This dog pregnancy calculator works out when your dog is due based on her mating date. From that date it gives you the most likely whelping date, the normal window either side of it, how far along her pregnancy currently is, and a dated calendar of vet visits and other jobs that need to be done before the litter arrives.
Dog pregnancy is relatively brief. Approximately nine weeks pass from mating until the birth, and for the first three to four of those weeks an owner cannot see any sign of the pregnancy. Given the limited time available for confirming the pregnancy, changing her diet and preparing the whelping area, knowing the expected dates at the outset is a real advantage.
Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Enter the date your dog was mated to see her due date and a dated plan for the nine weeks in between.
Dog pregnancy lasts about 63 days. A due date worked out from mating dates is an estimate, because sperm can survive for several days before the eggs are fertilized. Your vet can narrow it down with an ultrasound or hormone tests.
How Long Are Dogs Pregnant?
Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days, or roughly nine weeks. Counted from a mating date, normal litters arrive anywhere from day 58 to day 68, because sperm can live inside the female for several days and the eggs are not always fertilized on the day of mating. Counted from ovulation, pregnancy length is far more consistent, at 63 days give or take a day.
| Counting from | Typical length | How reliable |
|---|---|---|
| First mating date | 63 days, with a normal range of 58 to 68 | An estimate. Good for planning. |
| Ovulation (progesterone testing) | 63 days, give or take 1 day | The most accurate. Needs blood tests during the heat. |
| Ultrasound measurements | Vet estimates the age of the fetuses | Accurate when done at 25 to 35 days. |
Breed and litter size shift the date a little. Large litters are likely to arrive one to two days early, while a litter of one or two puppies may run late, because it takes a certain amount of hormone signal from the pups to start labor. If an exact date is critical, for example for a planned caesarean in a flat-faced breed, consult your veterinarian about progesterone timing.
How the Dog Pregnancy Calculator Works Out a Due Date
- Find the date of the first mating.
- Add 63 days. That is the most likely due date.
- Mark the window from 58 days after the first mating to 68 days after the last mating.
- Book an ultrasound for days 25 to 35 to confirm the pregnancy and check the dates.
To get a fast mental estimate of the due date, simply count forward 9 weeks from the mating day to the same day of the week. A dog mated on a Saturday is due on a Saturday 9 weeks later. The dog pregnancy calculator takes this simple sum and lays out every checkpoint in between as an actual date, so you do not need to work anything out by hand.
Dog Pregnancy Week by Week
| Week | Days | What is happening | What you will notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 to 7 | Eggs are fertilized and begin to divide. | Nothing yet. Treat her as normal. |
| 2 | 8 to 14 | Embryos move down into the uterus. | Nothing visible. |
| 3 | 15 to 21 | Embryos implant in the uterus wall around days 15 to 18. | Sometimes a brief loss of appetite or tiredness. |
| 4 | 22 to 28 | Heartbeats can be seen on ultrasound from about day 25. | Nipples pinker and larger. Clear discharge is normal. |
| 5 | 29 to 35 | Organs, limbs and features develop. | Waist thickens. Appetite picks up. |
| 6 | 36 to 42 | Fast growth of the puppies. | Obvious belly. Time to start raising her food. |
| 7 | 43 to 49 | Skeletons harden. | Hair thins on the belly. She may start looking for a nest. |
| 8 | 50 to 56 | Puppies are fully formed and move into position. | Puppies seen moving. Milk may appear. |
| 9 | 57 to 65 | Birth. | Restless, digging, off her food. Temperature drops before labor. |
How to Confirm a Dog Is Pregnant
| Method | When it works | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound | Days 25 to 35 | Confirms pregnancy and shows heartbeats. Not reliable for counting puppies. |
| Relaxin blood test | From about day 25 to 30 | Yes or no. Tested too early it can read negative. |
| Palpation by a vet | About days 28 to 30 | The vet feels small fluid sacs. Hard to do later on. |
| X-ray | Day 55 onward | The best way to count puppies before whelping. |
Human pregnancy tests do not work on dogs, because dogs do not produce the hormone that those tests look for. Early signs such as a bigger appetite or swollen nipples are not proof either, since a dog can show all of them in a false pregnancy. A veterinary examination during the 4th or 5th week is the only way to confirm whether or not your dog is pregnant.
Feeding and Exercise During Pregnancy
For the first six weeks, feed her normal amount of a good-quality complete diet. From about week six, increase her food gradually until she is eating 35 to 50 percent more than usual by the time she whelps, according to the American Kennel Club. Split it into several small meals, because the puppies leave little room for a full stomach.
- Do not add calcium or other supplements unless your vet tells you to. Extra calcium during pregnancy raises the risk of eclampsia after the birth.
- Keep up gentle daily walks. Stop jumping, rough play and hard training in the final three weeks.
- Ask the vet before any worming, flea treatment, vaccine or medication. Some are not safe in pregnancy.
- Keep her away from unknown dogs for the last three weeks and the first three weeks after birth, to protect the litter from infections.
Getting Ready for Whelping
Set up the whelping box about two weeks before she is due so that she has time to get used to it. The box should be big enough for her to stretch out in, with sides low enough for her to step over but high enough to keep her puppies in. Put it in a warm, quiet room away from other animals, and line the bottom with layers of newspaper or washable pads that can be changed quickly.
- Clean towels and a heat source for the puppies, such as a heat pad under half the box
- A digital rectal thermometer and a notebook for temperatures and birth times
- Disposable gloves, unwaxed dental floss and clean scissors for cords if she does not manage them
- Kitchen scales to weigh each puppy daily
- Your vet’s number and the nearest out-of-hours clinic, saved in your phone
From about day 56, take her rectal temperature twice a day. Normal is 100 to 102.5 F (37.8 to 39.2 C). A drop to 99 F (37.2 C) or lower usually means labor will begin within 8 to 24 hours.
Signs of Labor and When to Call the Vet
Labor happens in three stages. In the first stage she is restless, pants, digs at her bedding and refuses to eat, and this can last most of a day. Active pushing and the delivery of each puppy make up the second stage. The passing of each placenta, which generally follows within a few minutes of its puppy, is the third stage. Rest periods between puppies are normal.
Call your vet straight away if:
- Her temperature dropped more than 24 hours ago and labor has not started.
- She has been pushing hard for 30 minutes with no puppy, or the first puppy has not arrived within 2 hours of labor starting.
- More than 2 hours pass between puppies and you know there are more to come.
- There is green or black discharge before the first puppy, or heavy bleeding at any point.
- She seems weak, in severe pain, or is shaking or collapsing.
- There are no signs of labor 64 days or more after her last mating.
Is It a False Pregnancy?
Many unspayed female dogs show signs of pregnancy 6 to 8 weeks after a heat even though they were never mated. After a heat, the hormonal changes in her body are very similar whether she is pregnant or not. For this reason, some females nest, mother their toys, gain weight and even produce milk. Most of the time these signs pass on their own in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. If they last longer, if she appears ill, or if her mammary glands become hot, swollen and sore, seek the advice of your veterinarian.
Once the puppies arrive, there are several other dates worth planning, including weaning, first vaccinations and the start of house training. The puppy vaccination chart and the puppy weight calculator pick up from there.
Related Reading
- Puppy Feeding Schedule Guide
- How to Socialize a Puppy Properly
- Ways to Reduce Stress During Vet Visits
- How to Train Multiple Puppies at the Same Time
- Best Age to Start Puppy Training
FAQs
How do I calculate my dog’s due date?
Add 63 days to the date of the first mating. Most litters arrive within a few days of that date, and anything from day 58 to day 68 is considered normal. If your vet tracked ovulation with progesterone tests, count 63 days from ovulation instead, which is accurate to within about a day.
How many months is a dog pregnant?
About two months. Dog pregnancy lasts roughly 63 days, which is nine weeks. The first month has almost no outward signs, and most of the visible change, including the growing belly and milk production, happens in the final three to four weeks.
How soon can you tell if a dog is pregnant?
A vet can confirm pregnancy from about day 25 with an ultrasound or a relaxin blood test, and by feeling the abdomen at around days 28 to 30. Before then there is no reliable sign. Appetite changes and swollen nipples can also appear in a false pregnancy.
Can a dog give birth at 57 days?
Day 57 after mating is slightly early but can be normal, especially if the mating happened a few days before the eggs were fertilized. Puppies born more than about five days before their true due date are premature and often need help. Call your vet if labor starts before day 58.
How many puppies will my dog have?
Litter size depends mostly on breed and body size. Toy breeds often have one to four puppies, medium breeds around five or six, and large breeds eight or more. An X-ray after day 55 gives the most accurate count, so you know when labor is finished.
What if my dog goes past her due date?
Going a few days past an estimated date is common, because mating dates are an imperfect starting point. Contact your vet if there are no signs of labor 64 days or more after the last mating, or sooner if she seems unwell, has a green discharge or stops eating for more than a day.