Breeding & Reproduction
Dog Gestation Timeline: Week-by-Week From Ovulation to Whelping
Updated September 6, 2026 · 8 min read · By the BreedBloom team
Canine gestation is about 63 days counted from ovulation. Counted from the breeding date it can look like anything from 57 to 72 days, which is why timing from progesterone matters. Here is what happens each week and what a breeder should be doing about it.
How the count works
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From ovulation: 63 days ± 1. This is the reliable number.
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From the LH surge: 65 days ± 1.
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From the first breeding: 57–72 days, because sperm can survive several days and ovulation may have been days later.
If you timed progesterone, use ovulation day as day 0. If you did not, use the whelping date calculator to see the full window and plan for the early end of it.
Week 1 (days 0–7): fertilization
Eggs mature 2–3 days after ovulation and are fertilized in the oviduct. Nothing is visible externally. Keep exercise and diet normal; do not increase food.
Week 2 (days 8–14): migration
Embryos travel to the uterus. Some dams show mild appetite change. Still no diet change.
Week 3 (days 15–21): implantation
Embryos implant around day 17–21. Some dams show morning nausea. Avoid unnecessary medications and vaccines from here on; check any product against a veterinary reference.
Week 4 (days 22–28): confirmation
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Ultrasound from about day 25–28 confirms pregnancy and fetal heartbeats. It is not reliable for counting.
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Relaxin blood tests are positive from around day 22–27.
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Discharge may be a clear mucus; anything coloured or smelly is a vet visit.
Week 5 (days 29–35): growth begins
Abdomen starts to fill in multiparous dams. Nipples enlarge and pink. Begin transitioning gradually to a higher-calorie food (a quality puppy or performance diet) over the coming week.
Week 6 (days 36–42): visible pregnancy
Rapid fetal growth. Feed 2–3 smaller meals. Introduce the whelping box now so it is familiar and not a stressor later.
Week 7 (days 43–49): preparation
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Clip belly hair if needed, bathe, trim nails.
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Assemble the whelping supplies.
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Intake may rise to 25–50% above maintenance by the end of gestation; let her body condition guide it.
Week 8 (days 50–57): count the puppies
Fetal skeletons mineralize enough for radiographs after about day 55. One lateral and one VD film give a count that tells you when whelping is finished. Milk may appear. Start taking rectal temperature twice daily from day 57.
Week 9 (days 58–65): whelping
Temperature drops below about 99°F (37.2°C) roughly 12–24 hours before labor. Nesting intensifies, appetite drops. Follow the whelping checklist. If day 65 from ovulation passes with no signs, or day 66 from the LH surge, call your vet.
Automate the timeline
Enter the tie or ovulation date in BreedBloom and the litter timeline schedules the ultrasound window, the X-ray reminder, temperature checks and the due-date range for you.
Frequently asked questions
How long are dogs pregnant?
About 63 days from ovulation (65 from the LH surge). Counted from breeding, the range is 57–72 days.
When can you ultrasound a pregnant dog?
From about day 25–28 after ovulation. Ultrasound confirms pregnancy and heartbeats but is unreliable for counting; radiographs after day 55 give the count.
When should I change a pregnant dog's food?
Keep her on her normal diet through week 4, then transition gradually to a higher-calorie diet from week 5, increasing to 25–50% above maintenance in the final weeks depending on litter size and body condition.
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