How Do German Shepherds Act When Pregnant?

Most people know what pregnancy is like for humans, but not all of us can say the same about German Shepherds. If you’re unsure whether or not your German Shepherd is expecting or are wondering what to expect when they’re expecting, here is some insight on how German Shepherds act when pregnant.

Common signs German Shepherds exhibit when pregnant include varied levels in appetite, weight gain, fatigue, firm and enlarged abdomen, and increased urination. Drop in body temperature, restless behavior, and loss of appetite are normal in the days before a German Shepherd gives birth.

It can be scary, unfamiliar, and exciting, watching your beloved German Shepherd experience pregnancy. We’ll take you through the signs and stages of a German Shepherd’s pregnancy, as well as dog-friendly pregnancy tests and how to care for your expecting dog.

Stages Of Pregnancy

The canine gestation period is approximately 68 days or just over two months. Compared to the nine months it takes for a human baby to develop to full size, puppies grow relatively quickly. There are three different stages of pregnancy your dog will experience: one for each month.

Stage One

At the beginning of a dog’s pregnancy, it can be difficult to determine whether or not they are expecting. It’s quite common for a dog not to show any symptoms until the fourth week of pregnancy. Don’t worry, this is normal. At this time, potential signs may include:

Morning sickness

Lower physical activity levels
Slight weight gain
Decreased appetite

Fatigue

Now is a good time to take your German Shepherd to the vet to confirm pregnancy through several tests that will be discussed in just a bit. Near the end of this stage, a veterinarian can also conduct an ultrasound to detect heartbeats in the puppies.

Stage Two

If you did not see your German Shepherd exhibit signs of pregnancy in the first stage, you will during the second. Some of the same symptoms you may have already seen will continue, such as more significant weight gain. Around day 50, you should be able to see the unborn pups move around in their mother’s belly.

Eating changes occur through this time as well. During the first month, pregnant German Shepherds’ appetites decrease. In the second stage, they will increase again before dropping back down around 45 days into gestation. Other signs of pregnancy in stage two include:

Firm, enlarged abdomen. Soon after this occurs, keep an eye out for a chance to see some fetal activity.
More frequent urination. As the puppies grow and press on the bladder, your German Shepherd will have to urinate often. Make sure you’re letting her outside when she needs to avoid an accident in the house.

Stage Three

It’s almost time for the puppies to be born. Around day 58, the babies will be nearly fully developed. Prepare for some fairly extreme changes in your German Shepherd as she prepares to give birth. These include:

Restless behavior such as digging, pacing, and shivering
Significant loss of appetite

Sudden decrease in body temperature
Smaller waist size. In preparation for birth, the puppies move out of the abdominal area and into the birth canal, causing the waist to appear slimmer.

Finally, the three stages of labor will begin. The duration of labor depends on the size of your German Shepherd’s litter. After the 12-24 hours in stage one of labor, your German Shepherdwill deliver her pups every 30 to 60 minutes. (Source)

After they’re all born and the placenta has been delivered, birthing is complete.

How To Know If A German Shepherd Is pregnant?

Since dogs can’t take a store bought pregnancy test or watch out for missed periods like humans do, it’s more difficult to tell if they are pregnant. Ultimately, the best and most reliable way to tell if your dog is pregnant is by taking them to the vet.

Four tests can be performed to determine whether or not your German Shepherd is pregnant:

Hormone Tests
Ultrasound
X-ray

Palpation

It’s important to note that even if any of these tests are positive, they do not necessarily indicate that the fetuses will be successfully delivered.

Hormone Tests

If a German Shepherd is at least 30 days pregnant, a hormone test can be a reliable method to confirm that they are expecting. To do this, a blood sample is taken from your dog to test levels of relaxin.

However, if a hormone test is conducted earlier than 30 days after breeding, it may result in a false negative. If your German Shepherd still tests negative after reaching this one month mark, a follow-up test should be done a week later to confirm results.

Ultrasound

Like their human counterparts, ultrasounds can be used on dogs to determine pregnancy. This test can be performed 25 to 35 days into gestation. Not only can it be used to test pregnancy status, but if it is negative, ultrasounds can help determine any underlying issues in the uterus.

X-ray

Later in the pregnancy, an x-ray can identify how many pups a dog is bearing. Performing an x-ray after day 55 in gestation can help discover the number of puppies the mother is carrying. If a C-section is needed, an x-ray can also provide information on when the best time to conduct one will be.

Palpation

This is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to detect a canine’s pregnancy, though not always the most reliable. 21 to 35 days after a successful breeding, uterine swellings can be felt by a vet’s gentle pressure to feel the abdomen with their fingers.

This test should only be done by an experienced veterinarian to perform this test. Pups at this stage are extremely tiny and delicate, so immense care must be taken. If it is conducted too harshly, a palpation test can result in a miscarriage.

How To Care For A Pregnant German Shepherd

Pregnant dogs require close care and attention. To ensure your dog is at her most optimal health level, consider these tips:

Attend Regular Veterinary Appointments

While dogs don’t have OB/GYN appointments to attend to, you should still make sure they are seen by their vet regularly. Having a professional monitoring your pregnant pup can help prevent any surprise complications from occurring during birth. It’s also important to know your dog is healthy and not in any pain.

Provide Your German Shepherd A Healthy Diet

Ensuring your pregnant German Shepherd is eating a healthy, balanced diet is largely beneficial in her pups being strong and healthy. Dogs should be fed 20 calories per pound; therefore, an average-sized female GSD will consume between 1,000 and 1,400 calories daily. Read more about German Shepherd Weight Guide.

In the last 35 days of her pregnancy, you should consider slowly increasing your German Shepherd’s dietary intake by 30-50 percent. Make sure your pregnant German Shepherd is eating a diet rich in protein, fats, and a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals.