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Pawrennial

Dog Pregnancy Calculator

Find her due date, how far along she is, and what to do each week until the puppies arrive.

Enter the mating date

Which date do you know?

If she was mated more than once, use the first date. Planning ahead? A future date works too.

When are the puppies due?

A calm, pregnant dog resting on a soft bed beside a calendar

Enter the mating date to see her due date and a week-by-week plan.

How long are dogs pregnant?

Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days, or 9 weeks, counted from breeding. That's the date our calculator uses as the due date.

The real date can easily be a few days either side. Sperm can survive for a week or more, so the day she was bred isn't always the day she conceived. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a normal range of 58 to 72 days from the first breeding. If your vet tracked her hormones with progesterone or LH tests, the due date is much more precise: 64 to 66 days after the LH surge.

Dog pregnancy week by week

What's happening, and what you can do, in each week of a typical 9-week pregnancy.
Dog pregnancy timeline by week
WeekWhat's happeningWhat to do
Weeks 1 to 2No visible changes. Eggs are fertilized and the embryos travel to the uterus.Keep her routine and food the same.
Week 3Embryos settle into the uterus. Some dogs eat a little less or seem quieter.Check with your vet before any medicines or treatments.
Week 4Puppies' heartbeats can be seen on ultrasound from about day 25.Book a vet visit to confirm the pregnancy.
Week 5Puppies grow quickly. Her belly and nipples may start to look bigger.Keep walks gentle and regular.
Week 6Her belly is usually rounder now, and her appetite grows.Start increasing her food gradually, as your vet advises.
Week 7Puppies' skeletons are visible on X-ray. You may see or feel them move.Gather whelping supplies and choose a quiet spot.
Week 8She may start nesting. Milk can appear in the last days.X-ray after day 55 to count the puppies. Set up the whelping box.
Week 9Her temperature drops and she becomes restless, then labor starts.Take her temperature twice a day and keep your vet's number handy.

Caring for a pregnant dog

  • Food: keep her usual food for the first month or so. Her calorie needs rise in the last 3 weeks, and many vets suggest moving gradually to a puppy (growth) food and feeding smaller, more frequent meals.
  • Exercise: regular, gentle walks keep her fit for the birth. Avoid rough play and hard exercise in the last few weeks.
  • Medicines: check with your vet before giving any medicine, supplement, flea or worm treatment, or vaccine.
  • Vet visits: one to confirm the pregnancy (days 25 to 35), and ideally an X-ray near the end to count the puppies and talk through the birth.

Getting ready for the birth

About a week before her due date, set up a whelping area and have these ready:

  • A whelping box in a warm, quiet room, big enough for her to stretch out, with low sides she can step over.
  • Plenty of clean towels, newspapers or puppy pads, and washable bedding.
  • A digital thermometer, a notebook to record each puppy's arrival time, and a kitchen scale.
  • Your vet's number and the nearest emergency vet, in case labor happens at night.

Start taking her rectal temperature twice a day. In most dogs it drops below about 99 F (37.2 C) 8 to 24 hours before the puppies arrive. She'll likely become restless, dig at her bedding, pant, and refuse food.

When to call the vet

Most dogs give birth without help, but problems need quick action. Call your vet straight away if she strains for 30 minutes without a puppy, goes more than 2 hours between puppies when you know more are coming, has 4 hours of labor with no puppy, or has green or bloody discharge before the first puppy. Call too if there are no puppies 70 days after breeding, or no labor within 24 to 36 hours of her temperature dropping.

Once the puppies arrive, our puppy vaccination schedule and puppy growth predictor can help with the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

How long are dogs pregnant?

About 63 days, or 9 weeks, from breeding. Because breeding and conception don't line up exactly, the normal range is 58 to 72 days from the first breeding. If your vet tracked her hormones, the due date is much more precise: 64 to 66 days after the LH surge or the first rise in progesterone.

How can I tell if my dog is pregnant?

Early on there are few reliable signs. Some dogs eat less or seem quieter around week 3, and the nipples may get pinker and larger. The belly usually starts to look rounder from about week 5 or 6. The only way to know for sure is a vet visit: an ultrasound from about day 25 is the most reliable test.

When can a vet confirm my dog is pregnant?

An ultrasound is best from about day 25 to 35, and it can show the puppies' heartbeats. A relaxin blood test also works from about day 25. Before day 21, tests can miss a pregnancy. An X-ray after day 55 is the best way to count the puppies.

How many puppies will my dog have?

It depends mostly on her size and breed. Small breeds often have 1 to 4 puppies and large breeds can have 8 or more, while a first litter is often smaller. A late-pregnancy X-ray (after day 55) gives the best count, so you know when she's finished.

What are the signs that labor is starting?

In the day or so before whelping, most dogs become restless, nest, pant, shiver, and stop eating. Her rectal temperature usually drops below about 99 F (37.2 C) 8 to 24 hours before puppies arrive. If no labor starts within 24 to 36 hours of the drop, call your vet.

When should I call the vet during labor?

Call right away if she strains strongly for 30 minutes without a puppy, goes more than 2 hours between puppies when you know more are coming, has 4 hours of labor with no puppy, has green or bloody discharge before the first puppy, or seems very weak or unwell. Also call if she reaches 70 days after breeding with no puppies.

Sources

Sources last checked: . How we calculate

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