Early Signs Your Dog is Pregnant and Caring Tips

Recognizing the Early Signs Your Dog is Pregnant

As a dog owner, determining if your dog is pregnant early on can help you provide them the best care during this important time. There are some telltale physical and behavioral changes in the early stages of dog pregnancy that can confirm whether pups are on the way.

Physical Signs a Dog is Pregnant

Some of the earliest signs a dogs pregnant include physical changes noticeable within the first few weeks of pregnancy:

Swollen or enlarged nipples - Around 1-2 weeks after conception, hormone changes cause your dog's nipples to enlarge in preparation for producing milk.
Weight gain - Your dog will require increased calories to support the growing fetuses, so you may notice slight weight gain early on even before a baby bump.
Increased appetite - Expectant moms need more nutrition, so a suddenly ravenous appetite can indicate pregnancy.
Abdominal swelling - At around 3-4 weeks, your dog's belly will start expanding as puppies grow larger.

Behavioral Signs of Pregnancy

In addition to physical changes, your dog's behavior may also be indicative of early pregnancy:

Lethargy - The physical exertion of a growing pregnancy causes fatigue. Your active dog may start napping more.
Nesting - About 2 weeks before whelping, mothers begin shredding bedding and rearranging areas to create a comfortable space for birth.
Aggression or guarding - Your affectionate dog may start avoiding contact or show signs of protectiveness over belly rubs.
Clinginess - Some dogs will closely follow their owner expecting care and reassurance during this vulnerable time.

Caring for Your Pregnant Dog

Once you confirm your dog is expecting, making some changes ensures mom and pups stay healthy over the coming weeks:

Nutrition

Signs a dogs pregnant means her caloric demands rapidly increase by up to 50%. Switch to a high-quality puppy food diet formulated for growth with ingredients like chicken, lamb, or fish. Feed smaller meals more frequently to aid digestion. Provide unlimited access to fresh water too. Stay alert to any decrease in appetite closer to delivery as this can indicate problems.

Exercise

As your dog's abdomen swells, limit vigorous runs or jumps after 4 weeks to prevent injury. Short, gentle walks help circulation and bowel movements without overexertion. Ask your vet when to stop walks altogether as whelping approaches.

Whelping Preparations

A few weeks before your due date, set up a quiet, comfortable area for birth with layers of protective bedding that is easily washable after delivery. The enclosure should be large enough for mom to lie down and give birth, with sides low enough for puppies to crawl out. Place food, water, and a baby thermometer nearby. Keep pups confined there until weaning.

Veterinary Care

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian shortly after becoming aware your dog is pregnant. Initial bloodwork, ultrasound, weight check, and discussion of diet and exercise guidelines help promote healthy pregnancies. Return around week 6-7 to verify pup numbers and position. Let your vet monitor for potential complications like hypoglycemia or calcium deficiency needing prompt treatment.

What to Expect When Your Dog is Nearing Labor

Recognizing the signs a dogs pregnant doesn't end after early pregnancy. As you near your dog's delivery date, watch for these common late-term changes:

Agitation and Nesting

Most dogs display restless pacing and bed-making around 24-48 hours before the onset of labor as hormones shift. This instinct to prepare a clean nest is nature's way of getting ready for the arrival of puppies. Supply ample rags or blankets during this time.

Clear Vaginal Discharge

A thick mucus discharge from the vulva appears anywhere from days to mere hours before whelping starts. The creamy fluid termed "lightening" indicates cervix dilation allowing pups to soon exit the womb.

Drop in Body Temperature

Your dog's temperature should remain around 101-102° F while pregnant. Within 24 hours of the first pup's arrival, it plunges below 100° F. Take your dog's temperature twice daily as her due date approaches to help predict when labor nears.

Lack of Appetite

Some dogs continue eating normally until labor begins. Others lose interest in food entirely as the onset of contractions make digestion uncomfortable. Don't worry about skipping a few meals before delivery as long as she stays hydrated.

When to Call the Vet

While most dogs undergo labor without complications, expecting pet owners should remain alert to a few warning signs requiring veterinary assistance:

Early contractions or flu-like illness before 58 days gestation
Failure to begin labor within 24 hours after the temperature drop
Extreme lethargy, continuous vomiting, blood in the vulva discharge
Over 2 hours of strong contractions without a puppy arriving
A puppy stuck halfway out the birth canal

Waiting too long delays emergency interventions, so call your vet promptly when concerned.

Caring for Mom and Puppies Post-Whelping

Your responsibilities caring for your postpartum dog and her litter include:

Allowing Mom-Puppy Bonding

Keep visitors away and noises low allowing an adjustment period for bonding. Handling newborn pups too soon causes mom stress. Wait at least 2 weeks before reintroducing children or other pets.

Supporting Nursing

Feed mom premium puppy food so her milk supply remains robust. Provide water bowls around the nest, and let pups nurse every 1-2 hours. Weigh them twice daily ensuring adequate milk intake for proper growth.

Cutting Umbilical Cords

Mom usually chews off each umbilical cord right after birth. If she doesn't, sterilize scissors in boiling water and tie sewing thread 1 inch from the pup's belly before snipping. Apply iodine to prevent infection.