08 May Dog Pregnancy; Symptoms And Its Duration

Dog pregnancy and birth is an interesting and attractive process that causes you to have several small and cute puppies and an adult dog. Although many people usually prevent their dogs from getting pregnant and don’t want to keep puppies. However, if you are keeping a female dog, you should know that there’s a high possibility of her getting pregnant and giving birth, and you should increase your knowledge regarding dog pregnancy and postpartum care. So that you can take good care of your pets if you encounter such a situation. So stay tuned to learn more.

Dog Pregnancy

It’s better to know that a male dog is sexually ready for reproduction at around 6 months of age and reaches full puberty at around 12 to 14 months. Also, female dogs reach puberty at the age of 8 to 12 months and have the possibility of fertility. Of course, all these numbers are relative, and puberty may occur earlier or later than was said.

Also, the age of puberty varies in different breeds of dogs. It’s interesting to know that, unlike male dogs, which always have the possibility of mating and reproduction, female dogs must reach the necessary preparation and only have the conditions for mating and reproduction in specific periods, called estrus. This condition occurs only twice yearly in apartment dogs and once yearly in wild dogs. Therefore, if the necessary conditions for mating a female and a male dog are met and fertilization occurs, the dog will most likely become pregnant. 

Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

• Change in Appetite: A change in the dog’s appetite can be one of the signs and symptoms of a dog’s pregnancy. In this way, some of these furry friends show more desire for food during pregnancy, so they eat twice the size of the normal state and eat more food. Of course, the necessary amount of food should be provided for them in this situation.
• Nipple Growth: One of the most apparent and specific signs of dog pregnancy is the growth of nipples. These symptoms usually appear a few weeks after pregnancy as the nipples enlarge. Also, the hair on the head of the breast gradually thins until it falls, ultimately preparing the breasts for breastfeeding. Therefore, you may see colostrum from the breasts before the puppies are born.
• Nausea: Sometimes, your dog may suffer from anorexia, nausea, and mild vomiting, and the combination of these factors causes the pet to have no desire to eat and even not to eat for several hours. You should know it’s normal for some pregnant dogs to experience this.
• Change in Nipple Colour: After a short period of pregnancy, at the same time as the breasts grow, the tip’s colour also changes and becomes dark brown, which can be one of the most critical and obvious signs of a dog’s pregnancy.
• Behavioural Changes: Hormonal changes in female dogs may cause changes in their behaviour and temperament. Some of them are withdrawn and usually rest at a certain time of day, and some may become a little aggressive. Therefore, it’s better not to leave your dog alone in front of a stranger or a child because it isn’t clear what reaction and behaviour she will show in this situation.

The Number of Dog Births Per Year

When male dogs reach puberty and are ready for conception and mating, they can mate with females at any time and in any season of the year. However, this is different for female dogs because those who live wildly in nature only have the necessary conditions for mating once a year. Dogs kept at home have mating conditions twice a year, and they usually get pregnant after each mating.

Preventing a Dog From Getting Pregnant

Although the pregnancy and birth of a dog may seem like an interesting and exciting event for many people, some people don’t want to keep multiple puppies for various reasons. Therefore, it’s recommended to these people that to prevent their dogs from getting pregnant, they should sterilize them by visiting a veterinarian before reaching puberty so that there’s no possibility of fertility in the future.

But if you keep only one female dog at home, in a situation that isn’t close to the male pair, there’s no need for such an action. When your dog is in estrus, use equipment and clothing, especially for this period of dogs. They are designed to be used like special panties so that secretions and possible bleeding don’t spread around the house.

But if your dog accidentally or unintentionally mates with a strange dog, you can take her to the vet to prevent pregnancy by injecting hormones and special drugs to prevent the formation of the fetus and pregnancy. Sometimes, if the embryo is formed, the doctor tries to induce false labour in the dog by injecting special drugs, in which case all the embryos will be aborted. But it’s better to know that this practice may endanger the life of the dog’s mother and cause problems for her.

Dog Pregnancy Duration

It’s better to know that dogs, unlike humans, have a very short pregnancy. In this way, their pregnancy period lasts about three months. Accordingly, the first signs of pregnancy appear in the second month, and the dog’s belly grows almost from the fifth week onwards. In general, the duration of a dog’s pregnancy varies from 62 to 65 days, but many doctors believe that the best time to give birth to a dog is 63 days. Therefore, the pregnancy time of a Pomeranian dog may vary with the pregnancy time of a pit bull dog. So, in some dogs, pregnancy happens earlier and in others later.

Important Points When a Dog is Pregnant

If you’re taking care of a pregnant dog, you should know that pregnancy may cause a change in her behaviour, so you should provide all the necessary conditions and facilities to relax and care for her. As we said, some of them suffer from high appetite, and others face nausea and lack of appetite. You must provide your dog with a nutritious diet to meet her nutritional and mineral needs.

Taking Care of a Pregnant Dog

All dogs naturally and physiologically adapt to their conditions during pregnancy. However, if a dog becomes pregnant, it’s better to take care of the health of the mother and the puppies. Most importantly, her caloric intake increases during pregnancy and almost doubles in the second half, so you must provide enough nutritious food for your dog.

It’s better to consider a regular exercise program for her during this period because the more your dog exercises in the early stages of pregnancy, the better the embryo implantation and formation will be. Of course, reducing her intensity in the last months is better. The last point is that it’s better to put your dog under a veterinarian’s care and ensure your dog’s health with periodic controls.

To wrap up

Nothing is more beautiful than the reward of welcoming a new life into the world, especially if that new life belongs to a puppy. The prospect of a new birth is exciting, but just like human pregnancies, a dog’s pregnancy can be confusing and stressful. To have a healthy and lively dog, you must pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. You can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming in all these steps. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs so they count the moments for the next session.