Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Pets Signs that Your Dog is Pregnant

Female dogs go into heat about once every six months, although this can vary depending upon the breed and factors such as her health. If the dog is very fastidious or if you don't keep a close eye upon her, she may go through her heat cycle without you even being aware of it. However, if you have a pack of male dogs howling at your back door, this is a sure sign that she is in heat and that you'd better lock her up if you don't want a litter of mutts – supposing of course that it is not already too late.

If you've purposely bred your dog, or if you are suspicious that she may have been entertaining visitors, there are a few signs to keep an eye out for that may indicate that its time to start thinking about where you want the puppies to be born.

Early on in the pregnancy, you may notice that,

• She is suddenly eating nonstop.

• That she is gaining a lot of weight.

• She's unusually restless and agitated.

• Her nipples have begun to swell.
• You may also notice that her vulva looks swollen and may seem to be protruding.

Toward the end of the pregnancy, a few signs that birth may be imminent are,

• She's begun to build a nest, i.e., begun to pull bedding together.
• She may begin to lick her nether regions more frequently than unusual.
• She may become very agitated and aggressive, and may be seen to pace back and forth.
• A discharge may appear from the nipples.
• Her body temperature has dropped. This usually occurs about a day before the birth and will not be noticeable unless you take her temperature.

If you think that your dog is pregnant, your vet can perform a hormone test that will give you a definitive answer. If the pregnancy is somewhat advanced, the puppies should be visible on a x-ray or through an ultra sound test. If you think that your dog is pregnant, be cautious about letting her be x-rayed. The radiation from a x-ray can be just as damaging to a puppy as to a baby, in utero.

After going through a heat cycle, some dogs may go through a false pregnancy, if they have not been bred. They will exhibit all the initial signs of a real pregnancy, including weight gain, increased appetite, and their nipples may swell. In addition, they may even begin to lactate. Usually the false pregnancy will go away naturally, as their hormones adjust back to a normal state. If the false pregnancy is prolonged or if it is causing your pet discomfort, there are medical treatments available to stop it.

• If you are not sure if the dog is pregnant or going through a psuedopregnancy, you can have a pregnancy test done in the vet's office. This involves drawing blood and then measuring the level of specific hormones. This will accurately tell if she is, or isn't, going to be a mother.

If you are not sure if your dog is pregnant and if it is not important to you to find out right away, be patient and wait. The gestation period for dogs varies according to the breed, but usually runs about 63 days.

• If she is pregnant, one day you'll come home to find that she's delivered the puppies in your favorite easy chair or on your grandmother's handmade quilt.

While waiting is always an option, it is better to know sooner, rather than later. A pregnant dog should be given enriched foods to help her body through the pregnancy. Also knowing will give you the opportunity to look out for sign that she is in distress and to organize a proper whelping area.