Dogs are pregnant for about two months, with the average gestation period being approximately 63 days from ovulation, though it can vary between roughly 56 to 72 days depending on factors like breed and litter size
. Key points about dog pregnancy duration and development include:
- The fertilized eggs implant in the uterus around 18 to 23 days after ovulation
- Early pregnancy signs may be subtle, but by around 28 to 30 days, pregnancy can often be detected by ultrasound or abdominal palpation
- Fetal development accelerates in the second month, with features like eyelids, toes, nails, and coat forming between days 32 and 45
- By about day 55, X-rays can reveal the number of puppies, and the dog may start nesting behaviors around days 58 to 62
- Labor typically occurs around 62 to 64 days after conception
Because the exact date of conception can be hard to pinpoint-due to sperm viability and egg maturation timing-the pregnancy length is often given as an average with a margin of several days
. In summary, dogs are pregnant for about 9 weeks (around 63 days), but this can range from about 8 to 10 weeks depending on individual circumstances.
