After the Birth

• Let the mother clean and nurse her puppies. Step in only to clear a puppy's face if she doesn't open the sac quickly.³
• Handling the puppies briefly with clean hands to check and weigh them is fine. Otherwise let her care for them.^14,15,16
• Keep the puppies warm, because they can't control their own body temperature until about 4 weeks old. Keep the whelping area at about 80 to 90°F at first, and call your vet if a puppy feels cold, as most puppy deaths happen in the first week.^16,17
• Weigh puppies daily for the first 2 weeks. Healthy puppies gain about 5% to 10% of their body weight a day and double their birth weight by about 7 to 12 days.^3,16,17
• A reddish-brown discharge is normal for about 3 weeks and can last up to 8 weeks. A bad smell or a pus-like discharge needs a vet.^1,7

See also dog in heat and reproductive health in dogs.

False Pregnancy

Many unspayed females show nesting, mammary swelling, milk and mothering of toys 4 to 9 weeks after a heat, even when they aren't pregnant. Signs usually pass in 2 to 3 weeks. Don't massage or milk the teats, which makes them produce more milk.^10,7

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are dogs pregnant?

About 63 days, or 9 weeks, from ovulation. From a mating date, it can be anywhere from 57 to 72 days.

How can I tell if my dog is pregnant?

Ask your vet for an ultrasound from about 25 days after mating.

How do dogs act when labor is near?

They often nest, pant, pace, refuse food and seek a quiet place. Their temperature drops to about 99°F within a day of birth.

Can I touch newborn puppies?

Brief, gentle handling with clean hands is fine. Let the mother lead, and keep the litter warm and quiet.

How many puppies will my dog have?

An X-ray after about day 55 is the most accurate way to count them.