{"id":195,"date":"2026-05-14T17:34:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T07:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/?page_id=195"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:56:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T07:56:57","slug":"canine-pregnancy-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/all-about-poms-2\/canine-pregnancy-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Canine Pregnancy Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your girl has been mated, and crossed fingers, she’s pregnant! But . ..how can you tell? What do you need to do to care for her properly? We’ve put together the following as a guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog Pregnancy Symptoms by Week<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Week 1 (Days 1\u20137)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are usually no obvious signs yet in the bitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Possible early changes can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Slight increase in affection or clinginess<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mild tiredness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Reduced appetite in some dogs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sleeping than usual<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Week 2 (Days 8\u201314)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Hormonal changes begin this week, but it’s still hard to tell if your bitch is pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Possible symptoms can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Mild \u201cmorning sickness\u201d (nausea or occasional vomiting)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Appetite may decrease briefly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Nipples may become slightly larger or pinker – particularly a candy pink colour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Mood changes. She may be:\n
        \n
      • more affectionate aka as ‘smoochy’ in our home<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • more withdrawn<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • more sensitive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n

        Week 3 (Days 15\u201321)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        This week, the embryos implant into the uterus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Common signs can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Increased appetite <\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Noticeable nipple enlargement (\u201cpinking up\u201d)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Mild, clear vaginal discharge with no odour may appear<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Weight gain may begin<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Energy levels may fluctuate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
          \n\n\n\n

          Week 4 (Days 22\u201328)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Her pregnancy becomes more detectable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Belly begins to slightly enlarge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Appetite increases <\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Weight gain becomes more noticeable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Nipples enlarge further<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • More calm or maternal behaviour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Veterinary milestone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \"Pomeranian<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • An ultrasound can usually confirm the pregnancy around Day 28\u201335. Please check with your vet to confirm what day they prefer to scan. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Ultrasounds are notoriously unreliable for counting the number of puppies that are present, but are helpful to confirm the pregnancy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n

              Week 5 (Days 29\u201335)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              Puppies begin developing rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Common changes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Abdomen enlarges noticeably<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Appetite increases significantly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Weight gain accelerates<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Increased thirst<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Need for more rest<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Mammary glands become more prominent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Care tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                At this time, it’s important to transition your bitch to high-quality puppy food gradually<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Additionally, around this time, she may benefit from smaller meals, with more frequency across the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                We recommend that you have your whelping area set up around this time, to allow her to get used to it before she goes into labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n\n\n\n

                Week 6 (Days 36\u201342)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                Pregnancy becomes obvious. You may find yourself already amazed at how she’s growing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                Symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • Clearly enlarged abdomen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Puppies may sometimes be felt by an experienced vet<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Hair thinning around nipples <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Nesting behaviour may begin<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Shorter walks are preferred<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Increased appetite continues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                  \n\n\n\n

                  Week 7 (Days 43\u201349)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                  Late pregnancy stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  • Visible abdominal movement may occur<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Mammary glands enlarge further<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Possible milk production begins<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Restlessness at times<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Increased nesting behaviour:\n
                      \n
                    • Digging blankets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Seeking quiet areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Reduced stamina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Veterinary milestone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      • X-rays can usually confirm puppy count from around Day 50 onward. Please check with your vet to confirm what day they prefer to x-ray. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                        \n\n\n\n

                        Week 8 (Days 50\u201356)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                        Preparing for birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                          \n
                        • Heavy abdomen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Puppies are visibly moving<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Panting more often<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Frequent urination<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Appetite may reduce again<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Increased clinginess or isolation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Nesting intensifies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                          Watch for vaginal discharge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                          • Clear vaginal discharge with no odour is normal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Green\/black discharge before labour is NOT normal unless a puppy has already been delivered<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                            \n\n\n\n

                            Week 9 (Days 57\u201363)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                            Labour approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Common signs of labour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              \n
                            • Temperature drop below ~37.2\u00b0C (99\u00b0F) often occurs within 12\u201324 hours of labour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Refusing food<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Pacing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Panting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Shivering<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Digging\/nesting intensely<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Wanting constant company or hiding away<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Milk may be present<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Vulva softens and enlarges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                              Signs labour has started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • Strong contractions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Straining<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Water sac appearing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                                \n\n\n\n

                                Important Notes<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

                                Contact a Veterinarian if you notice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                  \n
                                • Bright red bleeding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Bad-smelling discharge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Severe vomiting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Collapse or weakness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Fever<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • No puppies delivered after strong contractions for 20\u201330 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • More than 2 hours between puppies during active labour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Pregnancy exceeding 65 days from ovulation\/mating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                  Average Canine Pregnancy Length<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                  Most dogs are pregnant for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    \n
                                  • Approximately 63 days from ovulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • About 58\u201368 days from mating depending on timing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                    Common Normal Pregnancy Behaviours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • Increased appetite<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Sleeping more<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Clinginess<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Nesting<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Enlarged nipples<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Mild clear discharge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Weight gain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                      Your girl has been mated, and crossed fingers, she’s pregnant! But . ..how can you tell? What do you need to do to care for her properly? We’ve put together the following as a guide: Dog Pregnancy Symptoms by Week Week 1 (Days 1\u20137) There are usually no obvious signs yet in the bitch. Possible early changes can include: Week 2 (Days 8\u201314) Hormonal changes begin this week, but it’s still hard to tell if your bitch is pregnant. Possible symptoms can include: Week 3 (Days 15\u201321) This week, the embryos implant into the uterus. Common signs can include: Week…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":129,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-195","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213,"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195\/revisions\/213"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ravellepomeranians.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}