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PetBreed Plan

Dog Pregnancy Week by Week

A nine-week guide to the stages of dog pregnancy: what the vet can check and when, which signs you might notice, and what to prepare before whelping. Pick a week, or enter the breeding date to jump to this week.

Her week today

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Week 1 · days 0–6

Early

What's happening

Breeding and fertilisation. Ovulation happens about 2–3 days after the LH peak, during estrus (Merck).

What to do this week

  • Write down every breeding date.
  • Keep her away from other intact males; she may still be in heat (VCA).
  • Keep food and exercise as normal.

The three stages of dog pregnancy

Weeks 1–3: early pregnancy

There is little to see. Fertilised eggs travel to the uterus and implant. Keep her routine and diet as they are; VCA advises leaving food intake unchanged for the first two-thirds of pregnancy. Remember that she may still be in heat for several days after breeding and could be mated by another dog (VCA).

Weeks 4–6: confirmation

This is when your vet can confirm the pregnancy. Palpation is possible from about three to four weeks but results vary; ultrasound from about day 25–35 is the method of choice, and a relaxin blood test works from about day 30–35 (Merck, VCA).

Weeks 7–9: late pregnancy and whelping prep

Over the last three weeks VCA recommends gradually increasing her food; ask your vet how much and which food. An X-ray after about day 55 counts the puppies (Merck). In the final week she may hide, turn restless and start nesting, and her temperature usually drops below about 99°F (37.2°C) within 24 hours of labor (VCA).

Signs of dog pregnancy

There is no reliable at-home sign in the first weeks. Later changes such as a growing belly, enlarged mammary glands and nesting are real, but the Merck Veterinary Manual warns that false pregnancy is common in dogs and produces the same things: weight gain, an enlarged abdomen, mammary swelling, milk and "mothering" behaviour. Only a vet check (ultrasound, relaxin test or X-ray) confirms a true pregnancy.

Whelping box checklist

  • Put it in a quiet corner she already knows, a few days to a week before the due window (VCA).
  • Big enough for her to move around freely, with sides low enough for her to see out and step in and out (VCA).
  • Line it with plenty of newspaper plus washable bedding.
  • Nearby: a thermometer, clean towels, a notebook for puppy birth times and weights, a kitchen scale, and your vet's and the emergency clinic's numbers.

If anything during pregnancy or whelping worries you, such as discharge before labor, prolonged straining without a puppy, or a dog that seems unwell, contact your veterinarian. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.

Questions breeders ask

What are the stages of dog pregnancy?

Pregnancy is about nine weeks and is often described in three stages of roughly three weeks: early pregnancy (weeks 1–3), confirmation and development (weeks 4–6), and late pregnancy with whelping preparation (weeks 7–9).

When does a pregnant dog start to show?

It varies with the dog and the size of the litter. Visible changes usually come in the second half of pregnancy, but false pregnancy can cause the same changes (Merck), so use a vet check rather than her shape to confirm.

When should I increase my pregnant dog's food?

VCA advises keeping intake the same for the first two-thirds (about six weeks after mating) and increasing it during the last three weeks. Ask your vet for the right amount and food for her.

How do I know labor is close?

Nesting, restlessness and hiding are common in the final week, and a temperature drop below about 99°F (37.2°C) usually comes within 24 hours of labor (VCA).