Pregnancy Tests for Dogs: 5 Options to Consider

Has your dog recently gone into heat and been around male dogs? Then she just might be pregnant. In fact, dogs can go into heat twice a year and get pregnant up to 10 times in their lifetime.¹

If you suspect your dog is expecting, it's best to take her to the vet for a pregnancy test so you know whether or not to make room for some furry new arrivals. Your vet will use one of several methods to determine whether your dog is pregnant, depending on the possible stage of the pregnancy, which only lasts around 62 to 64 days in total.²

1. Blood Test

When a dog is pregnant, her body produces a hormone called relaxin as the placenta develops after insemination. That's where a pregnancy blood test can confirm or rule out pregnancy.³

• Your vet can test your dog's blood to see if relaxin is present, indicating that she is pregnant.³
• Testing will only be reliable 22 to 27 days after breeding. Prior to this, you may get a negative test even though your dog is actually pregnant.³
• To get a reliable result, your vet may recommend performing two or more blood tests, a week apart, especially if you are unsure of the date your dog could have become pregnant.³
• Typically, two negative blood tests in a row will mean your dog is not pregnant.³
• This test can't tell you if the fetuses are viable.³

Prior to the test, your vet may want you to:⁴

• Fast your dog for six⁴ to 12 hours.⁵
• Not exercise your dog just before the appointment
• Keep your dog as calm as possible prior to the test.
• Keep your dog well hydrated with water available at all times before the test.

2. Ultrasound

A better gauge as to whether or not your dog is pregnant is a dog pregnancy ultrasound.³ In fact, ultrasound in pets was actually designed for pregnancy detection⁶ and is considered the primary way to detect if a dog is pregnant.³ This noninvasive technology uses ultrasound waves to image the internal organs and puppies, if there are any in your dog's womb.⁶

Below are some of the things you may expect to happen during an ultrasound for your potentially pregnant dog:⁶

• Your dog may need her tummy shaved just prior to the test, though in some cases wetting down the area with rubbing alcohol and moistening the hair with a good amount of water-soluble ultrasound gel may be enough to get images without the need to shave.
• For anxious dogs, your vet may give your dog a sedative to calm them prior to the test or recommend one to give your dog before your visit.
• Your vet will apply ultrasound gel to your dog's abdomen and rub an ultrasound wand over the area to obtain images of the womb and any possible puppies.
• Your veterinarian will take an ultrasound of your dog's abdomen to determine if there are fetal heartbeats present.²
• Results may be available immediately or within a few days.
• This test is only reliable after three weeks of gestation (around 22 days); the developing embryos may not show up prior to that.³
• An abdominal ultrasound can give you an idea of how many puppies are developing² and whether or not they are viable.³
• This is considered the most reliable pregnancy test for dogs.³
• Most dogs handle ultrasound with no issues, sitting and relaxing comfortably during the test.

3. Palpation

While palpation of the abdomen to check for puppies isn't invasive per se, it can cause harm to the fetuses if not done gently and correctly by a veterinarian.² During this exam, your veterinarian will use their hands to gently press on the area and feel for puppies in the abdomen.³

• This test only works between three and a half and five weeks or, 25 to 30 days into the pregnancy.³
• Fetuses will feel like little golf balls or grapes under the skin.²
• For dogs who are skittish or reactive, this test might not be the best choice because it might make them anxious.
• As the fetuses develop, the fluid-filled sacs around them lose their shape.² There is a window of around 10 days for this test to work.³
• This test can't tell you whether or not the fetuses are viable.³
• This test alone may not be enough to confirm or rule out pregnancy, and you'll likely need to perform either a blood test or ultrasound to do so.⁹
• If your dog is very reactive or has health issues, palpation may not be the best test for your dog and you should opt for another type of pregnancy test.³

4. X-Ray

An X-ray is a picture of your dog's inner structures using electromagnetic radiation. Like an ultrasound, it is noninvasive and painless. Because electromagnetic radiation in large doses is harmful, your dog's body will be covered with protective lead shields in areas other than the abdomen.⁷

While a dog pregnancy X-ray of the abdomen is one of the best ways to determine whether your dog is pregnant, it's only effective starting at day 55 of the pregnancy and beyond.²

• The test will show you the number of puppies your dog is carrying because it detects their skeletons.² Results are usually available immediately.⁷
• If your vet performs this test too early, it won't work.²
• This test won't show you whether the fetuses are reliable.³
• By the time this test is effective for detecting pregnancy, you'll likely only have a week or less to prepare for your dog's delivery.²
• Like an ultrasound, most dogs sit calmly for this painless procedure, but anxious dogs may require a sedative.

5. At-Home Dog Pregnancy Tests

There are also at-home dog pregnancy tests that use a small blood sample from your dog's lip to determine whether your dog has relaxin in their blood. The test results are ready within 10 minutes and are only reliable 28 days or more after insemination.⁸

Dog Pregnancy Test Costs

How much you pay for your dog's pregnancy tests depends on the type of testing and how often it is performed. Keep in mind that you may need more than one type of pregnancy test for your dog.

In addition to the cost of your dog's pregnancy test, you should also expect to pay for an office visit with your veterinarian, which can vary from $50 to $60, except for a palpation test, which is usually included as part of your dog's physical exam.⁹ Even if you use an at-home dog pregnancy test, it's best to bring your dog to your vet for a physical exam.

What Affects the Price of My Dog’s Pregnancy Test?

There are several factors that will affect the prices of your dog's pregnancy test, including:⁹

• Location of your vet. If your veterinarian's office is in a larger, more metropolitan area, expect to pay more for your dog's pregnancy testing and veterinary care overall. Rural areas may have lower costs.
• Who does the testing. When your veterinarian performs an ultrasound on your dog, it will likely cost less than if they have a separate cardiologist perform the ultrasound.
• If your dog needs sedation. For dogs who become very agitated at the vet, sedation or anesthesia may be required for your dog to keep her calm during pregnancy testing. Expect for this to add anywhere from $25 to $150 or more to your final bill.
• If you use an at-home test. At-home testing costs much less than in-office testing for your dog.¹⁰

Does Pet Insurance Cover Dog Pregnancy Testing?

Some pet insurance companies may cover the costs of your dog's pregnancy testing (in a vet's office), including blood work, ultrasounds, palpation and X-rays. Others may require an add-on to a traditional policy if you are planning on breeding your dog, and may not cover any pregnancy costs or more expensive procedures like cesarean sections.⁹

At-home tests are typically not covered by pet insurance.⁹

Contact your policy provider to see what is covered and not covered by your dog's particular policy.

Additional Questions About Dog Pregnancy Testing

You may have more questions about dog pregnancy testing, especially regarding the chance of false pregnancy results, safety of the pregnancy tests and prep before the test, which are answered below.

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Author Bio

Susan Paretts is a freelance writer with 19 years of experience covering health and wellness, pet care and more. Her work has been published by the American Kennel Club, Bayer Animal Health, Elanco, LIVESTRONG.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Chewy and more.