Try gently placing your hand on your dog’s belly. As the dog’s pregnancy progresses, there’s a greater chance you’ll be able to feel the puppies inside. The mammary glands produce the milk the puppies will drink, which causes a pregnant dog’s nipples to swell.
Talk to your veterinarian about how to care for your pregnant dog and when to increase her food rations, as additional calories could benefit her and the growing pups. Know that your dog will likely have a reduced appetite 12 to 24 hours before whelping or giving birth. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
This isn’t necessarily a sure sign of pregnancy, as many other underlying illnesses and conditions could cause changes in behavior. Always bring your dog to the vet, just to be sure.
This change doesn’t automatically mean your dog is pregnant, but it could be a good indicator if she’s showing other pregnancy symptoms.
Help your dog nest by providing her with a cardboard whelping box and plenty of extra blankets or towels. Talk to your veterinarian about helping your dog give birth and specify any health or behavioral concerns to get the most personalized care.
Palpation works best when the dog is between 3 and 4 weeks pregnant, as the embryonic vesicles can be easily felt. [11] X Research source If the veterinarian feels anything, they’ll move on to an ultrasound or X-ray test to ensure they’re feeling fetuses rather than feces.
A relaxin hormone test is often used to decipher pseudo pregnancies from real pregnancies, as a dog won’t produce the hormone unless she’s actually pregnant.
Heartbeats are usually heard within 3 weeks of pregnancy. Counting the number of puppies or fetuses can sometimes be difficult, as they often like to hide behind their siblings. The vet may need to shave your dog’s belly fur if she’s extra fluffy. Some dogs may need to be sedated for an ultrasound, especially those that get anxious at the vet’s.
If you have a smaller dog, the veterinarian may take an X-ray to calculate the size of the puppies to determine whether a natural birth or c-section is the safest option.
