How to Tell if a Dog Is Pregnant At Home: 7 Signs & 4 Tests

This article was co-authored by Jamie Freyer, DVM and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Dr. Jamie Freyer is a Licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine based in Washington. With over ten years of experience in clinical practice and industry, she specializes in veterinary medicine and surgery, animal behavior, and animal genetics. Dr. Freyer holds a BS in Life Science from The University of Portland and a DVM from Oregon State University.

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So, your dog’s acting different, but she’s not in heat…could she be pregnant? The early stages of pregnancy can be a bit tricky to spot right away, but if you know what to look for, you’re golden. Luckily for you, we’ve laid out everything you need to know in this article, including what to look for and veterinary tests. Knowing if your dog is pregnant is a breeze with our help, so read on to learn about the leading signs.

Things You Should Know

• A pregnant dog will start to gain weight around her stomach and waist before her pregnancy starts to show.
• A tell-tale sign that your dog might be pregnant is if her nipples “pink up” and become rosier and more pronounced.
• If your dog’s pregnant, she may start eating more, get tired easily, or crave more or less attention than usual.
• Always take your dog to the vet if you suspect pregnancy, as they can do an ultrasound or run a blood test to confirm or deny pregnancy.

Steps

Enlarged or discolored nipples

1. One of the earliest signs that your dog is pregnant is if she “pinks up.” A pregnant dog’s nipples will be rosier in color (more so than usual) and grow in size, so they’re more prominent.[1] X Expert SourceJamie Freyer, DVMLicensed Veterinarian Expert Interview. 8 October 2021. This usually indicates that the dog is about 2 to 3 weeks pregnant.

Weight gain

1. If your dog’s put on a bit of weight, it may be because she’s pregnant. Pregnant dogs tend to gain weight around their stomach and waist during the 2nd or 3rd week of pregnancy. This is completely normal—your dog is making more room for her puppies![2] X Research source

Swollen belly

1. A rounder and firmer stomach could be a sign of pregnancy. Believe it or not, most dogs don’t “show” their pregnancy until the third half of pregnancy, which is 6 to 9 weeks since conception. If your dog’s stomach is more pronounced than usual, she’s most likely pregnant (especially if her nipples and mammary glands are swollen and plump).[3] X Research source
   • Try gently placing your hand on your dog’s belly. As the dog’s pregnancy progresses, there’s a greater chance you’ll be able to feel the puppies inside.
   • The mammary glands produce the milk the puppies will drink, which causes a pregnant dog’s nipples to swell.

Increase in appetite

1. If your dog is pregnant, she’ll most likely eat more than usual. As her tummy grows, expect her to want to eat bigger meals and snack more throughout the day. After all, she has more mouths to feed![4] X Research source
   • Talk to your veterinarian about how to care for your pregnant dog and when to increase her food rations, as additional calories could benefit her and the growing pups.
   • Know that your dog will likely have a reduced appetite 12 to 24 hours before whelping or giving birth.[5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

Tires easily

1. A sudden change in a dog’s energy levels could signify pregnancy. A pregnant dog may be drowsier or more lethargic than normal, especially as her belly grows. This is most noticeable if your dog is naturally full of energy.[6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Take note if your dog would rather take an abnormal nap than play fetch like usual.
   • This isn’t necessarily a sure sign of pregnancy, as many other underlying illnesses and conditions could cause changes in behavior. Always bring your dog to the vet, just to be sure.

More affectionate or irritable

1. Your dog’s behavior could change subtly or drastically if she’s pregnant. How a dog emotionally reacts to her pregnancy all depends on her personality. Some dogs become more affectionate and attention-seeking, while others shy away from pets and cuddles.[7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source So, notice if your dog suddenly wants to be pet all the time or hides in a room away from people and other animals.
   • This change doesn’t automatically mean your dog is pregnant, but it could be a good indicator if she’s showing other pregnancy symptoms.

Nesting behavior

1. Like humans, a dog will start preparing for her baby’s arrival.[8] X Expert SourceJamie Freyer, DVMLicensed Veterinarian Expert Interview. 8 October 2021. Your dog may gather blankets, shred paper, or bunch together bedding or clothing to make a warm nest for her puppies. This behavior isn’t always observed, but if your dog does this out of the blue, she’s most likely about to whelp (give birth).[9] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
   • Help your dog nest by providing her with a cardboard whelping box and plenty of extra blankets or towels.
   • Talk to your veterinarian about helping your dog give birth and specify any health or behavioral concerns to get the most personalized care.

Physical examination

1. A veterinarian will most likely do a palpation test to check for pregnancy. This physical examination is painless, and only requires the veterinarian to feel the outside of your dog’s belly with their forefingers. This helps them examine the womb and feel the outline of the potential puppies.[10] X Expert SourceJamie Freyer, DVMLicensed Veterinarian Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
   • Palpation works best when the dog is between 3 and 4 weeks pregnant, as the embryonic vesicles can be easily felt.[11] X Research source
   • If the veterinarian feels anything, they’ll move on to an ultrasound or X-ray test to ensure they’re feeling fetuses rather than feces.

Hormone test

1. A veterinarian can take your dog’s blood to run a pregnancy hormone test.[12] X Expert SourceJamie Freyer, DVMLicensed Veterinarian Expert Interview. 8 October 2021. With this test, they’re looking for the hormone relaxin, which is generally present during the 4th week of pregnancy. If relaxin is present, your dog is definitely pregnant.
   • A relaxin hormone test is often used to decipher pseudo pregnancies from real pregnancies, as a dog won’t produce the hormone unless she’s actually pregnant.

Ultrasound

1. If pregnancy is suspected, a veterinarian will perform an ultrasound. With this, they can listen for heartbeats and count how many puppies there are (just like a human ultrasound). This is a sure way to confirm pregnancy in your dog, as long as she’s 2 or more weeks pregnant.[13] X Research source
   • Heartbeats are usually heard within 3 weeks of pregnancy.
   • Counting the number of puppies or fetuses can sometimes be difficult, as they often like to hide behind their siblings.
   • The vet may need to shave your dog’s belly fur if she’s extra fluffy.
   • Some dogs may need to be sedated for an ultrasound, especially those that get anxious at the vet’s.

X-ray

1. An X-ray of your dog’s stomach can help veterinarians count the number of puppies.[14] X Expert SourceJamie Freyer, DVMLicensed Veterinarian Expert Interview. 8 October 2021. With ultrasounds being the main test for dog pregnancies these days, an X-ray is only used in cases where the exact number of puppies needs to be known or there are suspected complications.
   • If you have a smaller dog, the veterinarian may take an X-ray to calculate the size of the puppies to determine whether a natural birth or c-section is the safest option.

Expert Q&A

• QuestionWhy do they X-ray pregnant dogs?Jamie Freyer, DVMDr. Jamie Freyer is a Licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine based in Washington. With over ten years of experience in clinical practice and industry, she specializes in veterinary medicine and surgery, animal behavior, and animal genetics. Dr. Freyer holds a BS in Life Science from The University of Portland and a DVM from Oregon State University.
  Licensed VeterinarianLicensed VeterinarianExpert AnswerSome breeders like to get X-rays so they can check for and count the number of puppies. Not all breeders do this, though.
• QuestionHow can you tell if your dog is pregnant physically?Jamie Freyer, DVMDr. Jamie Freyer is a Licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine based in Washington. With over ten years of experience in clinical practice and industry, she specializes in veterinary medicine and surgery, animal behavior, and animal genetics. Dr. Freyer holds a BS in Life Science from The University of Portland and a DVM from Oregon State University.
  Licensed VeterinarianLicensed VeterinarianExpert AnswerBe on the lookout for signs of vulvar enlargement, nipple enlargement, and hair loss. Your dog may also start nesting.
• QuestionHow can you tell if your dog is pregnant?Pippa Elliott, MRCVSDr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
  VeterinarianVeterinarianExpert AnswerAn ultrasound scan can detect pups from around 21 days, while a blood test from 28 days can confirm pregnancy. Often the earliest physical sign of pregnancy is ‘pinking up,’ when the dog’s nipples become swollen, pink, and more noticeable.

Tips

• Dogs are typically pregnant for 8 to 9 weeks.[15] X Research source
• Many pregnancy signs are non-specific and can overlap with other health issues, so always have your dog checked by a veterinarian if she shows any of these symptoms.[16] X Expert SourcePippa Elliott, MRCVSVeterinarian Expert Interview. 29 May 2019.
• Every dog reacts to pregnancy differently. If your dog doesn’t show specific behavioral signs, that’s okay—she’s simply handling her pregnancy in her own special way.

Warnings

• False pregnancy or pseudopregnancy is a common occurrence in dogs. A few weeks after going into heat, a dog can exhibit signs of pregnancy, such as enlarged nipples and increased appetite, without actually being pregnant. Always bring your dog to the vet if you suspect pregnancy.

References

1. ↑ Jamie Freyer, DVM. Licensed Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
2. ↑ https://youtu.be/jGwcLB5wvFI?t=118
3. ↑ https://youtu.be/nWH-V7zlz-g?t=26
4. ↑ https://youtu.be/UwLVv8DclTk?t=219
5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027574/
6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027574/
7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027574/
8. ↑ Jamie Freyer, DVM. Licensed Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
9. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027574/

1. ↑ Jamie Freyer, DVM. Licensed Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
2. ↑ https://www.emeryanimalhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Canine-Pregnancy-.pdf
3. ↑ Jamie Freyer, DVM. Licensed Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
4. ↑ https://www.emeryanimalhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Canine-Pregnancy-.pdf
5. ↑ Jamie Freyer, DVM. Licensed Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 8 October 2021.
6. ↑ https://youtu.be/jGwcLB5wvFI?t=60
7. ↑ Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Veterinarian. Expert Interview. 29 May 2019.

About This Article

If you’re wondering if your dog is pregnant, check along her belly to see if her nipples are pink, which is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. About 21 days after the dog has mated, her gums will appear white for 2-3 days if she is pregnant. The dog’s belly won’t show that she’s pregnant until the final weeks, at which time it will become rounded and the mammary glands will begin to develop, so if you need to know sooner, take the dog to the vet for a blood test or ultrasound. If you want to know about your dog’s behavioral changes from our Veterinarian co-author, keep reading!

Reader Success Stories

• “The false pregnancy part was most helpful. My dog had all the symptoms of being pregnant, but it’s been almost almost five months now and no puppies. Her nipples are returning to regular size and her belly is flat. No big round tummy. I never knew dogs could do that.”…” more