How Long Are Dogs Pregnant? Dog Gestation Period Explained

Did you know that dogs can become pregnant as early as six months of age? And, depending on their size, they can give birth to up to 12 puppies in a single litter.¹ That's the pitter-patter of a lot of paws!

If your furry best friend is expecting a litter of little besties, you're probably wondering how long she'll be pregnant and how to prepare for the arrival of the pups. Here, we'll look at what to expect when your dog is expecting, including how long her pregnancy will last, how to tell if she is pregnant, how much her pregnancy will cost and how to make her comfortable during her pregnancy.

What Is a Dog's Gestation Period?

A dog's gestation period refers to the time it takes for her to carry a litter of puppies to term, from conception to the time she gives birth. Unlike humans, a dog's gestation period is very short.

How long is a dog's gestation period on average?

A dog's gestation period is around 63 days or about nine weeks on average. It can vary from around 58 to 72 days in total or between eight and 10 weeks.²

• Smaller breeds like Chihuahuas generally have shorter gestation periods of between 58 and 63 days.²
• Larger breeds like Great Danes may have longer gestation periods, ranging between 66 and 72 days.²

If your dog's pregnancy is lasting longer than 10 weeks, visit your veterinarian to ensure there are no potential complications with the pregnancy.

3 stages of a dog pregnancy

Your dog will be pregnant for around nine weeks, which is usually divided into three trimesters of approximately three weeks each.³

• First trimester. During this time, the embryos become embedded in the uterine lining and the fetuses begin to grow. Your dog will experience an increase in appetite, display more affectionate behavior, become less active and might experience a bit of "morning sickness."
• Second trimester. During this time, the puppies will begin to develop their skeletons. Your dog will begin to gain a significant amount of weight, from between 20% and 50% of her normal weight. At the beginning of the second trimester, your vet should be able to detect the presence of the puppies with testing and palpation of the abdomen.
• Third trimester. During this time, your veterinarian will be able to see with an X-ray how many puppies your dog is expecting. You'll also be able to see the puppies moving within your dog's abdomen. At day 45, your dog will have a decrease in appetite. Later, she'll refuse to eat just before labor around day 62. Her temperature will also drop 12 to 24 hours before starting active labor.

How to Tell if Your Dog Is Pregnant

Whether you've recently bred your dog or suspect that a dog you've adopted is pregnant, there are certain symptoms you can look for that might indicate that puppies are on the way.

Dog pregnancy symptoms⁴

• Weight gain
• Increased appetite
• Swollen belly
• Enlarged nipples
• Tendency to tire more easily
• More affectionate temperament
• Nesting behaviors
• Becoming more irritable than usual
• Vomiting or eating less but still gaining weight⁵

Dog pregnancy tests

If you suspect your dog might be pregnant, the only way to know for sure is to visit a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis. Your vet can perform a number of tests to confirm or rule out pregnancy as the cause of your dog's behavioral changes or weight gain. These tests include:³

• An abdominal ultrasound to detect the fetal heartbeats of the puppies in the womb 25 to 35 days after insemination
• A blood test for a hormone called relaxin, at around 25 to 30 days after insemination. Your dog's body produces relaxin only during pregnancy.
• Palpation of the abdomen to feel for the puppies within the womb between 28 and 30 days after insemination
• An X-ray of the abdomen, which shows the developing skeletons of the puppies at day 55 or beyond. This will also give you an idea of the actual number of puppies your dog is expecting.

Average Costs of Dog Pregnancy

If you suspect that your furry companion is expecting a litter of puppies, it's best to budget for all of the necessary veterinary care — in addition to her normal day-to-day costs — that she'll need during her pregnancy. This is where the majority of your expenses will come from.

Expect to visit the vet around three times during your dog's pregnancy, once every three weeks or so. This will give the doctor a chance to monitor your dog's pregnancy and keep track of how many puppies to expect.

Vet costs for a pregnant dog

Dog pregnancy veterinary cost considerations

Taking your dog regularly to see the vet during her pregnancy will ensure that she and her puppies are healthy and reduce the chance of complications occurring. Note that some breeds with long or wide heads are more likely to need a cesarean section during the birth of their puppies, which can greatly increase your dog's pregnancy costs. That's because the large heads of the puppies are sometimes unable to pass smoothly through the mother dog's small birth canal. These typically brachycephalic or dolichocephalic breeds include the:⁸

• Boston terrier
• English bulldog
• French bulldog
• Mastiff
• Scottish terrier
• Miniature bull terrier
• German wirehaired pointer
• Pekingese
• Dandie Dinmont terrier
• Saint Bernard

What supplies will I need to make my dog comfortable?

To prepare for the birth of your dog's puppies, you'll need a whelping box, which can cost up to $800 for larger dogs.⁹ However, you can also use a cardboard box, children's swimming pool or plastic dog kennel to save a little money.

Some pet stores sell whelping box packages that contain most of the supplies you'll need to keep your dog comfortable and prepare for the birth of her puppies. In general, you'll need:⁴

Common Questions About Dog Pregnancy

Going through your dog's pregnancy with her can be a little confusing, especially if you've never had a pregnant dog. But it's important to know what to expect during each stage of her pregnancy so you can ensure she stays healthy and doesn't experience any complications that will require veterinary intervention.

How long are dogs in labor?

Dogs are generally in active labor for around six to 24 hours. However, labor in dogs has three stages:¹⁶

• Early labor, which can last up to 24 hours, during which your dog's cervix is opening and she starts to nest before the birthing process
• Active labor, which can also last up to 24 hours. During active labor, your dog will give birth to each puppy between 30 minutes and three hours apart.
• Final stage of labor, during which she delivers the final placenta, usually within 30 minutes of the birth of the last puppy

Note that if your dog takes longer than three hours between puppies to give birth or longer than 30 minutes to deliver the placenta after the last puppy, get her to the vet immediately, as she may be experiencing complications.¹⁶

What is a false pregnancy in dogs?

False pregnancy — also known as pseudopregnancy — in a dog occurs due to a drop in her body's level of progesterone and a rise in the level of prolactin. This change can occur naturally around six to eight weeks after going into heat if your dog isn't spayed. It might also occur within three to 14 days of a dog being spayed while she was in heat.¹⁷

• Dogs experiencing false pregnancy will show the same signs as those who are actually pregnant, including enlarged mammary glands and even lactation.¹⁷
• If you notice these symptoms, go to a veterinarian, who can determine whether or not your dog is actually pregnant.¹⁷
• False pregnancy isn't harmful to dogs and generally only lasts around two to three weeks, before resolving without treatment.¹⁷
• A doggy T-shirt or e-collar can help prevent chafing if your dog is excessively licking at her nipples during a false pregnancy.¹⁷

What can you feed a pregnant dog?

Your dog should eat her regular diet during the first two trimesters of her pregnancy.¹⁸ Her eating patterns will change when she is pregnant. During her first trimester, her appetite may increase or she may experience some lulls in appetite due to "morning sickness."³

Her appetite will continue to increase in her second trimester, before waning at around day 45. In her third trimester, her appetite will stay steady until she starts labor, when she will refuse to eat as she begins to nest just prior to giving birth.³

During the third trimester, around day 40, start feeding her a high-calorie dog food designed for pregnant or nursing dogs. Food designed for puppies will also meet her increased caloric needs during this time.¹⁸

Avoid food for large-breed puppies because it won't have the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus she will need for proper lactation and the healthy development of her puppies.¹⁸ You'll also want to stay away from raw food diets due to the risk of infection they pose for your dog that could lead to the loss of the puppies.⁵

Continue to feed your dog a high-calorie diet until she has weaned her puppies.¹⁸

Can a dog get pregnant right after having puppies?

A dog can become pregnant again shortly after giving birth to puppies. In fact, when your dog experiences her next heat cycle after pregnancy — which can occur while she is still nursing her puppies — and mates with a male dog, she can immediately become pregnant again. Because becoming pregnant so soon after birth is dangerous for your dog, it's best to keep her indoors and away from any potential suitors while she nurses her puppies.¹⁹

Does pet insurance cover the costs of dog pregnancy?

Whether or not your dog's pet insurance policy will cover the cost of her veterinary care during her pregnancy varies by insurance company. Some policies will cover routine veterinary care, such as vet visit costs and X-rays, but exclude things like cesarean section surgery.⁷

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dogs

The CareCredit credit card provides a convenient way to pay for your dog's vaccinations and other health and wellness expenses, including exams, medications and products at providers in the CareCredit network.* Apply today and continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos. Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian that accepts CareCredit to help keep your pet healthy and happy for a lifetime of love.

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.