To know if your dog is pregnant, you can look for several signs and confirm with veterinary tests:
Common Signs of Pregnancy in Dogs
- Changes in Appetite: Your dog may eat more or less than usual, sometimes experiencing morning sickness with occasional vomiting in early pregnancy
- Behavioral Changes: Pregnant dogs might become more affectionate or seek isolation, show decreased energy, or appear irritable
- Physical Changes:
- Enlarged, pinker, or darker nipples starting about 2-3 weeks after conception; nipples may also leak milk later in pregnancy
* Swollen abdomen and weight gain become more noticeable around 4-6 weeks as the puppies grow
* Nesting behavior such as dragging blankets or digging
* Swollen genitals and possible slight vaginal discharge early on
Veterinary Diagnostic Methods
- Abdominal Palpation: A vet can feel the uterus for developing puppies around 3-5 weeks after breeding. This should only be done by a professional as it can be risky
- Hormone Blood Test: Testing for the hormone relaxin, produced by the placenta, can confirm pregnancy from about 3-4 weeks onward
- Ultrasound: The most reliable early test, an ultrasound can detect embryos and heartbeats from about 3-5 weeks and estimate litter size
- X-rays: Used later in pregnancy (after about 55 days) to see the puppies’ skeletons and count them
Summary
If you suspect your dog is pregnant, watch for appetite and behavior changes, nipple enlargement, and abdominal swelling. The most accurate confirmation comes from a vet via ultrasound or hormone testing. Early veterinary care is important to ensure the health of the mother and puppies. This approach combines observation of physical and behavioral signs with professional diagnosis for certainty
