How to Tell if a Dog is Pregnant for the First Time

You can determine if a dog is pregnant by looking at the following signs:

Changes in sleep posture: Dogs usually sleep with their bellies down, but when pregnant, they may choose to sleep on their backs or sides to avoid pressing on the fetuses.
Changes in personality: The dog may become more irritable and refuse to let the owner touch its belly.
Swelling of the nipples: This occurs about 20 days after pregnancy.
Redness and swelling of the breasts: This is a sign of pregnancy and happens around 30 days in.
Decreased appetite, vomiting, and soft stools: This is due to increased abdominal pressure. 6.digging behavior: This starts around 50 days into the pregnancy and indicates that labor is approaching.

Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

A dog's pregnancy lasts about 60 days. About 20 days after pregnancy, the dog's nipples will swell, and around 30 days in, the abdominal circumference starts to gradually increase. Due to increased abdominal pressure, the dog may show decreased appetite, vomiting, and soft stools. It's worth noting that if the abdominal circumference doesn't increase, it's best to visit the vet for a checkup to rule out false pregnancy. Around day 50 of the pregnancy, the dog will show obvious nest-digging behavior, which indicates labor is coming soon.

Dog Pregnancy Care

From successful mating to day 30 of pregnancy, there are no significant changes in the dog's daily habits or appetite. Continue with the usual feeding and avoid vigorous exercise. From day 30 to 45 of pregnancy, the dog's appetite increases, and we must satisfy its nutritional needs while preventing overeating. From day 45 until labor, the dog's belly will noticeably swell, and it may become weak and less active due to physical discomfort. However, it's essential to ensure that the dog can give birth smoothly, so encourage it to go for walks and engage in gentle exercises.

Foods to Avoid During Dog Pregnancy

There are several types of foods that dogs should avoid during pregnancy:

Antibiotics: Dogs should not take antibiotics or use them with caution during pregnancy, as some, such as tetracyclines and nitroimidazoles, may cause fetal malformations.
Cold and cooling foods: Such as seafood.
Foods that can cause intestinal obstruction: Such as bones.