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One of the most frequently asked questions and one of the most searched for on the internet by inexeperienced dog owners is how long does a dog stay pregnant or what is the lenth of gestation. The gestation period in a female dog (or bitch) refers to the time period from the first breeding (or fertilization) until the birth of the puppies. The gestation period of all dogs, regardless of the size or breed, is 58 to 65 days.

A female dog will mate when she is in estrus (or in heat). The complete estrus cycle is divided into four cycles and occurs on average every six months. Although some breeds are known to have one or even three cycles per year. Generally, the female dog can reach puberty at ages ranging from six to twenty-four months. The larger the breed of dog, the older she will be before she reaches puberty. This also holds true for the male dog. It is recommended to consider a female to be in heat for at least twenty-one days. Seven days coming into heat, seven days in heat and seven days going out of heat.

The estrous cycle is divided into four stages (or cycles):

*Proestrus Normally lasting from four to nine days. During this time, the male dog will show interest but the female is non-receptive and will not mate. The female will show signs of swelling and have a bloody discharge.

*Estrus Lasting for four to thirteen days, this is the stage where the female dog is receptive and will allow the male to mate. During this stage is when conception can occur. Because this cycle lasts for days, it is possible for her to breed more than once. There should be less discharge during this stage.

*Diestrus (or Metestrus) The female dog will again refuse the male. During this stage, the female dog may go through a "false" pregnancy if she did not conceive. False pregnancies are normal for female dogs that do not breed during their cycle. The mammary glands may swell; she can start to produce milk and may even go through a "nesting" behavior.

*Anestrus This is a period of sexual inactivity which lasts on average of two to four months. This is the phase of rest.

If the female dog has bred, puppies will arrive in approximately nine weeks. During the last few weeks of her pregnancy, her behavior may change. She will become restless, searching for an undisturbed, secluded area and she will attempt to make a bed or "nest" to give birth.

If your female dog is expecting, good nutrition is essential for Mom and for the development of the puppies. High protein meals including eggs and liver along with supplements are recommended. Food and water intake can nearly double during the last five weeks of gestation. Meals should be given in smaller portions at more frequent intervals and fresh water should be available at all times.

Contrary to belief, female dogs can get pregnant during their first heat cycle but is not advised. While the gestation time is the same in all dogs, the cycle time lines given are an average and can vary among different dog breeds. Female dogs never experience menopause as humans do. The best recommendation is if you don't want puppies; have your female dog spayed.

Sources:
THE EVERYTHING DOG HEALTH BOOK by Debra Eldredge, Kim Campbell Thornton, copyright 2005
http://vetmedicine.about.com/o d/pregnancybirthindogs/f/FAQ_p regdog.htm
http://pets.iloveindia.com/dog s/gestation-period-in-dogs.htm l
http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/do grepro.html

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