Whether you're intentionally trying to breed your dog, or you think she may have had an rendez-vous with a neighbor's dog, this How to Tell If A Dog is Pregnant page will explain how to figure out if you'll be expecting puppies in the future.

The impetus for a woman to get a pregnancy test often comes from intuition. Unfortunately, you can't ask your dog if she feels changes occuring in her body. While official diagnosis can't be done until about a month into the pregnancy, there will be earlier noticeable symptoms that may tip you off.LovetoKnow Dogs: Signs of Dog Pregnancy

• A dog can only get pregnant during her heat or Estrus cycle, which unlike humans, only happens twice per year.LovetoKnow Dogs:Signs of Dog PregnancyThis usually begins when she is between 6 and 12 months old. However, with smaller breeds it can begin as early as 5 months, and with larger breeds it may not happen until 14 months.LovetoKnow Dogs:Signs of Dog Pregnancy This varies not only from breed to breed, but for individual dogs within the same breed.dogster:

Dog Breed Information

Canine pregnancy usually lasts 59-66 days.dogster: Pregnancy in Dogs - Dog Owner's Manual The very earliest symptoms can be seen about 2 weeks after conception.Associated Content: Dog Pregnancy Calenders: Marking Milestones in Canine Pregnancy These are:

1. A decrease in appetite. While later on in the pregnancy, your dog's appetite will increase greatly, in the beginning, she might seem disinterested in food.LovetoKnow Dogs: Signs of Dog Pregnancy This is comparable to morning sickness in humans.

2. Mood swings. Wanting to be left alone or acting more affectionate is a sign of changes in hormones.DogSymptoms.org: Pregnant Dog Symptoms

3. Enlarged nipples. Breast tissue will increase and appear swollen.DogTrainingSite.Net: Dog Prenatal Care

• Sometimes your dog will display the early physical and behavioral signs of pregnancy in the month after her heat cycle, even if mating hasn't taken place.name="petplace.com A">PetPlace.com:

• Pseudocyesis (False Pregnancy) This is thought to happen because of the hormonal release during the cycle.

• Symptoms and complications include:

• Mood or bodily changes. Engorged nipples, moodiness, or fluctuation in appetite may occur, just as with normal early pregnancy.dog-obedience-training-review.com:

• Dog Pregnancy Timeline-Signs of Pregnancy in Dogs-How Long Dogs Are Pregnant As in later pregnancy, her body may even begin to produce milk.

• Confusion or restlessness around the time she would have given birth. She may appear to be searching for puppies that don't exist. She might try to nurse toys or stuffed animals, or try to borrow or "adopt" nearby puppies as her own.

• In most cases, these symptoms go away by themselves, but show a little extra tender loving care if your dog seems upset.

• While your initial observations are important, you'll need to make an appointment with your veterinarian to confirm that your dog is indeed pregnant. This can be done around 4 weeks into the pregnancy. You have a couple of different options:

1. Abdominal Palpation - By feeling the dog's abdomen, an experienced vet can determine pregnancy.University of Missouri Extension:

G9923 Pregnancy Determination in the Bitch The uterus will feel swollen, with little lumps present, which are the fetuses. While you can do this yourself, it's better to leave it to a professional, as you could injure the puppies if you do it incorrectly.

1. Get an Ultrasound- About 3 to 4 weeks into the pregnancy, an ultrasound can be done.Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine: X-Rays vs. Ultrasound This is the easiest and most reliable way to confirm pregnancy, because it will show the fetal heartbeats. It isn't, however, a reliable way to determine how many puppies there are.
2. Blood Test- A test can be done about 3 or 4 weeks into the pregnancy to detect relaxin in the dog's blood, a hormone that is released when the egg attaches itself to the uterus.peteducation.com: Pregnancy Diagnosis and Caring for the Pregnant Dog However, if the litter is on the smaller side, the test might come back as a false negative.

• By 5 or 6 weeks into the pregnancy, the symptoms will be very pronounced. Her belly will be larger, and her nipples more swollen.associatedcontent:

Dog Pregnancy Calenders: Marking Milestones

• If you want to know how many puppies she is going to have, an x-ray is the best way to go.University of Missouri Extension:

G9923 Pregnancy Determination in the Bitch At around 42 days, the skeletons of the fetuses can be seen and counted.

• As the 63 day mark approaches, your dog will get increasingly uncomfortable and restless.associatedcontent:

Dog Pregnancy Calendars: Marking Milestones By the 6th week, clear fluid will discharge from her vagina. Lactating, or milk production, may begin.

• Nesting behavior is a common sign that delivery is near, so don't get mad if your dog starts shredding papers, blankets, or if she has no place else to go, your bed or couch.PetPlace.com:

Pregnancy in Dogs

• Providing a whelping box is a good idea. It is a safe spot for the puppies to be born in, and can be made out of cardboard or wood.Miniature-Pinscher-World.com: The Whelping Box- An Essential Part of Any Dog Pregnancy A child's swimming pool works well, because it's easy to clean.

• Here are some tips in preparing one:

1. Keep three sides of the box high for safety, but keep the front side cut lower so that your dog can exit and enter at will.
2. Build rails horizontally onto the back and sides of the box, with two to three inches between the rail and the side.Professor's house:

Whelping Box: Birthing Puppies This will give the puppies space to crawl into should the mother lay on them, and can prevent suffocation.

1. Keep the box a few inches off the ground to let warm air flow underneath.
2. Fill the box with liner and bedding that is easy to clean, and change it several times a day.The Bulldog Information Library: Preparing the Whelping Quarters Newspapers and towels work well.

• As you can see, there are several options in confirming pregnancy. But this is just the beginning. Your dog will go through a lot of changes during this time period, so make sure you keep her comfortable and healthy with regular veterinarian visits.Mar Vista Animal Medical Center: