Thread: How many weeks into a pregnancy, does a dog start to show?

My friend never got her dog spayed because it never goes outside. Well, it escaped when it went into heat and a neighbor claims her dog bred with it! She realizes she should've gotten it fixed now so lecturing won't help. She just wants to know when she'd be able to tell. Thanks.

Shouldn't be very long, dogs gestation period is 58 to 63 days. Ought to be showing in three or four weeks.

when they are not that active.

4 weeks old is the time you start seeing a loss of tuck up.

Watch for the dogs nipples to enlarge and like others have said, it's takes from between 58 and 63 days. Some say it can be up to 68, but usually it's 63 days. You should be able to tell something in only a few weeks. Tell your friend, Good Luck.

around the 25th day the vet should be able to do an ultrasound to see if there are any pups.

canine pregnancy calender:

This can be extrelmy variable, depending on litter size dog size ect.. nipple enlargment, exterior signs can vary but they do not generally show untill late in pregnancy.. and because dogs can have a "false" pregnancy including behavioral changes, lactation.. makes it difficult to depend on physical changes..
The only way to know. is one or more of 3 ways..
MOST vets can palpate between 3-4 weeks,, and confirm pregnancy.. later it does become harder for a vet to feel..

Ultrasound detection after 21 days..

X ray with fetal structures seen at around 45-50 days..

Her best bet is go to the vet, consider a spay,, if it is still very early,, can be done very easily.. or at the least confirm pregancy, with papation, and a followup x-ray to get a idea on litter size and such..
If she is,, she needs and get all the prenatal care arranged time off work to stay with her the last week she is due, do some reading of whelping..prepare the whelping area, supplies for the pups and such.. a lot of work..

It was not planned,, but ok no lecture about that,, she took the respsibility of keeping a dog intact.. That was her decision and now needs to do some follow up with the vet,, and not "guess" or hope at this point.. if she is or is not,,

Good luck
Amanda