Signs that Identify if a Puppy Litter is on the Way
Understand the signs and symptoms of pet pregnancy.
Dogs do experience heat cycles twice per year, which are confused with pregnancy symptoms. Normally, you can tell when your dog becomes pregnant by the way she acts. Here are the signs of pregnancy:
- She reduces activity during early stages and tires easily.
- Her behavior changes, including an increase in displays of territorial aggression.
- She wants space away from people including members of the family.
- Her appetite decreases - this will only occur in the beginning stages of the pregnancy.
- She experiences a noticeable increase in appetite as the pregnancy progresses.
- Her nipples grow larger (one of the more obvious indicators).
If you observe some or all of these indicators, there will be no more doubt of why her belly is large!
Prepare your home to accommodate your pregnant pooch.
- When your pooch starts nesting (trying to dig and prepare a place to have her litter), you can be sure that the pups are on the way!
- To save your furniture (if you decide to bring her inside for delivery), you may want to help your dog prepare a place to have the litter.
- Grab a few old blankets that you do not use and place them on top of padding. Your dog will seek out things that she needs or wants when she has her pups.
How to be sure way to tell if your dog is pregnant: Ultrasound.
The only way to determine if your pooch is pregnant (if you cannot tell by the signs alone) is to take her to the veterinarian. The best way to detect whether or not your pooch is carrying a litter is by using an ultrasound. It can be used to detect pregnancy earlier than other methods by picking up on additional heartbeats.
How to tell how many puppies are in the litter: X-rays.
Although many veterinarians can simply feel the abdomen and determine whether or not there are pups, if you want to find out how many puppies there will be, then your vet can perform an x-ray.
Understand what else may be causing your pet's behavior changes, if not pregnancy.
A loss in appetite can be a sign of: