To find out the exact lasting time of the pregnancy among our beloved pets, and to specify how long are dogs pregnant, it is worth starting from the reproductive basics. As per nature law, female dogs that “plan” to breed always start with entering a proestrus stage and then heat. The females transit into these stages every half a year on average. However, based on the breed, the timeline may radically vary.
Dogs’ breeders usually divide the heat stage into four cycles to better understand when to start matching a bitch and a male dog for potential puppies. The cycles look like the following:
- Proestrus
- Estrus
- Diestrus
- Anestrus
The heat starts with the proestrus period. It usually lasts 9 days and indicates that a bitch already attracts the male dogs. Yet, a female dog won’t accept any reproductive motives until reaching estrus. The signals indicating the onset of proestrus are occasional vaginal discharges followed by swellings in the vulva area.
Within 9-10 days, a female dog enters the estrus stage which, in turn, lasts between 3-11 days on average, again depending on the breed. This time, a female dog accepts males. Beyond that, during the proestrus, dog breeders tend to send their dogs to veterinarians or on their own take blood tests, or vaginal smears to not lose a period when the breed may occur. How to identify the proestrus stage? The signals are enlarged vulva, occasional discharges but with lighter colors.
Moving to the next stage – diestrus. It lasts around 2 weeks on average. A female dog’s discharge vanishes off, and her vulva becomes normal again. When there are no more such signals, it means the heat is complete, and the dog won’t have any behavioral changes related to carrying the puppies. After that, a dog enters the anestrus stage which means the whole timeline from diestrus until the next proestrus.
By understanding all the heat cycles, it is easier to understand – how long are dogs pregnant for weeks.
Dogs’ Gestational Period
It may last around 2 months on average starting from the point of conception. Some breeds may have either a longer and shorter timeline. Until now, dog breeders sometimes find it hard to identify whether the conception has actually happened. Sperm may stay in the female for several days, while her eggs might be fertile for up to 2-days. It means that mating is not the point from where you should start calculating the days of pregnancy. That’s why people trust much veterinarians. These doctors, in turn, use hormone measurements, take vaginal smears, etc. Such a medical examination helps to figure out the approximate due date.
The duration of gestation might be the following:
- 58-68 days on average;
So, how long are dogs pregnant for in weeks? It usually lasts for 9 weeks. By knowing the exact timeline of the pregnancy, a veterinarian may overlook the nutrition and safety of the dog prior to breeding puppies.
The Pregnancy
Another interesting topic to cover is the actual pregnancy. It is also divided into weeks and months, and each has its own developments and symptoms. For instance, during month one, the fetus starts shaping by day 22. The veterinarian may trace the heartbeat of the fetus by day 28-20.
While most dogs do not have any health changes or behavioral patterns during the first month into a 2-month pregnancy, some are noticeable including changes in appetite, “lazy” behavior”, enlarged nipples, vaginal discharge among others.
During the next month, the fetus forms eyelids/toes. By the end of the second month, a veterinarian may already reveal the number of babies in the litter. The common symptoms include frequent urination, vaginal discharge, vivid puppy movements among others.
During the third, and last month, the babies’ shapes are almost complete, and they start moving even more in the litter. The symptoms are loss of appetite, shivering, etc.
How to Identify Whether a Dog Is Pregnant?
Similar to human check-ups, there are tests for identifying whether a dog is pregnant. Yet, it is always better to rely on the veterinarian. As of now, there are 4 methods for the determination of pregnancy. They are hormone measurement, palpation, X-ray, as well as ultrasound.
By using the hormone measurement tests, a veterinarian traces the relaxin levels. However, this method is fit only when a female dog is at least 1 month into gestation.
Measurement with palpation is one of the most affordable methods. Once the fetus starts developing, it forms around itself membranes which, in turn, form sacs. The latter ones can be felt upon palpation between the last days of the first month after gestation.
X-ray solutions are also good to check how many puppies are out there. Yet, you should wait up to day 55 to use this method. So, it fits only later pregnancy check-ups.
Last but not least, the method is ultrasound. It fits early detection of pregnancy, and also may show the puppies’ heartbeats. It is the most popular method today.
If you want to dive in full regarding the breeding (how long are dogs pregnant, taking into consideration your own breed), more about their stages, etc, a dog boarding informative page is the best solution. Please note, the above-mentioned information is based on average calculations, and some breeds may differ in their timelines for 1-2 days or even several days. Ensure to speak with the veterinarian to plan the pregnancy, and detect how many puppies are inside the litter.
