How To Tell Your Dog Is Pregnant

When a dog is pregnant the hormone called relaxin will reach high levels.

How to tell your dog is pregnant. The ultrasound can detect the presence of growing puppies inside your dog. The heat cycle will stop so you may notice that your dog will have a shorter heat cycle than usual. Weight gain and enlarged abdomen. But around the four week mark your vet may be able to palpate fancy word for using hands to feel her abdomen to try to feel for pups who at that point can range from the size of a grape to a golf ball depending.

If your pet needs any tests your vet will let you know. Between 21 to 25 days into your dog s pregnancy your dog can be tested for elevated levels by your vet and make a pregnancy diagnosis from these results. Later into the pregnancy her nipples may occasionally leak milk as well. If your dog is pregnant or if you are planning on breeding your dog there is so much information that you need to know from the signs of pregnancy in dogs to caring for your pregnant bitch.

If the dog gets fertilized by an adult male during her heat cycle she will get pregnant. Your vet can answer any questions you may have such as the type of food pregnant dogs should eat and what changes you should expect. Neither you nor your dog will be able to tell that she s pregnant at first. This can be one of the clearest indicators of a dog s pregnancy especially if your dog has no other reason for sudden weight gain.

As the puppies grow your dog s abdomen will expand in size. If you suspect your dog is pregnant make a veterinary appointment. It s a good idea to take her for a prenatal checkup 2 or 3 weeks after she has mated. Early signs that a dog may be pregnant include enlarged and reddened nipples in readiness for milk production vomiting and appetite loss if the dog has morning sickness not all dogs experience this and.

On average a dog is pregnant for 63 days before her puppies are born assures the american kennel club. Beyond about 25 days into the pregnancy your vet can listen to the puppies heartbeats through a stethoscope. At the beginning of the pregnancy during the first 2 to 3 weeks the dog may vomit and be uneasy. Depending upon what stage of pregnancy your dog is in there are many ways that your vet can confirm or deny a pregnancy including a simple physical exam a pregnancy test an ultrasound x ray or an endocrine test that looks for a hormone called relaxin which is generally present at high levels during a dog s pregnancy.

If you think your dog is pregnant take her to your vet.