There are some dog pregnancy test kits on the market, though they require drawing some blood. Learn more about dog pregnancy tests.
It can be tough to know if your dog is pregnant since the symptoms do not necessarily show up right away. Most tests will not reveal if a dog is pregnant until around three weeks into the pregnancy. Here are some ways you can determine if your dog is expecting:
-
Pregnancy Test: There are tests available that can detect your dog’s pregnancy by looking for a hormone named relaxin. The twist with these tests is that unlike human pregnancy tests, the hormone is only detectable within the dog’s blood. Obviously, that makes it challenging to administer this test at home, but most kits will include a syringe to remove some of your dog’s blood. This test can also be done at the veterinarian’s office if you are squeamish about taking the blood yourself.
-
Examining the dog’s abdomen: Once the dog’s pregnancy has advanced to around three weeks, or about a third of the way through the gestation period, your veterinarian can gently palpate your dog’s abdomen and feel for signs of the puppies. Note that only your veterinarian, or a trained professional, should do this palpating -- it’s easy to injure the puppies unintentionally during this procedure.
Pregnancy Symptoms
As well as taking a test, observing some -- or several -- of these common symptoms can be a tip-off to your dog’s pregnancy in the early weeks:
-
morning sickness
-
disinterest in food
-
enlarged and darkened nipples
-
hair loss around the nipples
-
apathy and reduced energy
-
being more distant from you than usual
Human Pregnancy Tests
Note that you cannot use a human pregnancy test to see if your dog is pregnant. A human pregnancy test and a dog pregnancy test aim to detect different hormones. There are no urine tests available to check a dog’s pregnancy.
More on Dog and Puppy Health
Puppy Vaccinations
Wet or Dry Dog Food: Which Is Better?
All About Small Breed Dogs
This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.