Set Up A Whelping Box
As your female GSD gets closer to her due date, make sure you have built a safe and comfy whelping box. A whelping box is necessary to help your pregnant dog deliver her litter in a clean and secure location. Ideally, you should set up a whelping box away from other pets and people. It should be located in a quieter place where your pet can give birth to the pups in privacy.
Once you built or purchase a whelping box, ensure your German Shepherd gets accustomed to the new space. If you dont familiarize your dog with the whelping box in advance, your pet may decide to deliver her pups somewhere else probably your closet.
6.4.1 Whelp Box Supply Checklist
When setting up a secure whelping box for your German Shepherd, make sure to include all of the following things inside it:
- Newspaper or sheets to line the whelping box so that your pet gives birth to pups without causing any mess.
- Non-slip bath mats for clean bedding after whelping is over
- Dry and clean paper towels to clean the litter.
- Unused dental floss to tie an umbilical cord.
- Thermometer to check and control your pets body temperature during her labor.
- Clean and sharp scissors to cut the navel string during the delivery.
- A warm water bottle or heating pad to keep the pups comfy. Make sure its not too hot.
- A toddlers scale to check the weight of the litter.
- A bottle of iodine to clean the pups.
German Shepherd Pregnancy Tips
Your German Shepherd will be pregnant for between 58 and 68 days. The average length of a German Shepherd pregnancy is about 63 days from the mating date to delivery.
There will be plenty of behavioral changes in your German Shepherd too, not just physical ones. For example, as she enters the last 14 days of pregnancy you might see the following signs:
- Your German Shepherd will want to cuddle you more and show you more love.
- Your German Shepherd wont want to socialize with other dogs but could be cling to you.
- Your German Shepherd will be calmer and less excitable.
- Your German Shepherd might appear to be uncomfortable.
- Your German Shepherd might want to sleep more and even in different places.
Taking Care Of A Pregnant German Shepherd
Just to summarize some of the points presented on the timeline, heres how to take care of your pregnant dog:
Adjust Diet Accordingly. Your dogs appetite will change throughout pregnancy. So, youll have to adjust the amount of her food accordingly. At around weeks 5 and 6 you should start serving smaller sized, high-protein, high-energy meals.
Exercise. You may provide your dog exercise, especially at the earlier phases of pregnancy. Just be careful to never over-exert your dog. In general, a light stroll would be just fine.
Regular Check-Ups. Be sure to work with your veterinarian throughout the pregnancy. As mentioned, take your dog to the vet on weeks 4 and 7 of the process.
Recommended Reading: Is My German Shepherd Too Skinny
Immediately After My Female Dog Has Been Mated Is There Anything I Should Do
Make sure that she does not have the opportunity to mate with any other dogs. Remember that estrus or ‘heat’ will continue for several more days and she could theoretically become pregnant from another dog during this period. After a planned mating, it is a good idea to allow her to rest quietly for a few hours.
What Does How Long Does A German Shepherd Stay Pregnant Look Like
The German shepherd is a large dog with a strong skeleton and well-developed muscular physique. how long does a german shepherd stay pregnant have a wide powerful chest, a slightly lowered pelvis, and an easily recognizable stand. Limbs are long, smooth and strong, and the tail is straight and saber forms. Skin-tight leather of the how long does a german shepherd stay pregnant body, so that no folds are formed. The head of the shepherd wedge, the ears are large, erect, slightly pointed at the tips.
The coat of the how long does a german shepherd stay pregnant is short and dense, with a developed undercoat, which allows you to transfer even cold. The colors are very different: black and grey, but the most common are black .
Also Check: Underweight German Shepherd
Read Also: Husky German Shepherd Mix Price
Five Main Types Of German Shepherds
There are five main types of German Shepherds that you will come across:
How Often Does A German Shepherd Go Into Heat
So once your German Shepherd has their first heat cycle, how often should you expect them to go into heat?
While this can vary from breed to breed, most German Shepherds will go into heat twice a year .
Heat cycles can be irregular in young dogs, and may take a couple of years for their cycles to regulate. Additionally, German Shepherds like all canines do not have a strict time of the year in which they must breed, so this only adds to the irregularity in the beginning stages.
As long as you are prepared for at least 2 heat cycles a year, you are well equipped!
You May Like: Pitbull Dog Vs German Shepherd Fight
How Long Do Pitbull Dogs Stay Pregnant
So, how long do Pitbulls stay pregnant? Like all dogs, Pitbulls will stay pregnant for nine weeks, which is 63 days. Due to many variables, this number may vary by a few days and a veterinarian can run tests to help determine a more specific date for your specific Pitbull.
A female puppy can get pregnant at 6 months old and can have puppies well into old age, depending on her breed.
Some dogs stop being able to get pregnant after 3 years old, for some dogs, its 5 years old, and other dogs can continue to get pregnant even older than that.
Dog Pregnancy Stages Day By Day Timeline And Test
Once the puppies are weaned, the nipples will shrink somewhat but will stay larger than they were before her giving birth. For most dogs, permanent nipple stretching results. Some dogs may develop mastitis, a breast infection, while nursing. Not only are the nipples inflamed, but pus is discharged through the nipple There are four stages of heat. – Proestrus – This phase is the stage when your dog first comes into heat but is not especially fertile. Usually, she is not receptive to males, but there are some exceptions. – Estrus – You should notice a change in the consistency and color of your German shepherd’s vaginal discharge
The length of pregnancy, called gestation, is 60 to 63 days . BREEDING. Estrus, commonly called coming into heat, is the time of ovulation when the bitch can become pregnant. Bitches usually come into heat at about 6-12 months, then approximately every 6 months after that A good quality adult kibble through the whole pregnancy is best switching the Dam to puppy food as soon as the pups are born, but not before. There should be NO PUPPY food or extra calcium in the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy
Read Also: How Big Do German Shepherd Beagle Mixes Get
Is Your Female Gsd Able To Get Pregnant
There are different cases where a German shepherd pregnancy is no longer possible, the first one being a man-made procedure.
The second one is of old age. With that said, a female German shepherd usually loses its ability to get pregnant once she becomes 3 years old.
Within these 3 years, you can only hope to know that your German shepherd is pregnant by finding the signs of gestation period.
How To Know If Your German Shepherd Is Pregnant
Sometimes, German shepherd pregnancy may not be obvious. After all, German shepherds are known for enduring pain.
Thats why as a pet owner, you should make sure you know the signs of gestation period. Heres a look at the four most common indications of German shepherd pregnancy.
- Increased Appetite: To cater to the needs of her pups, a female GSD will usually eat significantly more food.If you get what this means, you should make sure you stock up on dog food for your pet. Also, consider buying food that are healthy rather than those that focuses on taste and not nutrients.
- Weight Gain: There will also be an increase in weight during German shepherd pregnancy. This can range from a 20% increase in weight up to 50% increase.While this may be overwhelming at first, dont worry because theyll significantly lose weight after the gestation period.
- Frequent Urination: In general, a female dog can mark its territories more frequently when they are pregnant. They do this by urinating in various places.While urine-marking is done by female German shepherds sometimes, you will rarely see this. Besides, they dont choose the place to mark, be it the sofa, the television, or the corner of the room.
Sure, these signs are helpful for finding out about a German shepherds pregnancy, but there are also surefire ways.
These ways make use of technology and is often conducted by veterinarians:
- Hormone Tests
- Ultrasound
- Palpation
Recommended Reading: How Smart Are German Shepherds Compared To Humans
How To Care For Them
After birth has happened, its really important to care for puppies as much, as for their mother. When she is lying there, just feeding their children, she wont eat. Probably. Although, she desperately needs to drink a lot of water.
In about half a day, she will get hungry. And that is when she will surely need to receive her food. Better place it around her, so that when the dog wants to eat it can. As for the puppies, most of the work will be done by their mother. But some recommend to find a place to house them after 10 weeks of their life, as they will be much more independent at that time.
Wish you best of luck for your new-born puppies, and thank You for reading!
How To Know If A German Shepherd Is Pregnant
It is also important to know how to figure out if your German Shepherd is pregnant or not. Sometimes pregnancy can be an error or maybe you do not even know that your Female German Shepherd is pregnant.
On the third week your Female German Shepherd Dog feel start feeling that she is pregnant by feeling her tummy and that is the time when you actually take her for the ultrasound for confirm the pregnancy.
In the last Three weeks you will see that Your German Shepherd DogsMemory Glands will start getting bigger.
There are not a lot of signs that can confirm that the dog is pregnant you have to bring the dog to the vet to the pregnancy confirmation.
After 9 weeks she will have a beautiful litter of puppies.
Also Check: German Shepherd Cross Golden Retriever
Transition To Adult Period: 16 Months 36 Months
Between 16 and 36 months, your puppy will be transitioning to adulthood. Some puppy behaviours should have calmed down, making way for more mature behaviours. Some German Shepherds continue to grow until 36 months, though most are done by 24 months.
While you will take them off of puppy food at this point, switching to adult food, you must continue to monitor their nutrition well to ensure that they are developing normally and are at a healthy puppy weight.
While they should still have a lot of energy, they also should have stopped chewing random items and calmed down slightly.
Socialization Period: 3 Weeks 12 Weeks
The period between 3 weeks of age and 12 weeks of age is known as the socialization period. During this phase of development, puppies will begin to interact with humans and the other dogs around them. It is important to their overall demeanor to get them accustomed to human interaction at this stage of life.
From weeks 3 to 8, the puppies should still be with their mother. They will become more coordinated and develop the skill of play. They can be weaned and housebroken at this time as well as developing the ability to bark when startled. Physically, you will see their ears now stand up.
Don’t Miss: How To Fatten Up A German Shepherd
What Is The Youngest Age A Dog Can Get Pregnant
General. In domestic dogs, sexual maturity occurs between the ages of 6 to 12 months for both males and females, although this can be delayed until up to two years of age for some large breeds. Pregnancy is possible as soon as the first estrus cycle, but breeding is not recommended prior to the second cycle.
At What Age Can German Shepherds Start Getting Pregnant
Generally, dogs can start getting pregnant from around six months to fifteen months old. Large dogs, like your German Shepherd, will usually have their first heat in the latter months. That said, there isnt a defined number for when German Shepherds can start getting pregnant. So, as a general guideline, if your GSD is past six months old, you may consider the possibility of pregnancy.
You May Like: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull
How Do You Know If Your German Shepherd Is Pregnant
The first step should be to retrace your dogs steps and her recent interactions. Mating usually takes around 10 – 30 minutes for the more experienced dogs. This process could take even longer for the first-timer pups. If the neighborhood dog just tried to mount on your furry friend but was quickly stopped, odds are that the mating process was unsuccessful. However, if your dog ran off and had the opportunity to consummate in the wild, a few good indicators include:
These visible symptoms often occur 15-20 days after mating, but they could be indicators of other illnesses as well. Unfortunately, unlike humans, dogs do not have the privilege of going to the local convenience store to pick up a pregnancy test. If unsure, the best option is to check with your local veterinarian and allow them to conduct diagnostic testing. Some of the tests may include ultrasounds, x-rays, palpitations, etc. If all comes back positively, the next few weeks will be full of excitement and wonder!
How To Tell If A Dog Is Pregnant
Humans have developed instantaneous pregnancy tests that make it easy to determine whether or not we are pregnant. It is not as simple for our dogs. You will most likely need to visit your veterinarian to find out if your dog is pregnant. If possible, be sure to tell your vet exactly when your dog was bred, or your best estimate of the time frame, as all of the pregnancy testing methods for dogs are time sensitive.
Hormone Tests
Veterinarians can test for the hormone relaxin to determine if a bitch is pregnant. Relaxin is released from placental tissue only during pregnancy, which makes it a fairly accurate diagnostic test. However, the bitch must be at least 30 days into her gestation for the test to be accurate. Tests taken before that can have a false negative.
Palpation
Palpation is the cheapest and most convenient way to diagnose pregnancy. As each fetus develops, the membranes around them grow to form fluid-filled sacs. These sacs can be felt between days 21 and 35 of gestation , and grow to about the size of a table tennis ball in a 45-pound dog. After one month, the sacs lose their distinctive shape, and the uterus develops a floppy feel that can be mistaken for fat or a pyometra.
X-ray
Ultrasound
Read Also: Draw A German Shepherd
How Can You Help Your German Shepherd During The Pregnancy Period
For start you can spend more time with her and let her know that she is safe with you. A Dog will be your best friend and best companion for all the life so you have to be the same when he or she needs you.
Exercising in the first weeks of pregnancy is fine but later do not force your German Shepherd To exercise if she cant do it.
Her place of rest should be comfortable, you can buy her a new little bed.
Buy her new toys for her upcoming puppies and many more things.
Blood Sample At 5 Weeks After Mating
The second option for a pregnancy test is using a blood test. This can be performed after 5 weeks post mating and will help to detect a pregnancy hormone in your German Shepherd.
It doesnt cost as much as an ultrasound but isnt always accurate when done too early on. For example, if your German Shepherd has been pregnant for less than 35 days, it might flag up as being negative, even if she is pregnant.
Read Also: Pitbull Vs German Shepherd Who Would Win