If you have noticed that your dog is showing signs of fatigue and is not as hyper as she used to be or maybe is even eating less than usual, she might be pregnant. Even though caring for a pregnant dog can seem confusing, once you see the litter of puppies she gives birth to, it will all seem worth it.
Of course, that does mean that dog pregnancies are easy to deal with. They can be costly and time-consuming. Hence, before you start treating your dog as if she is pregnant, you must be absolutely sure so that you do not end up wasting your resources. You may think that your precious little dog is pregnant because it is exhibiting pregnancy-like symptoms, but these could also be signs of illness.
Whether your dog’s energy levels seem to have fallen or her appearance has changed, or her appetite is dwindling, you need to consult a vet as soon as possible and be aware of the signs of dog pregnancy.
Here are some signs that your dog is pregnant:
If your dog starts to become more irritable than usual, is not as energetic, or is spending most of the day taking naps, she may be pregnant. If your dog is usually extremely hyper and jumps around on usual days, this change should be taken seriously.
However, if you have a dog that is lazy by nature and usually snoozes around the house at odd times of the day, you may find it challenging to notice if she is pregnant. In that case, keep an eye out for how quickly she gets tired when you take her for a morning or evening walk around the neighborhood.
Depending on the breed of dog you have and how far along she is in her pregnancy, you may find that her appetite is fluctuating. There is no standard way for how a dog’s appetite will change when she is pregnant. It simply depends on the dog.
However, a common symptom of early or midway pregnancy is vomiting often. This is the dog form of morning sickness. However, during this time, you may notice that your dog eats more than normal and seems to have gotten pickier with her meals. Food that she liked before may dissatisfy her now, or she may not seem very happy eating it. These changes in appetite could point to the changing hormones in your dog’s body.
Again, there is no standard way a dog’s behavior changes when she is pregnant. Some dogs may become extra clingy and may want their owners to spend more time with them. You may notice such dogs never leaving the owner’s side and whining if the owner disappears or even goes to the bathroom for a couple of minutes. These dogs want all the attention their owners can give them and usually are not willing to compromise or reason.
However, some dogs may act completely opposite. They may want to be left alone at all times and may start to seek isolation. These dogs will get visibly annoyed, then their owners try to play with them and will make a conscious effort to let everyone know that they want to be left alone. They might growl or snarl softly if you touch them too often. Moreover, these dogs may soon act depressed, lonely, and neglected, even though they personally do not want human attention.
Usually, a female dog’s nipples are small. However, when pregnant, her nipples may become bigger, especially in the early months of pregnancy. Moreover, you may notice that the usually flat areolas are slowly becoming rounded day by day.
With some dogs, their nipples become darker than normal- usually a dark brown or red. This shows that more blood is being supplied to the nipples, preparing them for the puppies that will need their daily feed. Moreover, as the pregnancy progresses, there may be a few cases of leaking milk from the nipples. All these are signs that your dog is pregnant, and soon, you will be playing around with a litter of cute little pups.
When puppies grow up, the size of their abdomen also starts to expand. However, if you notice your dog’s abdomen expanding rapidly, it could be because she is pregnant. Notice if there is any reason for this sudden weight gain. Is your dog eating more than usual? Does she have any underlying medical conditions? Has she stopped going for her evening walks?
If you feel like nothing in your dog’s routine has changed, but she is still gaining weight, it could be because she is pregnant. Keep in mind that a dog’s abdomen will expand during the last few stages of pregnancy. This means that whenever you notice this, you must take her to the vet as soon as possible.
When the dog is close to giving birth, she may try to find ways to make a nest for her upcoming babies. You may find your dog randomly shredding bedding or taking the feathers out of some cushions violently. Moreover, during this time, your dog may also become cranky and may find ways to isolate herself.
Hence, it is best to give her space and not allow infants and babies to go close to the dog. We all know that babies like to touch and pull on the ears of dogs and play with their tails. Usually, dogs adore babies, but they may become aggressive while they are going through this period in their lives. Moreover, the gestation period of dogs is usually 56 to 70 days. This is a relatively shorter time frame than humans, which means that you must act quickly to ensure that the puppies have a safe place to rest when they arrive.
Do you think your dog is showing signs of pregnancy? Take her to the vet as soon as you can.
by Maria A Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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