A dog is pregnant for approximately 63 days, counted from mating. In practice, the birth can occur within a range of around 58 to 68 days, because the actual fertilisation does not always take place on the day of mating. Ovulation and fertilisation can be a few days out of sync, and that is why the 63 days are an average rather than a precise date you can mark in the calendar. For you who are expecting puppies, this means you should begin preparing well before the due date - and keep an extra close eye on the bitch during the final weeks.
The good nine weeks pass quickly, and much of what matters happens inside the bitch, long before the belly begins to round. Below you will get an overview of how the pregnancy progresses week by week, how to read the early signs, and how to feed the bitch so that she and the coming puppies get the best possible start.
How many days does a dog's pregnancy really last?
The 63 days are the most commonly used rule of thumb, and it holds true for the vast majority of bitches. The calculation is, however, more imprecise than many think, because the male's sperm cells can survive several days in the bitch's reproductive tract. A mating can therefore take place a couple of days before the actual fertilisation, and it is fertilisation, not mating, that starts the biological clock. That is why it is not unusual for a bitch to give birth anywhere from a few days before to a few days after the calculated due date.
If you want a more precise due date, your vet can help determine it based on hormone measurements around the heat cycle or through an ultrasound examination early in the process. This provides a better point of reference than the mating date itself and makes it easier to plan the final days, when you want to be home and ready. If the bitch goes well beyond the 68 days without signs of birth, you should contact your vet so you can assess the situation together.
How the process progresses week by week
The first three weeks happen almost invisibly. The fertilised eggs travel down into the uterus and implant around day 16 to 18, and during this period most bitches seem completely as they usually do. Some become a little calmer or slightly fussy, but there is rarely anything you can see from the outside. Around day 25 to 30, a vet can often confirm the pregnancy with ultrasound, where the small foetal sacs and heartbeats can be seen.
From the fourth to the sixth week, development picks up pace. The foetuses grow quickly, and from around week five many bitches begin to develop a more clearly rounded belly and swollen mammary glands. This is also when the appetite typically increases, because the body is now working for several. During the final two to three weeks, the puppies are fully developed and gain weight, and you can often feel and see movements beneath the abdominal wall. The bitch begins to seek out a quiet place, and many become more attention-seeking or more withdrawn, depending on temperament.
In the run-up to the birth, the bitch's body temperature typically drops, and she often becomes restless, digs in her bedding and loses her appetite during the last day. These are natural signs that the birth is approaching. If you are unsure whether something is proceeding as it should, a vet is always the right one to ask - both before and during the birth itself.
How do you spot the early signs of pregnancy?
The first weeks rarely give certain answers, and this is one of the reasons why ultrasound is so useful. Some bitches show a brief reduced appetite early in the process, and a few experience mild vomiting during a period that resembles morning sickness. Others become more affectionate and seek more contact than normal. None of these signs are proof in themselves, however, as they can also occur after a perfectly ordinary heat without pregnancy.
More reliable signs come later: swollen and pink mammary glands, a gradually rounder belly and increased appetite from around the fifth week. If you want certainty early on, a trip to the vet is the surest route. Here the pregnancy can be confirmed with ultrasound from around day 25, and later in the process an X-ray can give an indication of the number of puppies, which is good to know before the birth.
What should the pregnant bitch eat?
During the first four to five weeks, the bitch does not, as a starting point, need more food than usual, and it is in fact unwise to overfeed her early on. A lean, well-conditioned bitch with a healthy weight has the best foundation for a calm pregnancy and birth, and if you want to make sure she is in good shape before mating, you may benefit from reading the guide Does your dog have a healthy weight. From around the fifth to the sixth week, the need increases noticeably, and here you gradually increase the amount so that towards the end she gets considerably more than she usually does - often spread across several smaller meals, because the growing puppies press on the stomach and leave less room.
The nutrition itself is just as important as the amount. A pregnant and later nursing bitch has a high need for protein and energy, and here a nutrient-rich puppy meal often suits better than an ordinary adult meal. ESSENTIAL FOODS' The Beginning is created for the finest beginning with luxurious, grain-free puppy meals made from fresh raw materials, human-grade ingredients and carefully selected local and regional delicacies - entirely without grain and unnecessary fillers. The same high nutrient density that gives the puppies a good start also supports the bitch through the demanding final weeks and the nursing itself. If you prefer a softer consistency, which many bitches happily take to when their appetite fluctuates, The Beginning Pâté is a prepared meal she can enjoy on its own or together with her meals.
Because the needs change so much over the nine weeks, it can be difficult to get the right amount and composition right on your own. If you are in doubt about how best to feed your particular bitch through pregnancy and nursing, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat and email to help you draw up a plan that suits her weight, breed and litter size.
Prepare for the puppies in good time
Once the puppies are born, things move fast, and the first weeks place great demands on both bitch and owner. That is why the good nine weeks before the birth are the best time to prepare: set up a quiet whelping box, get the feeding sorted and read up on what the newborns need when they slowly begin to eat on their own. ESSENTIAL FOODS has gathered the advice on precisely this in a thoughtfully designed Puppy universe, where the guidance comes directly from us who are behind the meals.
The first solid meals should meet the little ones with the same exquisite raw materials that support the bitch - small, appetising pieces they can handle with their tender teeth. Both The Beginning and The Beginning Pâté are composed with the puppy's early development in mind and make the transition from milk to solid food gentle. With the due date, feeding and birthplace in place well in advance, you can spend the final days on what really counts: being present for the bitch when her 63 days are up and the new litter announces its arrival.