Weeks here are counted from ovulation, which is close to, but not always the same as, the breeding date. Dogs give birth about 63 days after ovulation (give or take a day); counted from the first breeding the range is about 58 to 72 days. For your dog's dates, use the dog pregnancy calculator.
Dog pregnancy at a glance
| Week | Days | Key events |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 1–14 | Fertilization; no visible changes. Feed and exercise as usual. |
| 3 | 15–21 | Embryos implant in the uterus (about day 18). |
| 4 | 22–28 | Ultrasound and relaxin test can confirm pregnancy. |
| 5 | 29–35 | Ultrasound still ideal (until day 35). Weight gain stays modest. |
| 6 | 36–42 | Puppies start growing fast; begin increasing food. |
| 7 | 43–49 | Skeletons visible on x-ray; switch to puppy food, smaller meals. |
| 8 | 50–56 | Deworm if your vet advises; prepare the whelping area; x-ray to count. |
| 9 | 57–63+ | Take her temperature twice daily; labor starts. |
Weeks 1 and 2 (days 1–14)
After mating, the eggs are fertilized and the early embryos travel to the uterus. You will not see any change in her. Colorado State University's veterinary hospital advises keeping her routine and exercise the same, especially in the first half of pregnancy, and keeping her away from shows, trials and groups of unfamiliar dogs, which can spread canine herpesvirus. Keep feeding her normal, high-quality food.
Week 3 (days 15–21)
The embryos implant in the wall of the uterus at about day 18, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. By about day 21 small swellings form around them. Some dogs eat less or are a little off their food for a few days; short dips in appetite are normal, but see your vet if it lasts or she loses weight.
Week 4 (days 22–28)
This is when a vet can first confirm the pregnancy reliably:
- Ultrasound: best between days 25 and 35. Before day 21 it can miss a pregnancy.
- Relaxin blood test: reliable after about day 22 to 27.
- Palpation: from about day 21 an experienced vet may feel the swellings in the uterus, if she is relaxed.
Around day 28 the puppies' skeletons begin to form, but they are not yet visible on an x-ray.
Week 5 (days 29–35)
The puppies are still small, and her energy needs have not changed yet. The Royal Kennel Club recommends keeping her at an ideal body condition and limiting weight gain to no more than about 10% up to week 6. After days 35 to 38 the uterine swellings become harder to feel, so an ultrasound, not palpation, is the way to check on the pregnancy now.
Week 6 (days 36–42)
From about day 42 the puppies grow quickly, and her belly starts to show. This is when her food needs begin to rise. The Royal Kennel Club's guideline is to increase her energy intake by about 10% per week from week 6 until birth. Our dog food calculator includes a setting for the last weeks of pregnancy.
Week 7 (days 43–49)
The puppies' skeletons become visible on a normal x-ray from about day 42 to 45 and are clear by day 47 to 48 (Merck Veterinary Manual). Switch gradually to a puppy formula over about five days: it has more energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus in every bite. As the puppies take up more room, her stomach holds less, so offer several smaller meals instead of one or two large ones.
Do not give calcium supplements unless your vet prescribes them. Colorado State University advises against pure calcium at any stage of pregnancy, and the Royal Kennel Club notes that too much calcium can contribute to eclampsia (dangerously low blood calcium) after the birth.
Week 8 (days 50–56)
- Count the puppies: an x-ray about a week before the due date (after about day 55) is the most reliable way to know how many to expect.
- Deworming: Colorado State University suggests deworming about 10 days before the expected birth with a product your vet confirms is safe in pregnancy, and not before day 40.
- Whelping area: set up a quiet, warm whelping box now so she can get used to it.
- Food: keep increasing portions gradually. At about 10% per week, she is eating roughly 45% more than usual by week 9; a large litter needs more, a single puppy less.
Week 9 (days 57–63 and beyond)
Take her rectal temperature twice a day at the same times. A drop of 2 to 3 °F from her usual value, typically to 97–98 °F, 12 to 24 hours before labor is seen in about 80% of dogs, according to Colorado State University. She may become restless, nest, refuse food, pant or tremble. Read our guide to the signs and stages of labor for what is normal and when to call the vet.
Call your vet if the due date passes without labor or a temperature drop, especially if only one or two puppies are expected, or if she seems lethargic, vomits, stops eating or has bloody, green or black discharge before the first puppy.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks is a dog pregnant?
About nine weeks. Dogs give birth about 63 days after ovulation, give or take a day. Counted from the breeding date the range is wider, roughly 58 to 72 days, because breeding and ovulation rarely fall on the same day.
When can you tell a dog is pregnant?
A vet can usually confirm pregnancy with an ultrasound between about day 25 and 35, or with a relaxin blood test after about day 22 to 27. Visible signs such as a growing belly usually only appear from about week 6, when the puppies start to grow quickly.
When does a pregnant dog need more food?
Not in the first five weeks. From about week 6 (day 42), when the puppies grow fast, the Royal Kennel Club suggests increasing her energy intake by about 10% each week until birth, ideally with a gradual switch to puppy food and several smaller meals a day.
When can an x-ray count the puppies?
The puppies' skeletons become visible on a normal x-ray from about day 42 to 45 and are clear by day 47 to 48. A late x-ray, after about day 55 or roughly a week before the due date, is the most reliable way to count them.
Should I give my pregnant dog calcium?
No, not unless your vet prescribes it. Colorado State University's veterinary hospital advises against pure calcium supplements at any stage of pregnancy, and the Royal Kennel Club notes that excess calcium can contribute to eclampsia. A complete, balanced commercial diet provides what she needs.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Pregnancy Determination in Dogs and Cats, and Whelping and Queening in Dogs and Cats, by Autumn P. Davidson, DVM, MS, DACVIM (reviewed June 2025): implantation, ultrasound, relaxin, palpation and x-ray timing, gestation length.
- Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital: Pregnancy and Whelping for Dogs (routine, deworming, calcium, x-ray and temperature monitoring).
- The Royal Kennel Club: Feeding during pregnancy (energy needs by week, puppy food, meal frequency, calcium).
This page is for general information only and does not replace a veterinarian. Every pregnancy is different; work with your vet throughout the pregnancy and whelping. Last updated: October 2026.