Pregnancy Timeline

If you’re interested in a puppy from us you may find it interesting to follow the developmental process as the whelp advances. Of course Mother Nature is ultimately in charge so this is just an average guideline. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. If you scroll down the page you'll find where our girl is up to on the whelping calendar.

Day1 First day of mating. 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent mattings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilisation taking place. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.

Day 2 Sperm travels searching for mature ripened eggs. From the time of ovulation eggs take approximately 48 hours to mature.

Day 2 - 3 Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.

Days 3 - 4 Fertilisation occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.

Days 4 Fertilised eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns. The migration continues to enable even spacing of the embryos. During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocysts.

Days 12 to 14 The blastocysts implant in the wall of the uterus.

Days 12 to 26 The blastocysts will grow into embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.

Days 15 to 22 Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.

Days 21 to 28 Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time. Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help.

Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.

Days 26 to 30 An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant. It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.

Day 29 Start to increase the dams food ration. Don't over feed, excessive weight gain should be avoided. The fetuses are now fully developed miniature dogs.

Day 35 The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.

Day 45 It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.

Day 48 to 56 - Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming. Her breasts become even more swollen. She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.

Day 50 The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies. It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day.

You can easily detect abdominal movement now.

Day 50 to 63 Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.

Day 50 to 61 Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.

Day 61 You might want to start taking the dam’s rectal temperature each morning and evening.

Day 62 Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dam’s rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees. Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.

Day 63 - Expected whelping date !