How do you know if your dog is pregnant without a dog pregnancy test?

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Hopefully your dog’s pregnancy was a planned event.

If so, you may have already done some research to learn more about the pregnancy of the dog period and what to expect when your dog is pregnant.

Knowing how to tell if your dog is pregnant is an important step in this process.

If you don’t know how to tell if your dog is pregnant, this is likely your dog’s first litter.

While this article will answer some of your dog’s pregnancy questions, it’s important that you get your pet to a vet as soon as possible.

A vet will give you all the information you need to know about the length of a dog pregnancy, what and how? feeding a pregnant bitchand general pregnancy tips for dog parents of pregnant dogs.

A vet will also examine your dog to help you determine how far along she is in her pregnancy phase and if there are any potential problems.

How do you know if your dog is pregnant?

The gestation period of a dog lasts approx 63 days (or 9 weeks). You probably won’t notice any signs of dog pregnancy until your dog is about 3 weeks old.

And won’t notice a ‘baby bump’ until your dog is in the last third of her pregnancy (6-9 weeks).

The early signs of pregnancy in dogs include:

Morning sickness (just like in humans)
Lack of energy
Behavioral changes
Enlarged nipples that look pink

Pregnancy Tests For Dogs – Is That A Thing?

Some pet owners, instead of learning how to tell if a dog is pregnant when she starts to show natural signs, will look for an over-the-counter dog pregnancy test to do the job for them.

Yes, there are pregnancy tests for dogs available. No, they are not very accurate. They are also very rare and hard to find, especially since no one uses them.

The only one you can buy on Amazon is the Synbiotics Brand.

While even pregnancy tests in humans are sometimes inaccurate, for dogs those have much less research behind them, and will often be extremely inaccurate, to the point where most of them are simply useless.

You also can’t use a human pregnancy test on dogs. Since humans and dogs are different species, the test just doesn’t work and doesn’t give you any information.

Ultrasound Device To Detect Pregnancy In Dogs

Because dog pregnancy tests are inaccurate, the only over-the-counter product you can buy to use as a kind of dog pregnancy test is a dog pregnancy detector with the probe, like this popular Dramanski PDD ($339.99) or CONTEC probe ($940.00).

These are ultrasonic devices often used by breeders to detect pregnancy in dogs.

They are accurate and give quick results, but they are also very expensive and generally unnecessary for pet owners, especially when a visit to a vet office will be much cheaper (and easier).

To avoid doing guessing games yourself or spending hundreds of dollars on canine pregnancy detectors, instead, talk to an expert and have them run some tests.

In general, the best way to make sure your dog is pregnant with puppies is to take her to the vet.

They will carry out a pregnancy blood test to tell you exactly whether your female dog is pregnant or not. This test is 100% accurate.

Pregnancy of the dog and the breed and size of your dog

Your dog’s breed, age, overall size, and the size of her litter (number of puppies she carries) will determine your steps to determine if your dog is pregnant.

For example, small breeds have small puppies, which means it may take a little longer to see if your dog is pregnant. Large dogs that carry a larger litter of puppies may show signs sooner than dogs that only carry 2 or 3 puppies.

Remember, it’s critical to get veterinary help if you think your pet may be pregnant.

Not only will they tell you about pregnancy, but they can also educate you on proper prenatal dog care and help you prepare in case your dog delivers.

They will also help you care for your mother’s dog and her puppy litter once she has given birth.

A Closer Look at the Signs of a Pregnant Dog

We already briefly mentioned some indications that you are dealing with canine pregnancies, but it is worth taking a closer look.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with the vet. Remember, your vet can confirm that it is not a false pregnancy and can give you tips to ensure your dog has healthy puppies.

being less active

If your dog seems to be getting exhausted faster than before, it could indicate that she’s expecting puppies.

Of course, it can also indicate a range of potential health problems. Therefore, if you notice any significant changes in your pup’s activity level, contact your vet immediately.

Changes in her appetite

Pregnant dogs can experience a range of changes in their appetite. Earlier in the pregnancy, they may want to eat less because of morning sickness in dogs.

She may even be vomiting at this point. Or she may be eating more but not seeming full.

Her nipples are swollen nipples

Changes to your dog’s nipples are one of the classic physical signs of pregnancy in dogs. Most female dogs have small nipples, but they will grow early in the pregnancy.

They may also turn a darker red. In later stages of pregnancy, they may even leak milk.

She’s getting heavier

It should come as no surprise that your dog’s growing belly is a good sign that she may be pregnant (or on a diet).

If there’s no other reason your dog’s belly is growing, she’s probably pregnant.

The important caveat is that most of the stomach growth and weight gain occurs later in pregnancy. If your dog already has this sign, you probably missed some of them before.

She has nesting behavior

As your dog gets close to her due date, you can expect some nesting behavior. These are behaviors that help her prepare for the arrival of her puppies.

For example, she may shred bedding or gather materials to make a cozy “nest.”

Nesting can also mean being withdrawn and irritated, so keep that in mind.

Other Behavioral Changes

A pregnant dog may also experience other behavioral changes. For example, some want to spend more time with their people while they are pregnant.

On the other hand, some prefer to be alone and get annoyed when harassed.

Even with all of the above information, you may still have some questions about canine pregnancy. The following should help clear them up.

How does the vet confirm the pregnancy?

Your vet can palpate or feel your dog’s abdomen from about 28 to 30 days of pregnancy.

If your furry friend is pregnant, the vet will notice what feels like grapes or small golf balls. NEVER try to pat your dog’s belly without a vet. If you do it wrong, you could accidentally damage the puppies.

As mentioned earlier, ultrasounds are a good method for detecting fetal heartbeats. That’s especially helpful because it lets you know how many puppies to expect.

Ultrasound is possible at a gestational age of 25 to 35 days.

Your vet may also perform a hormone test after 25 to 30 days. This test looks for relaxin, a hormone that dogs only produce during pregnancy.

If your dog is with you for at least 55 days, X-rays are also an option. Importantly, you should wait at least that long, as the puppies’ skeletal systems are not yet developed enough to show up until then.

This is also a good method of telling you how many newborn puppies to expect.

How do I care for a pregnant dog?

The most important thing to do when your dog is pregnant is to make sure you are feeding her the right dog food. She needs good nutrition, but high quality dog food should be fine in the first two thirds of pregnancy.

However, your vet may recommend that you switch to a specific food. Always listen to his advice.

You should also make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. You can follow your dog’s normal routine until her tummy gets bigger.

Don’t let your dog engage in overly strenuous activities during the last trimester of pregnancy. Stick to shorter walks instead.

Of course, your furry friend also needs regular checkups during pregnancy.

Your vet will let you know how often to see her examine your dog’s body and make sure everything is running normally.

How long does it take for a dog to show she is pregnant?

It usually takes up to three weeks for your dog to start showing signs that she is pregnant.

How long is a dog’s gestation period?

The typical gestation period for a dog is about nine weeks or 63 days. This is the case regardless of breed.

How many puppies do dogs have in a litter?

Smaller breeds usually have litters of three or four puppies. Larger breeds usually have litters of five to eight puppies.

Of course it differs greatly from dog to dog. Your vet can use diagnostic tests to estimate how much to expect as the pregnancy progresses. For example, an ultrasound can detect fetal heartbeats or X-rays can show skeletons.

Each of these let the vet count.

Can you use a home pregnancy test on a dog?

A human pregnancy test will not work on a dog. While you may be able to find a dog pregnancy test online, the results may not be accurate.

The best method of confirming pregnancy signs is to take your dog to the vet. He will use ultrasound, palpitations, X-rays, or a hormone blood test to check.

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