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How Long Is A German Shepherd Pregnant For

What Is The Youngest Age A Dog Can Get Pregnant

German Shepherd Pregnancy: Gestation Period Period, Signs and Stages ! Dog Health Tips

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.

Why Should I Stop Breeding My Gsd

There are many factors that go into making the decision to stop breeding your German Shepherd. But foremost and most importantly among those reasons is your German Shepherds health.

No matter the gender of your dog, health becomes a huge risk factor for your dog and for their puppies the longer you breed them.

As your dog matures, he or she will reach a point where their sperm and ovum are no longer viable.

This means that they have stopped producing each of these as much, and the quality deteriorates over time just as it does in humans.

This means that your dogs chances of having another litter become slimmer and slimmer the more the older they become.

There are also several risk factors involved as your German Shepherd gets older.

In some cases, a mother may have a complicated pregnancy. Age factor falls under this. Meaning, as a female German Shepherd ages, she has a higher chance of having stillborn puppies and other complications of the sort.

Over time you may notice your German Shepherd developing health problems as well. Before this even begins to occur, you should be checking on the health of each litter. As your German Shepherds health deteriorates, it can affect how the puppies are carried.

If your German Shepherd has a litter on the way and is exhibiting any health problems. talk with your vet. Try to understand that this can affect not only your dog but the puppies as well.

The Size Of The Female Dog

The size of the dog has a big impact of how many puppies they can carry. Although German Shepherds are considered to be a large dog breed some female German Shepherds are larger than others.

A female GSD that is larger will be able to carry more pups than a smaller one. So, if your German Shepherd weighs 70 pounds, they wont be able to carry as many puppies as a 100-pound German Shepherd.

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How Can Age Affect A German Shepherds Pregnancy

If you are looking to breed your female German Shepherd, you must first have a clear understanding of what if often referred to as her Heat Cycle. This is also called the Estrus Cycle.

Your German Shepherds heat cycle can be compared to a womans menstrual cycle, as it is similar in nature that because it lets you know a German Shepherd is ready to be bred.

Once your German Shepherd is about six years of age, she will experience her first heat cycle. This should happen about two times a year about six months apart for the rest of her life.

However, there is a certain period of time in your German Shepherds life when you should really be paying attention to when she is in heat.

From about ages two to eight, you can acceptably breed your German Shepherd, giving her breaks between cycles. Perhaps breeding her once a year.

At these ages, a female German Shepherd is the most sexually mature and more likely to have healthier pups.

However, the older a German Shepherd becomes, the more fragile her eggs become and the more complications begin to arise with pregnancy for both the mother and her puppies.

The older she gets, the more susceptible to excessive blood loss during the birthing process she may become or even stillbirths.

Also as your German Shepherd ages, the less milk she is likely to produce while being continually bred.

This poses a problem for the health of her puppies as well as for her.

How Do You Help A Birthing German Shepherd

Confirmed Pregnant (8 Puppies) German Shepherd Female for Sale

German shepherds are larger dogs, so it might be a bit easier for them to give birth than for many smaller breeds. That being said, your pregnant pooch is still going to need a little help along the way.

Make sure your dog is comfortable during the first stage of labor. Keep in mind that this can last for up to 18 hours, so you dont want to put her somewhere that she can be easily disrupted.

Once she moves into active labor, contractions will increase. Youll start to see fluid come out that your dog might lick.

While it might be concerning, many mothers like to clean their puppies and its technically normal. On the other hand, youll need to tend to any puppies that a birthing mother refuses to.

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German Shepherd Pregnancy Care

Poor nutrition of the pregnant female can be the cause of your bitch reabsorbing some fetuses during the first two weeks of gestation. This is more common than you think and is the cause of litters being born with only one or two puppies.

So before blaming the dog or thinking of discarding her for giving birth to only two puppies, you should check if the feeding regimen you gave her during pregnancy was the correct one both in quality and quantity.

When Can A German Shepherd Get Pregnant

As for the sexual life of the German Shepherd, the female reaches puberty, and has her first heat, between the sixth and seventh month of life, and, therefore, from that moment on she is considered to be fertile.

As for her being fertile, this does not mean that she can start having offspring, since it is necessary for her to develop physically and psychologically beforehand, so she must be at least two years old.

Heat lasts for two weeks and manifests itself in the form of light bleeding, more need to urinate and even some nervousness. After mounting, the gestation period of a German Shepherd bitch is variable, but, in general, we can place it around two months .

After the gestation time has elapsed, the female German Shepherd will give birth to between six and eight puppies, who will need their mother over the following weeks for their correct physical and social development.

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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.

  • Ultrasound
  • 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

    What Are The Stages Of Labor

    Long coat German shepherd 6 weeks pregnant

    The first stage of labor is the first 12 to 24 hours. Your dog may be more tired than usual. She may not eat, she may not want to drink much, and she is likely to going to be trying to find a place to rest and to deliver her puppies.

    She may pant or seem restless, and she may be reclusive and seem like she wants to be alone and away from people and other animals.

    As she moves to stage two, she may start to deliver one puppy at a time. With larger dogs, they can have litters of ten or more. In most cases, the average size of a litter does depend on the breed of the dog and the size of the dog.

    The average size of a German shepherd litter is about 8 puppies. In most cases, a dog will deliver a puppy every 30 to 60 minutes. If your dog is taking longer, then the puppies or the mother may be in distress, and you should take the time to have a vet present.

    It is helpful and essential to take your dog to the vet while she is pregnant so that an ultrasound can be performed and the total number of puppies can be discovered.

    This will help you and anyone assisting in delivery to know when the dog is done delivering and when the placenta is expected to pass. After the last puppy is delivered, the placenta will pass, and the do will begin her recovery.

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    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

    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.

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    German Shepherd Pregnancy: All You Need To Know

    This blog post covers everything you need to know about German Shepherd pregnancy, from when the dog breed gets pregnant to how long it remains pregnant to how many babies a German Shepherd can produce at one time, and so much more!

    German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Today, they are purchased as well as adopted as hunting dogs, service dogs, police dogs, and pets, of course. Though German Shepherds are low maintenance in the grooming department, they still require special attention, especially if they are pregnant.

    The thought of having German Shepherd puppies may catch you off guard, but if you are well prepared and informed about German Shepherd pregnancy, you can easily take care of your pregnant dog during a time when it may need your help the most. So, without any further ado, lets fill you in with everything theres to know about German Shepherd pregnancy.

    Stages Of Dog Pregnancy

    Photos of my pregnant girl due to whelp in 10 days

    Dogs pass through the stages of pregnancy quickly. Gestation periods are comparatively short in dogs, which means that the pups develop rapidly inside the womb over a period of two-to-three months.

    Month One

    During the first month, the embryos travel to the uterine horns, usually around day 7, and the embryos are embedded in the uterine lining around day 16. The fetus begins to take shape by day 22, and by day 28 or 30 a veterinarian should be able to detect fetal heartbeats on an ultrasound.

    Many dogs do not show any symptoms during the first three weeks of their pregnancy. Some symptoms to watch for during the first month are:

    • Increased appetite
    • Clear vaginal discharge
    • Visible puppy movement in abdomen

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    What Is The Number Of Puppies

    For German shepherds, the number of puppies that can be born at once, or what we normally call litter size, is around 8 puppies.

    Keep in mind, however, that some may give birth to only one, while very large litters can breed up to 15 puppies. Additionally, the first German shepherd pup to be born is usually a male.

    How Many Puppies Can A German Shepherd Have

    Purebred German Shepherds with a pedigree normally have fewer puppies due to their genetic makeup. An extensive study conducted by the Norwegian Kennel Club in 2010 found the mean litter size for GSDs is 5.4 dogs.

    Of course, you wont be getting four-tenths of a dog out of the equation, but this is still a good estimate.

    German Shepherds normally have only two fertile days, and exactly when they mate during that time has a lot to do with how many puppies a single litter will yield. The age of your GSD, her general health, and whether shes been properly fed will also have an impact.

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    German Shepherd Pregnancy Timeline

    Just like most of the other dog breed types, a German Shepherd is expected to stay pregnant for 63 days. However, to avoid being caught unawares, its important to note that some GSDs can give birth as early as the 58th day while others can last up to the 68th day. In most cases, this depends on the number of puppies: the more the pups the longer the period, and vice versa.

    While some dogs may give birth to a single pup, others can manage a litter size of up to 17 puppies. The litter size of German Shepherds is around 8 puppies. According to the Norwegian Kennel Club 2010 study, purebreds that have a unique genetic makeup can only give birth to around five puppies. In addition, you should keep in mind that the first pup is usually a male.

    Determining When A Dog Became Pregnant

    Pregnant German Shepherd dog 8 weeks

    If gestational age is going to do you any good, you need to determine when the dog became pregnant. Often, this is harder than it first appears. When the male and female get together isnt necessarily when the female becomes pregnant.

    Sperm can live inside a female for days. Usually, dogs mate before the eggs are ready to be fertilized. It works best when the sperm are already waiting upon the release of the egg.

    Eggs themselves stay fertile for up to 48 hours. They can be fertilized anywhere in this period.

    Therefore, the date of conception isnt necessarily the same as when the dogs mated. It is nearly impossible for the average person to determine when the eggs were fertilized. There arent any outward signs that point to this happening!

    Usually, dogs are pregnant anywhere from 58-72 days from the day they mate. This is a much more extensive range than what we discussed earlier, as it considers all the possible variables regarding when the eggs become fertilized.

    However, some hormone tests can be helpful. Many professional breeders use these to determine pregnancy length and age. Usually, hormones are taken throughout the breeding process to help determine when the female becomes pregnant.

    A rise in progesterone signifies that the eggs were just released. The eggs are only active for about 48 hours. Therefore, the breeder can accurately determine the date of conception within a two-day range using this method.

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    When Should A Dog Get Pregnant

    Its best not to breed your dog until she is on her second or third cycle. This can be very different depending on the dog. Even though most dogs can get pregnant between six and twelve months, this doesnt mean that its best for the dog. The dog must be matured before getting pregnant and breeding, as it can lead to some behavioral or physical problems. Your dog should have a chance to grow up. It also helps to know what kind of inherited or genetic disorders your dog has and you wont know this until after some time has passed with regular visits to the veterinarian.

    How To Take Care Of A German Shepherd In Gestation Period

    There are many ways to take care of pregnant German shepherd. Thats for sure. But it would do you best if you prepare a caretaking plan for each week during a German shepherd gestation period.

    With that said, heres a look at a German shepherd pregnancy timeline and some tips on taking care of your dog during each week.

  • Week One and Two: Your veterinarian cant confirm your German shepherds pregnancy at this point. You dont need to do something at this period, too.
  • Week Three: At this point, you may notice a slight increase in appetite of the female German shepherd. She may also undergo some behavioral changes. Make sure you provide her with the necessary nutrients and play with her if she becomes restless.
  • Week Four: This is the optimal time for you to consult your vet for some tips on dietary supplements. You should also consider limiting your female GSDs physical activity.
  • Week Five: The female dog will start experiencing weight gain. You should start choosing a diet that promote growth and development, while making the portions smaller.
  • Week Six: Theres nothing significant in what you need to do at this point. Just make sure you keep the portion size small since the growing puppies will limit what their mother can eat at once.
  • Week Seven: Your female GSD will start producing milk, which introduces whelping. So make sure theres a quiet place designed for this task and make sure your female dog gets used to resting in this place.
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