Time Frame

• When a dog is pregnant there are signs early on. She may have a decreased appetite as a result of morning sickness, and a decrease in the amount of her activity, as a result of feelings of exhaustion due to pregnancy. In addition to appetite and activity, dogs may have behavioral changes, such as wanting to be left alone or expressing the need for more attention and affection.
  It's generally a good idea to take a look at a dog's nipples as well. If a female dog's nipples are growing, this is a good sign that the dog is pregnant.
  
  

Features

• After a dog is pregnant for about three to four weeks, she will begin to have an increase in appetite. By one month, an owner will probably notice that the dog is gaining weight.
  
  

Identification

• If an owner hasn't been able to tell that the dog is pregnant early on, the signs that she is pregnant will increase dramatically as the pregnancy progresses. The dog's abdomen will increase in size, and puppies can be felt and seen moving inside of it during the last weeks of a dog's pregnancy. Sometimes milk will leak from the dog's nipples as well.
  
  

Significance

• Depending on the dog's breed, it can be easier or difficult to determine whether the dog is pregnant as a result of the dog's size and its ability to carry a certain number of pups. As the dog gets close to delivering her pups, however, her temperature will drop to about 99 degrees. This is extremely significant. When this happens, the dog will more than likely give birth within 24 hours.
  
  

Considerations

• If an owner thinks that his or her dog may be pregnant, the dog should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. There are a variety of tests that a veterinarian can conduct to determine pregnancy, such as an ultrasound and an examination of the uterus.
  There is a chance that dogs can exhibit signs of pregnancy and not be pregnant at all. Taking them to a veterinarian can eliminate chances of a misdiagnosis.