Pregnant Dog – Signs and Symptoms
If your dog has not been spayed, then even if you are not intending to breed her, sometimes breeding can take place without you realising, so it is important that you know the various dog pregnancy symptoms.
Female dogs, known as bitches, can only become pregnant when they are going through their heat cycle, which normally last about 60 days so you should take extra care to keep her confined during this time, and separate her from any male dogs you also own. However it is impossible to watch over dogs in heat every moment of the day so keep an eye out for some of the following signs, which can indicate if conception has taken place.
- Decreased appetite and activity – these are early signs that your bitch may be pregnant, as the pregnancy hormones initially suppress appetite and energy levels.
- Nipple growth – any changes in your bitches nipples, (which should normally feel fairly flat), are another early sign of conception, and as the pregnancy develops the breasts will increase slightly in preparation for suckling.
- Behavioural changes – pregnant bitches can often display different behavioural patterns, either becoming more affectionate or else withdrawing from attention and spending more time alone.
- Weight gain – as the pregnancy progresses appetitive will increase and you will see some noticeable weight gain, especially around the abdomen. This will become very obvious in the later stages of the pregnancy if your bitch is carrying an average sized litter (especially in the smaller breeds), but if she is only carrying one or two pups then it might not be so noticeable.
- Puppy movement – also in the later stages of the pregnancy you will be able to see and feel the puppies moving around as they get into a birthing position.
- Milk production – this will begin in the later stages and often leak a little from the nipples as the delivery date gets nearer.
If your bitch is pregnant then she may also display some obvious signs that the birth is imminent, such as nesting where she will prepare the area she has chosen to delivery by tearing or scrunching up paper and blankets, and also a general restlessness. A more scientific method is that her temperature will drop down from 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit to around 97-99 degrees. You should start taking your bitches temperature after the 58th day of gestation, to ensure you have an accurate idea of her normal temperature so that you can judge when this has dropped for the birth. 
Female dogs are NOT in heat for 60 days, they’re in heat for 21 days. Pregnancy lasts for about 60 days.
Good site, I got this site while searching for an article about Pets. keep posting
Spaying animals in order to control the animal population. There are a growing number of unwanted animals and many go hungry every year and are eventually euthanized by animal control. In addition to population control, there are many very good reasons to neuter your pet, less cases of testicular tumors, a decrease in roaming in addition to a multitude of other benefits.
nice post.
My bitch is pregnant, and I would like to thank you because this has been very useful. It’s only her 4th week so she hasn’t shown all of the symptoms, but now I know what to expect in the following stages of her pregnancy.
Unlike the other sites, this one has been precise, clear and easy to understand. No excess information.
I like it.
Say I get pregnant and I don’t know about it and I’m still wearing jeans that are tight on me at the moment (My own fault lol) but the question is If I get pregnant and I’m wearing tight jeans can I miscarry? I’m really worried. Help?
what does it mean
when your dog has swolen boob’s
like when she stands up there big and fat :S ?
and she always lay’s with her legs open
im pritty sure she aint been near any male dogs..
but she changed.
she lazy
she sleeps alot
and im just wanting to know
thankyou
–rachi–
my dog is not supposed to be due for a couple of weeks and am sure she is not but she is getting very big and uncomfortable she is panting a lot is this just because she feels rough or different.
At what stage does the bitch go off her food? how soon into the pregnancy?
hello my bitch has 11 days left of pregnancy, and she has started to hide food in her whelping box, i have never come across this before and just wondered why really, she is feeding well twice daily and very big, i just hope she doesnt expect them too early
i would like to inform maria that this is a dog website and if you are pregnant to go the doctors all in your case the vets as you think you are a dog. i just want to say that my dog might be having pups but she doesnt go on websites checking out human pregnancy does she lol
hi my dog might be pregnant. i think the male dog down the road from me might of mated with her. i was watching her but it was too quick. i know the owner he was watching my dog and his. 2 days ago. she has been playing less. resting alot and alone in her bed in the shed. its not like her. i am worried she is pregnant. we want to mate her but with the same breed and she is 1 years old and a month what do you think??
please let me know.
thank you
she was on heat on the 13-14 of december. i was told female dogs go on heat every 6 months
can you help me please.
thank you danna
My dog is leaking milk how long into the pregnancy does that start
my dogs nipples are swollen and her abdomen is definitely bigger
but she also has clear jelly discharge comeing out and im not sure how far she would be
but i think she is definitely prego, plus she is super sweet and lays down alot. Please if anyones dog is going threw this please comment.
Let’s take it easy on Maria, for some reason she may find it easier to get answers from this website, besides I thought we were all bitches lol
hello my bitch was mated 64 days ago up until 10 days ago, she showed all signs of being pregnant, although she has not put much weight on has got milk.. but no sign of any pups ( she is a staffy) she has been nesting and behaving funny this is her 3rd litter..
hi my my dog ruby is a white boxer at the age of 7 and she was also the runt off the litter im worried about her because i dont know what to look for ? whats the last year a bitch can breed ???
Thankyou, so much really worried when she wasn’t eating as much, fingers crossed shes pregnant!!!
hi i mated my dog 2weeks ago,since then she has been sick once and wanted2 know if it could be morning sickness haha also i have noticed a cream coloured discharge is this a sign that she is pregnant xx
my bitch is in season but my other dog has been humping her but hasn’t locked for what i haven’t seen she has stopped bleeding but she is still swollen. she is still ment to be in season is she pregant
my female dog did not get bread while she was in heat. But why are her nipples getting big. And Shes getting fatter. Shes a inside dog and my male cant reach her. And we watched them all day. I really dont think they bread. How can this happen.
is there any insurance companys that cover prenancy in dogs and the dog is not kennel club registerd
Hey my dog is getting fatter and her nipples are big. We mated her to a day 30 days ago. She has some signs like lazy ness and she is more loving but im not sure shes eating but when ever i get food she wants some anybody thinks shes prego tell me please!???
My email is cuddelykoala12@gmail.com
Hi there !
Really nice site, and great articles. Thank you I had a really good time reading all the articles and found many interesting advice.
hey um my bitch has been with a dog since last year and ive noticed she is big around the rib cage area and slightly to the back, her nipples havent changed but her behaviour has slightly do you think she is? the male dog is entire but doesnt seem to have the energy to tie with a bitch as we have tried him.
hi i intended to breed my staff , they got stuck five times , an its been a week an 3 days is there any symptoms that would show now??
We just found out that our dog is pregnant through her mood swings and gain of the weight.l We went to the vet then and she told us.
pet plan is good for pregnant dogs and offers free 4week insurance for puppies after birth
Hi… My dog is a staffie, we think she is pregnant but she has always has big saggy nipples, we dont think she has had a litter before as she was 5 months old when we got her and was too young… ANY advise on wether they will get any bigger? She has really gone off her food and has become more loving. And help, i will be very gratfull!!
First paragraph, 25th word. “realising” should be spelled “realizing”. That’s all.