Are you interested in having a whole litter of puppies to play with?

Do you suspect you have a pregnant dog on your hands already, but want to know for sure?

If so, then you’ve come to the right place.

The good news is there are a lot of ways you can learn how to tell if your dog is pregnant. Of course, while we suggest taking them into your local vet to be sure, there are a few other signs to watch out for.

Read on to learn more about them below.

How to Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant

As with humans, one of the easiest ways to understand if your dog is pregnant is to look for sudden weight gain that can’t be explained by diet.

Pay close attention to your dog’s abdomen area. If it seems larger, then chances are your dog is “further along” than you might think. Take her into a vet ASAP.

Another sign of a pregnant dog?

Unfortunately, vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea in the early pregnancy stage happens because of sudden hormone changes in your pet. It’s especially common for your dog to come down with these two symptoms in the third and fourth weeks of their pregnancy.

In addition to an enlarged abdomen, also be on the lookout for enlarged nipples or a color change in the nipples. They may become rounder as opposed to flat, and they’ll likely take on a darker red tone. This means more blood is flowing to them.

Additionally, be on the lookout for serious fluctuations in your pet’s appetite. Believe it or not, this doesn’t always mean your dog will want to eat more. Especially early on, you might notice she’s not touching her food. She may not want to eat meals she once enjoyed.

Be sure to look out for a slowdown in overall activity levels, too.

Caring for a Pregnant Dog

You, of course, want the best for your dog over the course of her pregnancy.

Talk to your vet about switching to a diet that’s a bit higher in proteins and fats. In most case, you’ll need to give your pet about 1.5 times more food than they normally eat.

You may also need to cut back on the level of intense exercise you give your dog. Strenuous runs and long walks aren’t usually a good idea.

However, short and regular standard walks are more than fine-even good for a pregnant dog.

Need a Dog Pregnancy Test?

Of course, the best way to learn how to tell if your dog is pregnant is to take them into your trusted vet for a test.

While, believe it or not, there are actual dog pregnancy tests out there, the best thing for your dog is to take her to a vet.

We want to be able to help both you and your animal prepare for this exciting news! The same goes if you want to spay/neuter your dog.