How Soon Can Pregnancy be Determined

Many of our visitors want to know how soon a dog's pregnancy can be determined. See what the Dog Expert has to say.

Question: How Soon Can Pregnancy be Determined?

Hi,

I have a female Basset Hound that I am trying to breed. She was mated on October eighth through the twelfth, and the dogs had a full tie each time. What are the chances she is pregnant, and how soon do you think I'll be able to tell?

~~ Renee

Expert Reply

Hi Renee,

With five breedings, I'd say her chances of being pregnant are excellent, so go ahead and treat her as if she is. Allow her to eat more of her regular food if she wants it, and add a dollop of cottage cheese on top for extra calcium.

Other than the fact that she may become a little tired out, or experience other personality changes in the early stages, you won't really be able to confirm the pregnancy until about 28 days gestation. Schedule an appointment with your vet for this day and ask to have your bitch palpated. This should confirm the pregnancy, as well as tell you approximately how many pups to expect.

Now I'd like to talk about her due date. Since she was bred across a five day period, there could be a significant difference in the developmental age between any resulting pups. This is because the bitch is constantly sending down eggs during her fertile period, so one pup could have been sired on the eighth, while another could have been sired on the twelfth. When you figure in the fact that the sperm can survive in the canal for a few days, some eggs could actually have been fertilized a day or more after the final breeding.

Her actual due date will span 63 days forward from the first and last breeding, so you are going to have to watch her carefully in that final week. If you decide to breed her again, two good breedings spaced a day apart is usually sufficient to ensure fertilization, and the pups will be more equally developed at delivery time.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you have a healthy and happy litter.

~~ Kelly

Visitor: I Think My Pomeranian is Pregnant

Hi,

I have a Pomeranian, and the former owner said she was about ten months old. I've had her for about two months now, and my friend's Pomeranian mated with my dog.

I'm not sure if she is pregnant, but recently she's been extremely picky with food and doesn't eat much. I've even resorted to feeding her human food. She also seems to be digging in her cage with her head and scratching the cage walls; is this what they call nesting behavior?

I just want know if I should expect pups. I'd appreciate anything you can tell me so I wouldn't have to make unnecessary visits to the vet?

Thanks~~ Robert Caruzo

Expert Reply

Hi Robert,

It sounds as though your bitch could be pregnant, and to be on the safe side I'd treat her as if she is. Human food is good for her as long as you feed her things that are safe for her to eat. I recommend making her boiled chicken and brown rice, with green beans and carrots. Add a dollop of cottage cheese on the top for added calcium. This will give her decent nutrition at this time. You can offer her a daily dog vitamin to make sure she's getting everything she needs.

At approximately two months gestation, you've probably missed the window for your vet to be able to palpate, or feel, the pups in the uterus. However, I'd recommend taking her in to have an ultrasound performed in a few more weeks. This way you can definitely find out if she's pregnant or not, as well as how many pups she might be expecting.

Thanks for your question, and I hope all works out well.

~~ Kelly

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