Are you planning a litter, or did your bitch become pregnant unexpectedly? The first question most owners ask is: how long will it last and when to expect the puppies. Pregnancy in a bitch is short compared with a human one, but dynamic — in just two months, fully formed puppies develop from fertilised cells.
How long does a bitch's pregnancy last?
The average length of pregnancy is 63 days, counting from ovulation, although in practice it falls within the range of 58 to 68 days from mating. The variation arises because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for several days, and ovulation itself does not always coincide with the day of mating.
How to calculate the due date?
- Record the date of the first successful mating
- Add 63 days as the base value
- Set the whelping window: from the mating date + 58 days to + 68 days
Example: if mating took place on 1 June, the most likely due date is 3 August (1 June + 63 days), and whelping may occur within a window from 29 July to 8 August.
Pregnancy calendar week by week
- Weeks 1–3: fertilisation and implantation of the embryos, no visible signs
- Week 4: the vet can feel the foetuses, sometimes nausea appears
- Week 5: the belly begins to enlarge, appetite increases
- Week 6: pregnancy clearly visible, the teats swell
- Week 7: the puppies grow intensively, the bitch needs more calories
- Weeks 8–9: nest preparation, a drop in temperature heralds whelping
Signs of approaching labour
12–24 hours before whelping, the bitch's body temperature drops below 37 degrees Celsius. The bitch becomes restless, digs at her bedding and loses her appetite. This is the signal to prepare a quiet, warm place and to be on standby.
Feeding during pregnancy
In the second half of pregnancy the calorie requirement rises by as much as 30–50%, and during lactation many times over. Switch the food gradually to a richer one intended for puppies or pregnant bitches, dividing it into more frequent, smaller meals.
Note: this information is general in nature. This is not veterinary advice — manage the course of pregnancy, ultrasound scans and perinatal care under the supervision of a veterinarian.
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