How long does pregnancy last in dogs. How many months does pregnancy last in dogs

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnancy in dogs is multiple. It is very difficult to calculate the exact date of birth, because the onset of pregnancy occurs in animals without symptoms or they are not pronounced. There are cases of a false course of pregnancy, in which case false symptoms are easy to mistake for real ones. The date of birth is influenced by many factors, one of which is the course of pregnancy. How long does pregnancy last in dogs?

When does conception occur in dogs?

After the male sperm and female egg have merged, the dog becomes pregnant. Ideally, the sperm reaches the egg within an hour after the end of sexual intercourse. On average, fertilization will take an average of 6-7 days. The further state of the female depends on her body. In different breeds, the process of ovulation takes place at different times: on the fourth, sixth, eighth day of estrus orat a later date. Therefore, a single insemination is not enough. The female is ready for insemination already on the ninth day of estrus. If the insemination procedure is performed on the ninth and eleventh days, then this is usually enough to conceive.

Factors affecting pregnancy length in dogs

Most often affect the conception and course of pregnancy errors in mating. Many dog owners believe that a single insemination is enough, but at the same time they cannot correctly determine the date of ovulation. As a result, when mating on the twelfth day, due to the shift in the time of ovulation, pregnancy does not occur in the dog. In this case, both the male and the female are checked for deviations in he alth according to various indicators:

• previous pregnancy;
• the number of offspring in the female and male;
• the presence of diseases of the reproductive organs;
• number of refusals from mating;
• the course of the proestrus period (estrus);
• hormonal disorders;
• false pregnancy.

The second factor affecting how long a pregnancy lasts in dogs is the inability of the animals to mate normally. Most often this applies to young inexperienced males, which, with numerous body movements, cannot completely penetrate the inside of the vagina, as a result, sperm is poured out on the eve of the vagina. Part of the spermatozoa dies due to the acidic environment, and the rest is not always able to reach the egg. In this case, pregnancy occurslate or not at all. The third factor affecting how long a dog's pregnancy lasts is poor semen quality. Poor quality refers to poor sperm motility, low sperm count and morphology (sperm structure). The amount of sperm directly depends on the weight of the animal and its size. With low sperm motility or poor morphology, pregnancy in a female may not occur or the embryos will die.

How long does a dog pregnancy last?

Pregnancy in dogs lasts an average of 63 days. Puppies become viable between 53 and 71 days. The exact date of delivery depends on the size of the dog, the course of pregnancy and related factors. Small breeds can give birth on the 60th day. Animals that will give birth for the first time bear offspring for a longer period. According to statistics, most often the female whelps at 58-64 days. Therefore, it is very difficult to say exactly how many days a dog's pregnancy lasts.

The dog's first month of pregnancy

Initially, it is difficult to determine the presence of pregnancy in a dog, examination and probing will not give anything. The animal can lead a normal life. Some females become more calm, restrained, affectionate or lethargic, sleepy. Two weeks after conception, the appearance of the mammary glands changes: they swell, become more pink. In the third week, the embryos attach to the walls of the uterus, so the female has a glassy discharge from the vagina. In the fourth week,feel for the presence of rounded lumps, provided that the pregnancy is multiple. If the female has 1-2 puppies, then it is extremely difficult to determine anything by touch.

2nd month of dog pregnancy

In the second month, the belly of a pregnant female gradually increases. The animal's appetite increases, caution in movements appears. At the sixth week, the babies are clearly palpable in the prone position. Two weeks before the birth of puppies, tremors appear in the animal's stomach. At first they are irregular, barely noticeable. The closer the date of birth, the more active the kids are pushing. The movement of puppies is viewed visually. In the last week, the back sags, the stomach drops. A few days before childbirth, the amount of discharge from the vagina increases, they become yellowish or greenish. When asked how many months pregnancy lasts in dogs, you can say this: 2 months and a week.

How long does a dog go into labor?

The duration of labor in a dog depends on the number of offspring. Childbirth consists of three periods:

• The preparatory period, in which the cervix opens under the influence of contractions, lasts from 6 to 30 hours.
• Direct birth (breeding) of puppies - with the help of contractions and attempts, puppies are brought out in breech or head presentation, lasts from 3 to 12 hours with an interval between puppies up to 10-15 minutes.
• The postpartum period lasts 12-15 days, the uterus contracts and returns to normal, the uterine cavity is completely cleared. Neck closes tightly.

The first puppy must be born on its own. The afterbirth usually comes out immediately after the newborn, but sometimes it can be delayed. After the birth of the last puppy, the placenta can depart within half an hour. Large individuals and females of heavy breeds are encouraged to assist in the process of childbirth. Small animals usually need help only with small pregnancies (1-2 puppies). Help consists in removing the amniotic membrane from the puppy, cutting the umbilical cord with sterile scissors, processing it, wiping the baby with a dry, clean rag or towel. Thus, the question of how long pregnancy in dogs and labor activity lasts can be answered: pregnancy in a dog lasts an average of 2 months and one week (64-71 days), and childbirth - from 8 hours to 1.5 days with a postpartum period up to 15 days.