To understand all dog pregnancy better, it is important that you need to obtain a general knowledge about how her body works. Before your dog is able to get pregnant, she will experience a heat cycle first. Veterinarians recommend that you should not breed your dog during the first heat period unless it occurs after the dog is one year old. If you breed her earlier, it would cause stunting growth. Most dogs go into heat twice a year however it is common to skip one on occasion. While in heat, your dog will be able to breed with more than one male. She will be in heat for about three weeks with her cycle arriving every six to nine months.
What are the signs to recognize when a dog goes into heat? The first signs that you will recognize is a blood discharge and a swollen vulva but during this phase of her heat cycle, eggs are not released yet. It is during this time as well that male dogs will be drawn to her chemically. At the beginning, the young female dog won’t show an interest in them until the 6-11 stage is about to end.
During the second stage of heat, the female dog is now fertile and her posture will change to a stance that invites procreation. Bleeding will also change from lighter pink to a golden color. At this time, vulva may remain swollen but softer than before. For this stage, the common duration is about five to nine days however it has been known to still go only for about 20 days for different dogs. It is also during this stage that inviting male attention will stop.
Pregnant Dog Symptoms and Signs
To determine whether your dog is already pregnant, there are early signs and symptoms that you need to watch out for. These signs include sudden decrease in activity, decrease in appetite, behavioral changes, and nipple growth. The decrease in appetite is similar to morning sickness in human. If your dog appears exhausted which is not normal, is more affectionate, or just wants to be alone, this is because of the hormonal changes brought about by the pregnancy. The tissue and glands under the dog’s nipples will also appear swollen to make room for the baby’s milk.
How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
One of the most frequent questions that first time dog owners ask is, “How long are dogs pregnant”? The average time that a dog is pregnant is 63 days. The range for dogs is between 56 and 66 days but it will also depend on the day of ovulation which may be not be the same day that impregnation took place.
After the first few weeks, the dog’s appetite will come back to normal and will soon start gaining weight with her abdomen becoming thicker and be firm to the touch. Smaller breeds often look bigger when they are pregnant than bigger breeds of dogs since they have lesser room to carry their puppies. Usually, you will be able to feel the movement of the puppies inside the abdomen during the last week of the pregnancy because it is during this time that the babies are into the position for the birth. It is also important to know the basic steps in taking care of a pregnant dog because it is during this time that she is vulnerable.
Giving Birth
Make sure to get your dog’s temperature periodically. Normally, it would have to be around 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit but if it drops to 97 to 99 degrees range and you notice that it has been consistently the same for the consecutive two readings taken 12 hours apart, you can be sure that your dog is about to deliver her baby within the next 24 hours. The labor will go through three stages.
A veterinarian should be called when:
- the puppy is lodged and unable to be removed.
- your dog’s labor occurs for about two hours but with no delivery.
- there is a 4-hour window since the last baby was born and before more pups are delivered.
- the pregnancy is more than 65 days.
- the dog experiences vomiting, panting, or uncontrollable tremors.
- the delivery of the babies doesn’t begin even after there is a greenish-black discharge (which is normal by the way) during the start of the birthing process.
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