If you’re wondering what to do if my dog is pregnant, the first step is to schedule a veterinary exam to confirm the pregnancy, estimate a due date, and build a care plan for the weeks ahead. Dog pregnancies move quickly, lasting only about two months, so early planning gives your dog and her puppies the best possible start. Whether the litter was planned or came as a surprise, you’ll have decisions to make about nutrition, exercise, home setup, and what happens on delivery day. At Park Veterinary Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, we guide owners through every stage, from the first ultrasound to the puppies’ first checkup. This guide walks you through how long dogs are pregnant, the early signs to watch for, how veterinarians confirm a pregnancy, how to support your expecting dog, and what to expect during whelping, the process of giving birth. Knowing what’s coming helps you stay calm and prepared.
How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days, or roughly nine weeks, counted from ovulation.
In practice, most dogs deliver somewhere between 58 and 68 days after breeding. The range exists because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for several days, so the breeding date doesn’t always match the day of conception. Your veterinarian can narrow down the due date with an exam, hormone testing, or imaging.
The Three Stages of Canine Pregnancy
Pregnancy in dogs is often divided into three roughly equal phases. During the first three weeks, fertilized eggs travel to the uterus and implant, and you’ll see few outward changes. In the middle weeks, the puppies develop their organs and begin to grow, and your dog’s belly may start to round out. The final three weeks bring the fastest growth, when puppies gain most of their size and your dog’s nutritional needs rise sharply. Knowing which phase your dog is in helps you understand what to do if your dog is pregnant at each point along the way.
What Are the Signs of Pregnancy in Dogs?
Before deciding what to do if your dog is pregnant, it helps to recognize the clues. Early pregnancy can be easy to miss, but several physical and behavioral changes usually appear by the third or fourth week.
Watch for these common signs:
- Enlarged, pinker, or more prominent nipples
- A temporary dip in appetite early on, followed by increased hunger
- Gradual weight gain and a firmer, rounder abdomen
- A small amount of clear, odorless vaginal discharge around one month in
- Lower energy or more time spent resting
- Extra affection, clinginess, or, in some dogs, a desire to be left alone
- Nesting behaviors such as shredding bedding or digging in blankets late in pregnancy
Could It Be a False Pregnancy?
Some unspayed dogs show many of these same signs without carrying puppies. This condition, called pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy, can cause nipple enlargement, milk production, and even nesting. Because the symptoms overlap so closely, a veterinary exam is the only reliable way to know for sure.
How Can You Tell for Sure if Your Dog Is Pregnant?
A confirmed diagnosis is the foundation for every decision about what to do if your dog is pregnant. A veterinarian can confirm pregnancy using a few different methods, and the right one depends on how far along your dog may be.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is often the first choice and can detect pregnancy as early as about 25 days after breeding. It also shows fetal heartbeats, which confirms the puppies are developing.
Blood Test
A relaxin blood test measures a hormone produced during pregnancy. It becomes reliable around 25 to 30 days after breeding and is a helpful option when ultrasound isn’t practical.
X-Rays
Puppy skeletons become visible on X-rays during the last few weeks of pregnancy, typically after about day 45. An X-ray late in pregnancy is the most accurate way to count puppies, which matters on delivery day because it tells you when your dog is finished giving birth.
Your veterinarian may also feel the abdomen gently during a specific window of the pregnancy, but only a trained professional should attempt this to avoid harming the developing puppies.
How Do You Care for a Pregnant Dog?
After confirmation, the next answer to what to do if my dog is pregnant is simple: follow a care plan your veterinarian builds around your dog’s age, breed, and health.
Nutrition
Most pregnant dogs can stay on their regular high-quality diet during the first several weeks. As puppies grow rapidly in the final third of pregnancy, your veterinarian may recommend switching to a puppy formula or a diet labeled for growth and reproduction. Avoid adding vitamins or supplements on your own, since some, including calcium, can cause problems when given at the wrong time.
Exercise and Activity
Gentle, regular walks help maintain muscle tone and a healthy weight. Skip rough play, agility, and strenuous activity, particularly late in pregnancy. Fort Lauderdale’s heat and humidity add another layer of risk, so plan walks for cooler morning or evening hours.
Medications and Parasite Control
Some flea, tick, and deworming products aren’t safe during pregnancy, while others are specifically recommended to protect newborn puppies from parasites. Check with your veterinarian before giving any medication, including products your dog used before she became pregnant. From the first exam to the puppies’ first visit, Park Veterinary Hospital is here to help through your dog’s pregnancy with guidance tailored to her needs.
How Should You Prepare Your Home for Puppies?
Preparation is a big part of what to do if your dog is pregnant, and it’s best to start about two to three weeks before the due date.
Choose a Quiet Whelping Area
Pick a warm, quiet, low-traffic room where your dog feels safe and away from other pets and household commotion. Introduce her to the whelping box early so she becomes comfortable sleeping there before labor begins. A dog that has already claimed the space is less likely to try delivering under a bed or in a closet.
Make a Plan With Your Veterinarian
Schedule a late-pregnancy checkup to discuss the expected number of puppies, warning signs to watch for, and whether your dog’s breed or history puts her at higher risk for delivery complications. Brachycephalic breeds like English bulldogs and French bulldogs often need a planned cesarean section. Save your veterinarian’s number and the nearest emergency hospital’s information somewhere easy to find, and arrange transportation in case you need to leave quickly in the middle of the night.
What Happens During Whelping?
Whelping is the birth process in dogs, and it usually unfolds in three stages. Knowing what normal labor looks like is one of the most useful things to learn when figuring out what to do if your dog is pregnant.
Stage One: Early Labor
The first stage can last 6 to 12 hours, sometimes longer. Your dog may pant, pace, shiver, refuse food, dig at her bedding, or seem restless. Many dogs experience a drop in body temperature roughly 12 to 24 hours before labor starts, and your veterinarian may ask you to track her temperature in the final days so you know when to expect delivery.
Stages Two and Three: Delivery
During the second stage, visible contractions begin and puppies are born, often 30 to 60 minutes apart. The third stage is the passing of the placenta, which follows each puppy. Your dog will typically cycle between these two stages until the whole litter arrives. Keep track of each puppy and placenta so you can share the details with your veterinarian.
When to Call for Help
Most dogs deliver without complications, but call your veterinarian or an emergency hospital right away if you notice any of the following:
- Strong, steady straining for more than 30 minutes without a puppy
- More than two hours between puppies when more are expected
- Dark green or black discharge before the first puppy is born
- Heavy bleeding, collapse, or signs of severe pain or weakness
- No signs of labor by day 68 to 70 of pregnancy
- Trembling, stiffness, or restlessness in the weeks after birth
What Supplies Do You Need for Whelping?
Gathering supplies ahead of time is one of the most practical answers to what to do if my dog is pregnant, since labor can begin earlier than expected.
A well-stocked whelping kit usually includes a whelping box with low sides your dog can step over and rails that help prevent her from lying on puppies. You’ll want plenty of clean towels, washable bedding, and absorbent pads, along with garbage bags for quick cleanup. A safe, pet-specific heat source helps newborns stay warm, since puppies can’t regulate their own body temperature at first. Keep a digital kitchen scale for tracking puppy weights, a notebook for recording birth times, a digital thermometer, and disposable gloves nearby. Ask your veterinarian whether to keep puppy milk replacer and bottles on hand in case a puppy has trouble nursing. Finally, keep your veterinarian’s phone number and the emergency hospital’s address posted near the whelping area.
Expert Care for Your Expecting Dog in Fort Lauderdale
Learning what to do if my dog is pregnant can feel overwhelming at first, but a little planning goes a long way. A confirmed due date, a nutrition plan, a prepared whelping area, and a clear understanding of warning signs all help delivery day go more smoothly for you and your dog.
The team at Park Veterinary Hospital is ready to support you from the first pregnancy exam through the puppies’ first vaccines. We’ll answer your questions, monitor your dog’s health along the way, and help you prepare for a safe delivery. Call to schedule a pregnancy checkup and give your dog and her future litter the care they deserve.
