How do I calculate my dog due date?

Add 63 days to the mating date. If mated on multiple days, use the first mating date. Due date is an estimate — actual delivery can be 58-68 days after mating.

What are early signs of dog pregnancy?

Week 3-4: decreased appetite, slight lethargy, nipple enlargement and color change. Week 5+: belly swelling, weight gain, nesting behavior. Not all dogs show early signs.

When should I increase food?

Week 5 (day 35): increase food 25%. Week 6-7: switch to high-quality puppy food (more calories and nutrients). Week 8-9: feed 50-60% more. Do not overfeed in weeks 1-4.

How do I prepare for whelping?

Week 7-8: set up a whelping box in a quiet, warm area. Line with clean towels. Have clean scissors, dental floss (for cords), and your vet emergency number ready.

What is a temperature drop sign?

Normal dog temp: 38-39°C. When it drops below 37°C, labor usually begins within 24 hours. Start taking temperature twice daily from day 58 onward.

When should I call the vet during labor?

Call if: more than 2 hours between puppies, straining for 30+ minutes without delivery, green/black discharge before first puppy, trembling or collapse, or pregnancy exceeds 65 days.

Dog Pregnancy Calculator - Due Date & Milestones (2026)

Pregnancy Timeline

63-day canine gestation

Due Date

Jun 12, 2026

Days Left

33 days

Week

5/9

Progress

48%

Week-by-Week Milestones

Week	Date	Development	Care Action

// Pets · ShashaTools

Dog Pregnancy

Mating Date

The date of first mating. Due date = mating + 63 days.

// Results

Due Date

Jun 12, 2026

Due Date

Jun 12, 2026 (Thu)

Days Left

33 days remaining

Stage

Week 5: Fetal growth

Mated On

Mar 22, 2026

Gestation

63 days

Mated Mar 22 → due Jun 12 (33 days left)

How to Use This Calculator

Track your dog’s pregnancy from mating to delivery

Step 1 Enter Date

Enter mating date

The date your dog was bred. If mated on multiple days, use the first date. The calculator adds 63 days for the estimated due date.

See due date

The estimated delivery date. Actual range: 58-68 days. Past 65 days without labor, call your vet immediately.

Track current week

The 9-week pregnancy is divided into stages. Each week has specific developmental milestones and care requirements.

Follow milestones

The table shows what is happening at each week with dates and care actions. Your current week is highlighted. Completed milestones are grayed out.

💡 Confirm pregnancy: Ultrasound at day 25-28 (heartbeats visible). X-ray after day 45 (count puppies). Blood test (relaxin) at day 22-27.

Step 2 Prepare

Week 1-4: Normal care

Regular food and exercise. Avoid toxins, chemicals, and rough play. Some dogs have morning sickness around week 3. No food increase yet.

Week 5-6: Increase food

Switch to high-quality puppy food (higher calories). Increase portions 25-50%. Reduce strenuous exercise. Belly starts showing.

Week 7-8: Prepare

Set up whelping box in a quiet, warm room. Line with towels. Gather supplies: scissors, dental floss, clean towels, heat lamp. Have vet number ready.

Week 9: Monitor

Take temperature 2x/day from day 58. Drop below 37°C means labor in 24 hours. Watch for nesting, panting, restlessness. Be ready.

💡 Emergency signs: Call vet if: 2+ hours between puppies, straining 30+ min without delivery, green discharge before first pup, trembling, or past 65 days with no labor.

// Related Calculators

🍖

Dog Food Calculator

Adjust feeding for pregnant/nursing dogs.

🐾

Puppy Growth Calculator

Track newborn puppy weight milestones.

🐕

Dog Age Calculator

Mother’s age in dog years.

⏱️

Countdown Timer

Count down to the due date.

// Complete Guide — Updated 2026

Dog Pregnancy:
The Complete Guide

Canine pregnancy is fast — just 63 days from mating to delivery. That short timeline means every week matters. This guide covers the full 9-week pregnancy, what to expect at each stage, feeding adjustments, and how to prepare for whelping day.

The Timeline

// Canine Gestation

Due Date = Mating Date + 63 days (range: 58-68)

9 weeks total. Most growth in weeks 5-9. Delivery outside 58-68 days is a veterinary emergency.

Litter Size by Breed

Breed Size	Average Litter	Range
Small (Chihuahua, Yorkie)	2-3	1-4
Medium (Beagle, Bulldog)	5-6	3-8
Large (Lab, Shepherd)	7-8	5-12
Giant (Dane, Mastiff)	8-10	6-15+

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Confirming Pregnancy. James’s Beagle mated on March 10. Day 25 (April 4): ultrasound confirms 5 heartbeats. Due date: May 12. He begins increasing food at week 5 (April 14). Day 45 X-ray confirms 6 puppies (one was hiding). Use our Dog Food Calculator for pregnancy portions.

Scenario 2: Preparing the Whelping Box. Maria’s Lab is at week 7. She sets up the whelping box: large plastic pool lined with towels, in a quiet spare room. Heat lamp for puppies. Clean scissors and dental floss (for cords). Vet number on the wall. She starts taking temp 2x/day from day 58.

Scenario 3: Labor Signs. David’s Shepherd is at day 61. Morning temp: 36.8°C (down from normal 38.5). She is restless, panting, nesting. First puppy arrives 14 hours later. Total: 8 puppies over 6 hours. All healthy. He calls the vet for a next-day wellness check on mom and pups.

Scenario 4: Emergency. Priya’s Bulldog is at day 60. She has been straining for 45 minutes with no puppy. This is an emergency for Bulldogs (common C-section breed). She rushes to the vet. Emergency cesarean delivers 4 healthy puppies. Brachycephalic breeds should always have a vet on standby.

💡 Key insight: The most common mistake is overfeeding in weeks 1-4. Puppies are tiny in early pregnancy and the mother does not need extra food yet. Overfeeding early causes fat gain, not puppy growth, and makes delivery harder. Increase food only from week 5 onward.

Key Dates

Ultrasound	Day 25-28
Increase food	Day 35
X-ray (count)	Day 45+
Whelping box	Day 49
Temp monitoring	Day 58+

// Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Dog Pregnancy

How long are dogs pregnant? +

63 days average (9 weeks). Range: 58-68 days. Smaller breeds tend earlier. Past 65 days without labor = call vet.

How to calculate due date? +

Mating date + 63 days. Use first mating date if bred multiple days. Due date is estimate; actual range 58-68 days.

When can I confirm pregnancy? +

Ultrasound day 25-28. Blood test day 22-27. Physical exam day 28+. X-ray day 45+ (count puppies).

Early signs of pregnancy? +

Week 3-4: less appetite, lethargy, nipple changes. Week 5+: belly swelling, weight gain, nesting. Not all dogs show early signs.

When to increase food? +

Week 5 (day 35): increase 25%. Week 6-7: switch to puppy food. Week 8-9: 50-60% more. Don’t overfeed weeks 1-4.

How to prepare for whelping? +

Week 7-8: whelping box in quiet warm area, clean towels, scissors, dental floss, vet number. Start temp checks day 58.

What is the temperature drop sign? +

Normal: 38-39°C. Drop below 37°C = labor within 24 hours. Take temp 2x daily from day 58.

How many puppies? +

Small breeds: 1-4. Medium: 4-8. Large: 6-12. Giant: 8-15+. X-ray after day 45 gives accurate count.

When to call the vet during labor? +

2+ hours between puppies, straining 30+ min, green discharge before first pup, trembling, or past 65 days.

Can I exercise my pregnant dog? +

Yes, moderate through week 6. Reduce weeks 7-8. Gentle walks only week 9. No jumping or rough play from week 5.

Dog PregnancyCalculator

Dog Pregnancy:The Complete Guide

The Timeline

Litter Size by Breed

Real-World Scenarios

Dog Pregnancy
Calculator

Dog Pregnancy:
The Complete Guide