Dog Pregnancy Week by Week: A Practical Care Guide
This is your action manual — what to feed, how to exercise, which vet visits to book, and what to physically do each week of your dog's pregnancy.
How Big Are the Puppies Right Now?
A simple size reference by week — based on average-sized breeds. Toy and giant breeds will vary.
Business as Usual
No visible signs, no lifestyle changes required. Just note the mating date and let nature work.
Nutrition
No dietary changes needed yet. Continue her normal adult food and usual portions. There's zero extra caloric demand this early — overfeeding now just adds fat, not puppy weight.
Exercise
Normal routine is fine. Walks, fetch, and play stay as they are. No restrictions needed. Avoid extreme heat or overexertion, as you would for any dog.
Confirm, Transition, Monitor
Pregnancy is confirmed. Time to switch foods, dial back high-impact activity, and start watching for visible changes.
Nutrition
Begin transitioning to a high-quality puppy or performance formula. Mix it in gradually over 7 days. Start increasing portions by about 10% above her normal intake by Week 6.
Exercise
Continue moderate exercise — walks are perfect. Avoid jumping, rough play, agility, and high-impact activity. No stairs or slippery floors where avoidable.
Prepare, Monitor, Whelp
Puppies are growing fast. Feeding changes, X-ray timing, temperature checks, and whelping preparation all happen now.
Nutrition
Switch to 3–4 smaller meals per day. As puppies compress the stomach, one big meal becomes uncomfortable. Increase total food by 25–50% above normal by Week 9 — feed puppy food freely.
Exercise
Short, gentle walks only. Let her set the pace. Avoid stairs where possible and skip any activity that could involve jumping or slipping. Complete rest is not recommended unless your vet advises it.
Vet Visit Schedule
Three scheduled visits cover a normal, low-risk pregnancy. Everything else is on-call.
| Week | Vet Action |
|---|---|
| Week 4 | Confirmation visit — ultrasound or relaxin blood test to confirm pregnancy. |
| Week 6–7 | Optional check-up — discuss nutrition plan, weight gain, and any concerns. |
| Week 7 | X-ray for puppy count — accurate count after Day 45 helps you know when labor is done. |
| Week 9 | On standby — have your vet's emergency number and nearest 24-hour clinic saved. |
Warning Signs to Watch For
Grouped by trimester so you know what's relevant when. Contact your vet immediately if any of these appear.
Trimester 1 (Week 1–3)
- Persistent vomiting lasting more than 24 hours
- Complete refusal of food for 2+ days
- Fever above 102.5°F (39.2°C)
Trimester 2 (Week 4–6)
- Colored or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Sudden lethargy or collapse
- Refusing food for more than 24 hours
Trimester 3 (Week 7–9)
- Green or black discharge (placental separation)
- Strong straining for 30+ minutes with no puppy
- More than 3 hours between puppies with no progress
- Temperature above 103°F or below 98°F with no labor
- Collapse, tremors, or seizures (possible eclampsia)
Breed & Size Variations
Gestation length is 63 days across all breeds — but litter size, puppy weight, and care needs vary. Explore breed-specific guides below.
Week-by-Week Care — FAQ
Practical answers about feeding, exercise, puppy size, and vet visits.
Weeks 1–3: no change — continue her normal adult portions. Weeks 4–6: start transitioning to high-quality puppy food and increase portions by about 10%. Weeks 7–9: switch to 3–4 smaller meals daily and increase total food by 25–50% above her normal intake. Always feed to body condition, not to a fixed number.
You don't stop entirely — you scale back. Trimester 1: normal routine is fine. Trimester 2: continue walks but avoid jumping, rough play, and high-impact activity. Trimester 3: short gentle walks only, no stairs where possible, and let her set the pace. Complete rest is not recommended unless your vet advises it.
Week 3: grain of rice. Week 4: blueberry. Week 5: grape. Week 6: walnut. Week 7: lime. Week 8: small apple. Week 9: full newborn puppy size — varies by breed, from 2 oz in toy breeds up to 1 lb+ in giant breeds. See the size chart above for the full visual.
A typical pregnancy needs 3 scheduled visits: Week 4 for pregnancy confirmation (ultrasound or relaxin blood test), Week 6–7 for an optional check-up and nutrition discussion, and Week 7 for an X-ray puppy count after Day 45. Beyond that, you should be on standby in Week 9 with your vet's emergency number saved.
Related Guides
Pair this care guide with our other tools and reference pages.