

If your dog is showing signs that are out of the ordinary for her, seek the advice of your vet. Very early signs of dog pregnancy can be difficult to spot and can easily be confused with something else. Also a dog pregnancy calculator will come in handy to find the due date.

In the event that you suspect your dog is carrying an unplanned pregnancy, there is no way to accurately predict a due date for the litter without the help of an ultrasound. One thing to keep in mind is that it is possible for your dog to have different due dates if you are breeding her on consecutive days in her heat cycle.Īs with any pregnancy, early detection is important to be able to access good prenatal care, as each day is critical in the development of the fetuses. Canine Pregnancy Calendar Gestation length according to accurate hormone levels ĥ5-60 days from the first day of diestrusĦ6-70 days from the initial rise in progesterone The use of vaginal smears and blood tests to monitor the reproductive hormones during estrus helps to determine the best time to breed your dog, as well as being able to predict a due date for the litter. If you are purposefully breeding your dog, keeping track of her hormone levels during the estrus part of her heat cycle will give you the most accurate due date. It is possible for sperm from the male to live for days inside the female reproductive tract, and the egg is viable for around 48 hours, the act of mating isn’t a good predictor of time of conception. Smaller breeds may have less (3 – 4 puppies), while in larger breeds up to 7-8 puppies is common. Litter sizes vary, but on average most dogs carry and give birth to 5-6 puppies. The average canine pregnancy last around 9 weeks total or around 63 days from the date of ovulation. Far less than a human pregnancy, but no less miraculous in what can be achieved in such a relatively short space of time. This stage will last about 4 months, though in certain breeds of dogs it can be longer. The cervix elongates and closes, protecting the uterine environment.Īnestrus -In the event that your dog is not bred, the time between diestrus and the next proestrus is known as Anestrus. The uterus becomes toned, and uterine contractions facilitate the establishment of pregnancy. The reproductive tract functions to support early pregnancy. Estrogen levels first increase and then sharply decrease, releasing the mature eggs from the ovaries.ĭiestrus – The stage following estrus, in which the female is no longer receptive to the male. In this stage, male dogs will be attracted to your female, but she will not be receptive.Įstrus – Or ‘Heat’ is the next stage during which your dog will become receptive to mating with males. This stage can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.


Your dog is producing hormones in preparation for ovulation or releasing eggs. Proestrus – This is the stage where you will notice changes in your dog and when we say the dog is ‘in heat’. Depending on the dog and the breed, they usually enter a heat cycle every 6 months, with each heat cycle lasting anywhere from 18-21 days. For those of you looking to breed your dog, understanding the reproductive or heat cycle and the dog pregnancy calendar is crucial. Whether you are looking to breed your dog, or you are faced with the surprise of an unplanned litter, this article is here to help, providing a comprehensive look at dog pregnancy from the reproductive cycle through whelping. What to Expect When Your Dog is Expecting 1 What to Expect When Your Dog is Expecting.
