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Is My German Shepherd Pregnant

Can I Play With A Pregnant German Shepherd

How to raw feed my pregnant German Shepherd Dog (Fiona)

Not only can you still play with your dog, you probably still should! Pregnant German shepherds need exercise to keep up their strength and maintain their health.

Youll certainly want to avoid anything that could cause trauma to their lower regions and anything hard strikes on the belly. Dont rile your dog up so much that they run around and cause potential damage to the birthing area.

This could be a major issue depending on how far along your dog is and how healthy she is otherwise.

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Taking Care Of German Shepherd Pregnancy Week By Week

Taking care of a pregnant German Shepherd for 63 days can be a daunting undertaking, especially to first-time dog owners. However, if you come up with a well-laid out caretaking strategy that is broken down for each week, the process will seem like a walk in the park.

Here are easy-to-follow tips on how to take care of GSD pregnancy week by week:

How Many Times Can A German Shepherd Get Pregnant In A Year

This depends on many factors. The first factor is the number of times a German Shepherd goes into heat in a year. Because German Shepherds are big dogs, they may only experience one heat cycle in a year. Studies also show that most German Shepherds go into heat once every eighteen months. Estrus or heat is the stage in a dogs reproductive cycle during which she becomes receptive to mating with males.

At this stage, a German Shepherd will permit mating which might ultimately lead to pregnancy. The overall health and age of a female German Shepherd also play a role in determining how many times she can get pregnant. From ages two to eight, a German Shepherd is mostly sexually strong and more likely to have many pups in a year.

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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.

Set Up A Whelping Box

5 Weeks Pregnant German Shepherd(Lizza)

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.

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How Can You Tell If A German Shepherd Is Purebred

How to tell if a German Shepherd puppy is purebred? To know if a puppy is purebred due to its physical appearance, you must wait up to 3 months, unless you are an expert in the breed. Therefore, in very young puppies it is difficult to recognize if they are purebred or mixed because they are often very similar.

How To Tell If Your German Shepherd Is Pregnant

German Shepherds are good at enduring and hiding their pain, so even if they are experiencing the heat cycle, they may not outwardly show it. Due to this reason, it can be hard to keep track of the gestation period and pregnancy of your German Shepherd.

Having said that, you can still tell your GSD is pregnant if you look for the following signs and symptoms:

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How Long Does A German Shepherd Heat Cycle Last

5.1 Stage 1: Proestrus This is the initial stage of the heat cycle of a female German Shepherd dog that lasts for around 9 days. At this stage, the female dog attracts the male gaze but shows no interest in his advances for mating. During Proestrus, the vulva of the female dog swells up, and blood may discharge from her body.

What Is The Most Reliable German Shepherd Pregnancy Test Then

7 week pregnant German Shepherd Dog.

The most accurate way to know if your German Shepherd is pregnant is the first option the German Shepherd ultrasound. However, it should only be done after 25 days post mating, otherwise it might throw up an inaccurate result.

One the best things about this type of pregnancy test is how you can see the developing puppies on the scan images. You might also be able to tell at this point how many puppies your German Shepherd is expecting, although it might not always be an exact count due to their size and overlapping in the womb.

If you wait another 20 days, but day 45 you can also get an X-ray of the pregnant German Shepherd. This will let the vet count the skulls in the womb, giving a 100% accuracy count on how many puppies are in the litter.

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Think Your Dog Is Pregnant Here Is How To Find Out

Just like human pregnancies, dog pregnancies are complicated and sometimes confusing. Understanding dog pregnancy is crucial especially if your dog is pregnant or you are planning to breed your dogs. There are many things you need to know about dog pregnancy, from the signs of pregnancy to caring after your little puppies is born. Here is some information about dog pregnancy that should help you out.

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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    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

    German Shepherd Pregnancy Timeline

    German shepherd female dog complete delivery video ...

    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.

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    How Long Does It Take For A German Shepherd To Give Birth

    On average, the length of gestation/pregnancy for a German Shepherd is about 63 days. This starts from the time of conception. Given the fact that German Shepherds are larger dog breeds, it may take a longer period to give birth. This period may be slightly longer than that of a small-sized dog breed. If you are keen on keeping tabs on your German Shepherd pregnancy, the ideal way to go is to keep track of her heat period and take cognizance of the number of times she is bred and record the dates and times.

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    Treating Your Pregnant Dog Against Parasites And Worms

    Its very important to ensure that your pregnant bitch is protected against parasites and worms, both for the sake of the dog in question and the puppies.

    In case you didnt know already, worms can have a huge effect on your dog. Whether theyre hookworms, roundworms, coccidia or any other kind of worm, they will all sit inside of your dogs intestines. This can result in issues such as diarrhea, and a dog or a puppy can end up becoming dehydrated when they have worms. They can cause some extra damage if they get into the dogs lungs, and people can even be affected by hookworms and roundworms. Certain other worms can also cause anemia, weight loss and an upset stomach.

    Its especially important to worm a pregnant dog. This helps to reduce the risk of them transferring intestinal parasites to their offspring. Parasites can wreak havoc on a pregnant mothers body as she becomes more stressed in the later stages of pregnancy. This can mean that shes at greater risk of developing a huge parasite load. This is bad for the puppies. The mothers milk can end up transmitting worms to the puppys offspring. If the puppies arent dewormed, the worms can take total control of your dog which has some pretty problematic effects, especially on very young dogs.

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    German Shepherd Gestation Period And Pregnancy

    As a dog owner, nothings more terrifying than knowing that your German shepherd is pregnant. Despite that, you still cant help but adore what might happen if you were to get another set of German shepherd puppies from your current dog.

    However, there can be times when youre too scared of what might happen if you were to make the wrong decision. This might drive you to just sit back and wait it out. Being scared is only natural, especially if this is your first time having a pregnant dog. But you cant very well do nothing.

    This article was made to answer all your questions about German shepherd gestation period so you can help you canine buddy during the critical period of her life.

    What To Expect With A German Shepherd Pregnancy

    Pregnant German Shepherd dog 7 weeks (Ronda)

    We are reader supported and may earn a commission when you purchase after clicking our links. This website does not replace professional advice, always consult a licensed veterinarian to ensure your dog’s well-being

    German Shepherds, like other dog breeds, are pregnant for about 63 days. To understand the pregnancy of a dog, it is helpful to understand the female dogs heat cycle which includes Proestrus, Estrus, Diestrus and Anestrus.

    Proestrus lasts for 9 days and is when the female begins to attract males.

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    Estrus lasts for 3-4 days and is marked by a female dog is available to a male dog.

    Diestrus is the final day of the reproductive cycle occurring around Day 14. The female will no longer permit mating during this time.

    Anestrus is the period between one heat cycle and the next and this is typically 6 months.

    Generally, the dogs pregnancy will last 58-72 days from the first time breeding or 56-58 days from the first day of diestrus.

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    Safe German Shepherd Breeding Age

    The safest time to start breeding a German Shepherd is around 2 years of age. This is because, at 2 years of age, your German Shepherd has reached sexual maturity. The issue is that most commercial breeders cant wait to see their German Shepherds reproduce puppies. This is both dangerous for the dog and the puppies.

    German Shepherd Gestation Period

    What is the length of the German Shepherd gestation period? The Gestation Period for German Shepherds is approximately 59-65 days from the first time bred. German Shepherds will not always conceive after one breeding. They will generally mate multiple times in one heat cycle. The German Shepherd Gestation Period Calculator above attempts to generalize the estimation of the due date without any additional factors using a 63 day gestation period for German Shepherds. If your German Shepherd has not delivered by day 67, its critical to have a veterinarian see her. The average German Shepherd Pregnancy results in 8 puppies. Once your German Shepherd has been bred, watch for the signs a German Shepherd heat cycle. Also, if you are a breeder, check out the German Shepherd Breeders list at Askabreeder.com. When your dog nears her whelping date, review the article Top 10 German Shepherd Labor Signs.

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    When Can A German Shepherd Get First Pregnancy

    Your German Shepherd can get her first pregnancy when she is around two years of age. As early as six months of age, your German Shepherd may start experiencing Heat Cycle. To be on a safer side, you can start breeding your dog for pregnancy at around 2 years of age and stop the process as soon as she becomes eight years old. At two years of age, your German Shepherd will attain sexual maturity. It is also advisable that you should not breed your female German Shepherd until after their first or second heat cycle.

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    German Shepherd Pregnancy: All You Need To Know

    My German Shepherd Braylee the first day we got her..... 9 ...

    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.

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