Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Enter the mating date to see your dog’s due date window, how far along she is today, and what to prepare each week.
Dogs are pregnant for about 63 days. Counting from the first mating, puppies usually arrive between day 58 and day 72, because mating can happen days before ovulation. If your vet timed ovulation or the LH surge, the due date is more precise: about 63 days after ovulation or 65 days after the LH surge.
Dog pregnancy week by week
Days are counted from the first mating. Use the calculator above to see the dates for your dog.
| Week | Days | What’s happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–7 | Mating and fertilization. There is nothing to see yet. | Write down every mating date. |
| 2 | 8–14 | Too early for any test. | Keep her routine and diet normal. |
| 3 | 15–21 | Around 3 to 4 weeks, a vet may be able to feel the puppies. | Book a vet visit for the end of week 4. |
| 4 | 22–28 | From about day 28, ultrasound can reliably confirm pregnancy. | Ultrasound visit. |
| 5 | 29–35 | A relaxin blood test can confirm pregnancy from about day 30. | Ask your vet about diet and any medications. |
| 6 | 36–42 | Keep feeding her normally through the first six weeks. | Plan where she will give birth. |
| 7 | 43–49 | Food needs rise in the last three weeks, up to about 1.5 times normal. | Increase food gradually. |
| 8 | 50–56 | From about day 55, an X-ray can count the puppies. | X-ray to count puppies; set up a whelping area. |
| 9 | 57–63+ | She may start nesting from about day 58. Her temperature drops below 99°F in the day before labor. | Check her temperature and have your vet’s number ready. |
How long are dogs pregnant?
The average is about 63 days. VCA describes a normal range of 57 to 65 days, and the Merck Veterinary Manual gives 62 to 64 days. The AKC measures 63 days from ovulation and 65 to 66 days from the LH surge, the hormone peak that triggers ovulation.
Counting from the first mating, the AKC range is much wider, 58 to 72 days, because a dog may be mated days before she ovulates.
Why the due date is a window, not a day
A mating date tells you when sperm arrived, not when the eggs were ready. Without ovulation timing, predicting the length of a pregnancy is difficult, as the Merck Veterinary Manual notes. That is why we show a most-likely date and a wider window. If your vet tracked hormone levels before breeding, choose that date instead for a tighter estimate.
| Date you know | Due date | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First mating date | +63 days | +58 to +72 | Most common; widest window |
| Ovulation (vet-timed) | +63 days | +61 to +65 | Most precise |
| LH surge (vet-timed) | +65 days | +64 to +66 | Precise |
| First day of diestrus | +57 days | +56 to +58 | From vaginal smears |
How early can a vet confirm pregnancy?
- Feeling the belly (palpation): around 3 to 4 weeks.
- Ultrasound: reliable from about day 28 to 30, and the method of choice according to VCA.
- Relaxin blood test: from about day 30. Testing too early, or a litter of one or two puppies, can give a false negative.
- X-ray: from about day 55 to count puppies, which helps you know when she has finished giving birth.
Feeding a pregnant dog
For the first six weeks, feed her as usual. During the last three weeks, VCA advises increasing her food gradually to up to 1.5 times the normal amount. In calorie terms, nutrition guidelines put pregnant dogs at about 1.6 to 2.0 times their resting energy needs, rising in the last third of pregnancy. Use our dog food calculator to turn that into cups.
Signs of labor in dogs
From about day 58, many dogs start looking for a place to nest. In most dogs, rectal temperature drops below 99°F (37.2°C) in the 24 hours before labor, so taking her temperature during the last week helps you know when to expect puppies. Early labor signs such as restlessness can last up to 24 hours before pushing starts.
When to call your vet during whelping
- She strains hard for more than 30 minutes without producing a puppy.
- More than 2 hours pass between puppies.
- Labor goes on for more than 24 hours.
- She is past day 72 from the first mating.
These thresholds come from VCA and the AKC. When in doubt, call; it is always better to check.
What if I don’t know the mating date?
If you aren’t sure when she mated, or whether she is pregnant at all, start with a vet visit. An ultrasound from about four weeks can confirm the pregnancy and give an idea of how far along she is. Then choose “Vet estimate” above and enter the number of days to get a due date window.
Not planned? Your vet can talk you through all of your options.
Frequently asked questions
How long are dogs pregnant?
About 63 days. VCA gives a normal range of 57 to 65 days, and counting from the first mating, the AKC gives 58 to 72 days because mating can happen days before ovulation.
How do you know if your dog is pregnant?
Ask your vet. They may feel the puppies at 3 to 4 weeks, ultrasound can confirm pregnancy from about day 28, a relaxin blood test from about day 30, and an X-ray can count puppies from about day 55.
How early can a vet confirm pregnancy?
Ultrasound is the method of choice and is reliable from about day 28 to 30 after mating. A relaxin test can give false negatives if done too early.
What if I don’t know the mating date?
Have your vet examine her. If they estimate how far along she is from an ultrasound, choose “Vet estimate” and enter the number of days to get a due date window.
My dog mated twice. Which date do I use?
Enter the first mating date and add the second. The calculator shows the most likely range (63 days after each mating) and the full window from 58 days after the first to 72 days after the last.
What are the signs of labor in dogs?
She may start nesting from about day 58, and her rectal temperature usually drops below 99°F in the 24 hours before labor. First-stage labor signs can last up to 24 hours.
Does a dog’s temperature drop before labor?
Yes. In most dogs, rectal temperature drops below 99°F (37.2°C) in the last 24 hours before labor, according to VCA.
How much should I feed a pregnant dog?
Feed her normally for the first six weeks, then increase gradually over the last three weeks to up to 1.5 times her usual amount, as VCA advises. Our dog food calculator can turn that into cups.
When should I call the vet during whelping?
Call your vet if she strains hard for more than 30 minutes without a puppy, if more than 2 hours pass between puppies, if labor lasts more than 24 hours, or if she is past day 72 from the first mating.
Keep going
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Pregnancy in Dogs.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Whelping in Dogs.
- American Kennel Club. The Reproductive Cycle in Dogs.
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version). Management of Reproduction in Dogs.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Whelping and Queening in Bitches and Queens.
- Pet Nutrition Alliance. Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs (RER/MER).
Estimates only — not a substitute for veterinary advice. Read our disclaimer.