Dog Pregnancy Calculator
Enter the mating date and get the due date, today's stage of the pregnancy, and a full milestone calendar with real dates, when to test, when to ultrasound, when to X-ray for a puppy count, and when to have the whelping box ready.
How the dog gestation calculator works
Canine pregnancy lasts about 63 days from ovulation: remarkably consistent. The uncertainty comes from counting from the mating date instead: sperm can survive up to a week in the reproductive tract waiting for ovulation, so normal whelping ranges from about day 58 to day 68 after mating. If your breeder or vet did progesterone timing, the ovulation-based due date is accurate to about ±1 day.
The three vet visits that matter
Day 21–25: relaxin blood test. The earliest reliable confirmation of pregnancy. Day 25–28: ultrasound. Confirms viable heartbeats and rules out pyometra, which can mimic pregnancy. Day 55+: X-ray. Skeletons have mineralised, so the vet can count puppies. That count is your safety net during whelping: it's how you know whether the last puppy is out or one is stuck.
Whelping warning signs. Call the vet immediately if:
- Day 68 passes with no sign of labor
- Strong straining for 30–60 minutes without a puppy
- More than 2 hours between puppies with more expected
- Green/black discharge before the first puppy arrives
- The mother is weak, collapsing, or has a fever
Dog pregnancy FAQ
How long are dogs pregnant?
About 63 days (9 weeks) from ovulation; 58–68 days counted from mating. Small litters sometimes run a day or two longer, large litters slightly earlier.
How soon can a vet confirm pregnancy?
Relaxin blood test from day 21–25; ultrasound from day 25–28. Home pregnancy tests for humans do not work on dogs.
How many puppies will she have?
An X-ray after day 55 is the only reliable count. Litter size varies hugely by breed and age, from 1–3 in toy breeds to 8–12 in large breeds.
What should I feed a pregnant dog?
Normal food for the first 5 weeks, then transition to a high-quality puppy/performance food through week 9 and lactation. Appetite often dips briefly around week 3–4 ("morning sickness") and rises sharply in the final third.
How do I know labor is 24 hours away?
Take her rectal temperature twice daily from day 57: a drop below 99°F (37.2°C) usually means labor within 24 hours. Nesting, restlessness and food refusal typically accompany it.
Is a dog due date calculator the same as a gestation or whelping calculator?
Yes, three names for the same maths: canine gestation is about 63 days from ovulation (57 to 72 from a mating date, because sperm survives for days), so a due date calculator, a gestation calculator and a whelping calendar all count forward from the mating or ovulation date and land on the same window. This one also gives the vet-visit and whelping-box milestones along the way.
Planning for puppies? Insure them from day one
Most insurers cover puppies from 8 weeks, and premiums are cheapest, with zero pre-existing exclusions, when they're young. See what real plans cost in 2026.
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Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual, Management of Reproduction in Dogs; AKC Canine Health Foundation. Last reviewed August 2026.