The idea of an adorable litter of puppies romping around your home is exciting. But the stages before you have playful puppies—pregnancy and birth—can feel overwhelming.
How long are dogs pregnant? How do you prepare your home for a dog giving birth?
This guide will answer all your questions about signs of dog pregnancy, and how to help your pup prepare for her litter.
When your furry friend is expecting puppies, knowing the signs of labor is crucial. One of the most important indicators is dilation – but how can you tell if a dog is dilated? As someone who’s helped several dogs through the whelping process, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about recognizing when your pregnant pup is dilated and ready to deliver her puppies.
Understanding Canine Pregnancy and Labor
Before we dive into dilation specifically, let’s understand the big picture. A dog’s pregnancy typically lasts between 56-69 days. Around day 49, you’ll want to start looking for signs that labor might be approaching.
The labor process has three distinct stages
- Stage 1: Cervix dilation and uterine contractions (6-18 hours)
- Stage 2: Delivery of puppies (about 45-60 minutes per puppy)
- Stage 3: Delivery of placentas (15-30 minutes)
Dilation occurs during Stage 1, and it’s important to recognize when your dog enters this phase so you can properly support her through the birthing process.
Physical Signs of Dilation in Dogs
Unlike humans, we can’t easily perform a physical examination to check a dog’s dilation. However there are several reliable indicators that suggest your dog’s cervix is dilating
1. Temperature Drop
This is one of the most reliable signs of imminent labor:
- Normal dog temperature: 101-102.5°F
- Pre-labor temperature drop: 98-99°F
When a dog’s temperature falls below 100°F, this typically means she will go into labor within the next 24 hours. This temperature drop coincides with the beginning of cervical dilation.
2. Behavioral Changes
As dilation begins, you’ll notice significant behavioral shifts:
- Restlessness and anxiety: Your dog may pace, pant, or seem unable to get comfortable
- Nesting behavior: She’ll start arranging bedding, digging, or creating a comfortable space
- Changes in sociability: Some dogs want more attention from their owners, while others prefer isolation
3. Physical Signs
Several physical symptoms accompany dilation:
- Hardened abdomen: The stomach feels firm due to contractions
- Genital licking: Increased licking of the vaginal area
- Vaginal discharge: Clear or slightly bloody discharge may be present
- Enlarged mammary glands: These become more pronounced as labor approaches
- Vomiting: Some dogs experience nausea during early labor
- Shivering: Even when it’s not cold, this can indicate pain from contractions
- Loss of appetite: Many dogs refuse food when dilation begins
The Stages of Labor in Detail
Stage 1: Dilation Phase
This is when your dog’s cervix dilates fully to prepare for puppy delivery. During this stage:
- Duration: 6-18 hours (longest part of labor)
- Your dog will appear uncomfortable and restless
- She may shiver, pant, refuse food, or vomit
- Nesting behavior intensifies
- She might whine persistently
- Some dogs become irritable
By the end of Stage 1, your dog’s cervix will be fully dilated and ready for puppies to move through the birth canal.
Stage 2: Delivery Phase
Once dilation is complete, visible contractions begin:
- The abdomen tenses as your dog strains
- First puppy should arrive within 1-2 hours after contractions start
- After delivering a puppy, your dog may enter a resting phase lasting up to 4 hours
- Active straining will begin again for subsequent puppies
Stage 3: Placental Delivery
After all puppies are born, your dog will enter the final stage:
- The uterus contracts fully
- Any remaining fluids, blood, and placentas are expelled
- Your dog will help puppies find her mammaries for their first feeding
- This colostrum (first milk) is essential for the puppies’ immunity
Preparing for Whelping
To support your dog through the dilation and birthing process, prepare in advance with:
A Proper Whelping Box
Set this up 1-2 weeks before expected delivery. The whelping box should:
- Be large enough for mom to move comfortably
- Have sides tall enough for her to step over but keep puppies contained
- Include guard rails to prevent puppies from being squished
- Be placed in a quiet, warm, draft-free location
- Be lined with several layers of newspaper for easy cleanup
Essential Whelping Kit Items
Your kit should include:
- Trusted veterinarian’s phone number
- Emergency animal hospital directions and contact info
- A crate/carrier for emergency transportation
- An old sheet for your car in case of emergency transport
- A vehicle with sufficient gas
- Clean towels (lots of them!)
- Safety scissors for cutting umbilical cords if necessary
- Newspaper for lining the whelping box
When to Call the Vet
While dilation and birthing are natural processes, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Contact your vet immediately if:
- Labor exceeds 24 hours total
- More than 2 hours of contractions without a puppy being delivered
- More than 4 hours between puppies when you know there are more
- Your dog shows signs of extreme distress or severe pain
- Puppies appear weak or stillborn
- Labor stops before all puppies have been delivered
Common Questions About Dog Dilation
Can I physically check if my dog is dilated?
Unlike human births, it’s not recommended to physically check your dog’s dilation. This could introduce bacteria or cause stress. Instead, rely on the behavioral and physical signs mentioned above.
How long after dilation do puppies come?
After full dilation (end of Stage 1), puppies typically begin arriving within 1-2 hours once active pushing begins.
Is dilation painful for dogs?
Yes, just like in humans, dilation can be painful for dogs. The contractions that cause the cervix to open create discomfort, which is why you’ll notice your dog appearing restless or distressed.
Can dilation stop or reverse?
In some cases, stress or anxiety can temporarily slow or halt the dilation process. This is why it’s important to provide a quiet, calm environment for your dog during labor.
Final Thoughts
Recognizing when your dog is dilated is an important skill for any breeder or pet owner with a pregnant dog. By monitoring temperature and watching for behavioral changes, you’ll be able to identify when your dog enters the first stage of labor.
Remember that each dog is different – some may show all these signs clearly, while others might be more subtle. The key is knowing your dog’s normal behavior so you can recognize when things change.
Have you experienced helping a dog through labor? What signs of dilation did you notice first? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!
How to Care for a Pregnant Dog
The first step of caring for a pregnant dog is finding a veterinarian whose interests include dog pregnancy, whelping (labor), and neonatal (post-birth) care.
The veterinarian can work to keep your dog healthy during and after pregnancy. They will also discuss health risks to the mom and puppies and how to prevent parasites in newborn puppies.
One change to expect is for your dog to gain weight. Compared to her weight at the time of breeding or insemination, a female dog should weigh around 15% to 25% more at the time of birthing.
During the first two trimesters of pregnancy, you can feed your pregnant dog a normal adult diet. You should watch her weight and body condition, increasing food if you notice any weight loss.
After around 40 days of pregnancy, once your dog enters her last trimester, the fetuses will have the most rapid period of growth. The mom-to-be may need you to increase the number of calories you feed her by 25% to 50%.
It’s recommended that you switch a pregnant dog to a growth or puppy diet during the last trimester.
Because of the puppies growing in her abdomen, she will have trouble eating large meals.
Feed your pregnant dog multiple small meals throughout the day. Make sure to transition her slowly to the new diet over a period of seven to 10 days.
A female dog’s highest energy needs will be after she gives birth, when she is making milk for the pups.
She may need two to four times the number of calories she was eating before becoming pregnant. You should feed a diet approved for lactation/reproduction, often the same as a puppy or growth food.
Supplements are not usually recommended for a pregnant dog. Your veterinarian is your best source for knowing if your dog needs anything extra added to her diet.
Don’t give your pup any extra medication, food, or supplements unless approved by your vet.
Make sure your dog is vaccinated before becoming pregnant.
Modified live vaccines (distemper, parvo, parainfluenza) are not recommended for pregnant dogs, except in circumstances where the risk of disease is greater than the risk from vaccines (such as in some animal shelters).
You should continue to give parasite preventives during your dog’s pregnancy, but make sure to check with your veterinarian that your dog’s specific preventives are safe for a pregnant dog.
Early in pregnancy, you may not be able to tell that your dog is going to have puppies. Some dogs may vomit early on in pregnancy, like morning sickness in human women.
As your dog moves further into pregnancy, you may notice:
- A swollen abdomen
- Enlarged nipples
- Nesting behaviors (dragging blankets, digging in a closet)
- Appetite changes
- Weight gain
- Behavioral changes like irritability or clinginess
How Veterinarians Diagnose Pregnancy in Dogs
A veterinarian can diagnose pregnancy in dogs in several ways, including:
- Abdominal ultrasound: This is the most reliable way to diagnose and check pregnancy. During an ultrasound, the veterinarian can see the developing embryos at around three weeks after breeding. They can watch the embryos for proper development and get an exact count of puppies to expect.
- Blood test for relaxin: Relaxin is a hormone made by the placenta (an organ that forms within the mother’s uterus that provides nutrients to the developing fetus through the umbilical cord). Relaxin can be detected around 22 to 27 days after breeding. Relaxin testing may not be correct in small or toy dog breeds, especially if they only have one or two puppies.
- Abdominal palpation: The veterinarian presses on the abdomen and can feel swellings in the uterus where the puppies have implanted. Some veterinarians can count puppies during palpation.
- Abdominal X-rays (radiographs): The bony structures of the puppies are picked up on X-ray. Abdominal X-rays be used in the last trimester of pregnancy. Commonly, abdominal X-rays are used to count the number of fetuses.