You've done the breeding. You've been watching for signs. But how do you actually know your dog is pregnant?
Here's everything you need to know about confirming canine pregnancy - including what to expect at the 4 to 5 week ultrasound.
The Methods of Pregnancy Confirmation
There are four primary ways to confirm pregnancy in dogs, each with its own timing and accuracy.
1. Ultrasound (Most Recommended)
Ultrasound is the most reliable and most commonly used method to confirm dog pregnancy. A skilled vet or ultrasonographer can detect embryos and fetal heartbeats as early as day 21-25 after breeding, though between week 4-5 is the most common and reliable window.
What ultrasound can tell you:
- Whether your dog is pregnant
- Whether the fetuses have detectable heartbeats
- An estimate of how many puppies to expect
- An estimated fetal age and due date
What ultrasound cannot reliably tell you:
- The exact number of puppies
- The sex of the puppies
2. Relaxin Blood Test
The placenta produces a hormone called relaxin that is unique to pregnancy. A blood test can detect relaxin as early as day 22-27 after breeding. This is a reliable binary test - pregnant or not pregnant - but it doesn't provide information about litter size or fetal health.
Note: Relaxin testing may be less accurate in small or toy breed dogs carrying very few puppies.
3. Abdominal Palpation
An experienced vet or breeder can sometimes feel the developing embryos through the abdominal wall between days 28-35. This method is the least accurate for confirmation and should never be attempted by an untrained person - improper pressure can harm the puppies.
4. X-Ray
An X-ray is not used to confirm early pregnancy, but it is the most reliable method for counting puppies before delivery. Fetal skeletons become visible on X-ray around day 45. A final x-ray at week 7-8 gives you the most accurate count, which is critically important for knowing when all puppies have been delivered during labor. X-rays can also determine if the puppy's skull will pass through a natural birth, healthy for the puppy and mom. If their skulls are too big to pass naturally, you will need to schedule a planned C-section with your vet to ensure safety for everyone.
What to Expect at the Week 4-5 Ultrasound
The 4 to 5 week mark is the sweet spot for an ultrasound - early enough to be actionable, late enough to be reliably accurate.
During your appointment, your dog will lie on her back or side, which most dogs tolerate well. The veterinarian will apply ultrasound gel to her abdomen and use a handheld probe. You will see live images on a monitor—round, dark shapes representing the amniotic sacs with puppies inside. By 5 weeks, some bones may be visible within these sacs. The vet will listen for fetal heartbeats to ensure the puppies are healthy. The whole appointment usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes.
Questions to ask during your appointment:
- Are the heartbeats strong?
- Any concerns about the pregnancy so far?
- When should we come back?
- Should we schedule a final x-ray at week 8?
After Confirmation: What Changes
Nutrition: Begin planning your transition to puppy food or an all-life-stages formula starting around week 5.
Exercise: Avoid strenuous activity and rough play from this point onward. Gentle daily walks are ideal.
Environment: Start thinking about where she'll give birth. Setting up and introducing a whelping area at week 7 gives her time to get comfortable with it. We recommend our Starter Whelping Kit, which includes everything you need for proper care.
Monitoring: Note any changes in appetite, behavior, or vaginal discharge. A small amount of clear discharge is normal. Anything discolored, bloody, or foul-smelling is not.
What If the Breeding Didn't Take?
Not every breeding results in pregnancy. If your dog's ultrasound comes back negative and you were expecting a pregnancy, don't panic. False negatives can occur if the ultrasound is done too early or if the litter is very small. A repeat test or blood test for relaxin can confirm.
Please know that even after doing everything properly, there is always a chance that your female doesn't take. Ensure that whoever you choose for your stud dog offers a free rebreed if she doesn't accept the first time. There isn't a breeder who will always be 100% because of all the factors that go into breeding. It is important you confirm this before agreeing to a stud to ensure you aren't being ripped off. At Wasatch Pup, we offer a free rebreed if she is confirmed not pregnant or if she has 1 puppy (Singleton). We recommend getting a TCI on the rebreed to ensure the vet does a proper semen analysis (confirming the sample has no issues) and that it is inserted directly into the uterus.
Sources: PetMD, AKC, Pets Best, Coastal Veterinary Care, VCA Animal Hospitals
