by H. Marlow

Created on: December 02, 2009   Last Updated: December 03, 2009

Whether you've bred your dog, or you're just wondering why your dog is behaving differently, knowing the signs of dog pregnancy can be very helpful. Dogs only come into heat about twice a year and during this time, they are able to conceive. About 2-3 months after conception, dogs normally give birth, which doesn't give a long time to notice the symptoms. If you think your dog might be pregnant, here are some things to look for:

Early Signs: About 1-3 weeks after conception.

1. The dog's nipples have changed color or enlarged. The nipples may turn a bright pink or red color. Also they will get noticeably bigger, as the normal nipples of a dog that is not pregnant are very small.

2. A decrease in appetite. AKA Doggie morning sickness! This does not always happened, but it has been observed in some dogs.

3. Lethargy. Your dog might have a decrease in activity and may wish to sleep more than usual. This is just due to the change of hormone levels, just like in humans.

Mid-Term Signs: 3-4 weeks after conception.

1. An increase in appetite, and significant weight gain. Just like in human pregnancies, the dog will start to eat more as she needs more energy for both her and her puppies. Thus, her abdomen will enlarge rather rapidly.

2. At this point your can take your dog to the vet to have an ultrasound to determine whether or not she is pregnant and how many puppies she will have.

Late-Term Signs

1. Milk Production. You will notice the nipples enlarging even more and milk can now even be expressed from them.

2. The abdomen will increase in size even more, making it almost impossible not to notice. The abdomen also will tend to hang down a little more than if the dog was just overweight.

3. At this point you may actually feel the puppies moving in the abdomen if you place your hand there.

These are all of the symptoms of pregnancy in dogs. It is important as a dog owner to watch for these symptoms in your own dog if you think she may be pregnant to ensure both the health of your dog and it's puppies. If you think your dog may be pregnant, it is a good idea to take it to the vet to have it examined or even to have an ultrasound taken to make sure that everyone is healthy.

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