How to Determine Whether a Dog Is Pregnant

When you have a family dog, you know that she is fully part of the family. Often times dogs will get special treatment from different members of the family, they will have their little toys and areas of the house that they overtake---they pretty much have it made. With that said, you will also always know when things aren't quite right with your dog. You can tell when she is getting sick or tired. But can you tell when your dog is pregnant? There are some signs that you should watch for if you suspect your dog might be pregnant.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Veterinarian

1. Take her to the veterinarian's office. This is the easiest and best way to tell if your dog is pregnant. The vet will be able to do an ultrasound on her to make sure, but most good vets can tell simply by feeling your dog's stomach 15 to 20 days after conception.

2. Monitor your dog. Just like people, dogs' habits will change with pregnancy, but they will not be as obvious as the human changes. Part of this is simply because they can not voice the things that they are feeling. Some of the changes that you will want to watch for is an increased appetite, sleeping more often, drinking more water than normal and urinating more frequently. Each of these could be indicators that your dog is pregnant.

3. Watch for pink, swollen nipples on the belly of your dog. This will appear towards the end of the pregnancy but are a surefire way to show that your dog is pregnant. The nipples becoming more pronounced is simply her body's way of preparing itself for motherhood.

4. Watch her belly. As she nears the due date, her belly will get noticeably larger. This is especially true if your particular breed of dog tends to have larger litters. With the average doggy pregnancy lasting around 60 days, the larger belly should be very clear for the last couple of weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep tabs on your dog at all times. This is especially true when she is in heat. If you watch your dog carefully and know what other dogs she is interacting with a dog pregnancy will not come as a shock to you. But if you allow your dog to roam freely, or she escapes quite often, you may not know until further down the road. Make sure that you know and understand what your dog will be going through when she is ready to deliver. There are plenty of books and other resources available that you will want to use to ready yourself. You should also talk to your vet about what you should be doing for your dog.

Resources

• More Information on How to Tell if Your Dog is Pregnant