Signs your dog is pregnant

Whether intentionally breeding from your bitch, or fearful she may have had an opportunity to mate at a crucial moment in her cycle, learning the signs and symptoms of pregnancy will help you make good decisions about her ongoing care.

Like human’s, dogs’ pregnancies are measured in 3 trimesters, although their gestation period (pregnancy) is a lot shorter at just 63 days, counted from the day of ovulation (when the ovary releases its egg) to delivery of the puppies. Each trimester is about 21 days long.

What to expect in the first trimester

Initially, your dog may be her usual self, and any changes may be subtle enough to miss. Then you may notice some weight gain, although she may be tired and have less appetite than usual. Hormonal changes can cause some dogs to experience mild morning sickness, especially between weeks 3 and 4, so just try tempting her with smaller, more frequent, meals.

Visit your vet around week 3, when they will be able to confirm your dog’s pregnancy with a blood test for elevated levels of the hormone relaxin, or an ultrasound scan, which uses soundwaves to create a picture of the womb and any puppies inside of it. Your vet can also do a general health check of mum, and advise you of an appropriate diet and care for her.

By week 4, your puppies will be between 1 & 1.5cm long, about the size of a hazelnut. Your vet should be able to feel them inside the womb, but only allow a professional to do this, otherwise the delicate puppies could be harmed or miscarried.

What to expect in the second & third trimesters

By now you will notice an increase in your dog’s weight and the size of her belly. By day 40 her nipples will start to darken and enlarge.

From the start of the third trimester (around 45 days) your vet may recommend an X-ray to determine the number of puppies your bitch is carrying and check for skeletal abnormalities.

In the last couple of weeks of your dog’s pregnancy, her belly should be obviously swollen, and she may develop a waddling walk. Her teats will be fuller and sometimes leak some milky fluid. Although the puppies can more easily be felt, and even seen now, your vet may suggest a final scan to clarify how many puppies to expect, and whether they are small enough to pass through the birth canal. If your vet is concerned about the size, they will book your dog in for a caesarean section.

Keep your vet’s number to hand, and look forward in excitement to the special day when you get to meet them all!

Join the Breeder Reward Scheme at Royal Kennel Club Pet Insurance and activate 5 weeks free insurance for your litters as they leave you to join their new homes https://join.kcinsurance.co.uk/

Written by: Samantha Khan
Last reviewed on: 7 October 2026

About the Author

Sam Khan shares her woodland home with Junior, the cat, Gully, the dog and bunnies Hugo & Billy, sometimes playing the family’s ‘favourite’ game with the tortoise – “Where’s Churchill?” She loves writing for Agria, sharing our passion for animal welfare, protecting biodiversity and the environment. When not writing or illustrating, she will be making something, reading a book or swimming in the lake at the bottom of her lane.

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