Getting to see a litter of puppies come into the world is one of the most magical things you can experience. One by one, the little squeaking bundles are washed clean by their mother and crawl tentatively around to find their mother's milk. They quickly calm down and silence settles in, as both the new mother and the new lives breathe out and relax. But until then - how long does it actually take for a puppy to become ready for the world?
How long is a female dog pregnant?
A dog is normally pregnant for 63 days, in other words 9 weeks. The days are counted from mating and thus fertilisation. The length of the pregnancy can vary slightly between females, in the range of 58-67 days.
What happens during the pregnancy?
Week 1-3
During the first three weeks there are not many physical signs that the dog is pregnant. Some females may have a slightly swollen vulva during the first week after fertilisation, and some experience poor appetite or nausea. Some dogs become calmer or slightly subdued in temperament, but there are also females who show nothing at all during this period, and everything is just as usual.
Week 4-5
Now it starts to become clear that the female's belly is growing and that she is gaining weight, while her energy needs begin to increase. At this time an ultrasound can be done to confirm whether the female is pregnant or not. With the ultrasound you can roughly determine how big the litter will be, but it is often hard to know exactly how many puppies there are.
Week 6-7
Towards the end of these weeks the puppies have grown and formed a skeleton - now they can be seen on an X-ray! By this point the female has become quite round in the belly, has an increased need for food and may start to become more tired. Many females want to rest more and settle into their "nest".
Week 8-9
Now the birth is getting close! Puppy movements can now be felt with your hand against the female's belly. The mother needs to take it easy, is quite round and may have trouble eating properly, especially if she has many puppies in her belly.
How do you know the dog is pregnant?
During the first weeks it can be hard to know for sure whether the female is pregnant or not - you cannot see it with a urine test as in humans. This is because the progesterone levels, which are measured in the urine, are the same in the dog whether she is pregnant or not.
Around 4-5 weeks the pregnancy can be confirmed with an ultrasound, and around 6-7 weeks the number of puppies can be counted on an X-ray.
What nutritional needs does a pregnant dog have?
When the dog becomes pregnant her need for both fat and protein increases. When she starts producing milk it also leads to an increased need for minerals in the diet, especially calcium. The female may also have trouble eating a sufficient amount of food when the puppies take up space in the belly, and for that reason also needs a more energy-rich food. Foods adapted for pregnant and nursing females are designed based on these special nutritional needs.
The female's energy need varies depending on factors such as the dog's size, how many puppies she has, how far along in the pregnancy she is and how much milk she produces. During the first 4 weeks of pregnancy the female has roughly the same energy need as usual, and therefore does not need an increased amount of food as long as she does not lose weight.
During the last five weeks of pregnancy the female's energy need increases by about 25-50 %. The puppies can take up a lot of space in the belly, which can both give the female a poorer appetite and easily make her vomit if she eats too much. She may then need to be fed several times and in small portions if she has trouble eating.
Here you can read more about our puppy food, which is also suitable for pregnant and nursing females.
Would you like to read our feeding recommendations for pregnant dogs? You can find them here.
Are you curious to read a little more about the kennels connected to us and their experiences of puppy litters at Petgood? You can find that here.