The German Shepherd Pregnancy Guide, Week by Week

With their tall, muscular, and athletic body, German Shepherds are one of the most popular dogs breed. This gorgeous and loyal dog breed is often used for herding, guarding, hunting, or as a police dog. Even those they are quite the strong canines, they often need special attention when it comes to food, exercise, and hygiene, especially when they’re pregnant.

The average duration of a German Shepherd pregnancy from the time of conception is nine weeks or 63 days. However, only a veterinarian can accurately tell you a German Shepherd’s exact gestation period.

German Shepherd Pregnancy Symptoms

If you’re a first-time German Shepherd parent, then you might be facing a lot of confusion when it comes to figuring out if your beloved pup is pregnant or not. The truth is it can be tough for even seasoned dog owners to figure out whether their German shepherd is pregnant or not, mainly because there aren’t any noticeable or prominent changes in their body during the early pregnancy stages.

However, the presence of a few symptoms indicates the pregnancy of German Shepherd, including:

• Significant increase in appetite
• Morning sickness
• Increase in weight
• Rapidly growing nipples
• Darkening or pinkish nipples
• Constant laziness and sleepiness
• Thinning of fur around the teats

How to Test Your German Shepherd’s Pregnancy

When it comes to human pregnancies, there are many easy ways to instantly check pregnancy at home. Unfortunately, the same case does not apply to animals.

You will have to take your beloved canine to the veterinarian to confirm their pregnancy. Here are a few methods that vets use to test a German Shepherd’s pregnancy:

• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• Hormones Test
• Palpation

German Shepherd Pregnancy Week by Week

We have listed down the stage of a German Shepherd pregnancy week by week to better understand and help your GSD.

Week 1

During the first week of a GSD pregnancy, their eggs undergo fertilization, and their reproductive system is ready for the pregnancy.

Week 2

The healthy and fertilized eggs are implanted inside the uterus’s lining during the second week of pregnancy.

Week 3

You won’t be able to see any noticeable or prominent changes during the first two weeks. In the third week, however, you will notice changes in your German shepherd’s body, behavior, and lifestyle, including an increase in their nipple color and sizes, increased appetite, and morning sickness. It’s important to remember that some GSDs might also display a lack of appetite.

Week 4

At the end of the first month of their pregnancy, a GSD will experience morning sickness every day, which means that you’ll often find your dog vomiting regularly in the morning. This is an obvious indication of their pregnancy.

Week 5

The fetal development increases as the second month of pregnancy begin, making it possible to hear the puppies’ heartbeats through a good stethoscope.

Week 6

A German Shepherd’s appetite substantially increases during the sixth week of pregnancy. Besides that, you might also notice a significant increase in your dog’s weight and frequency of urination.

Week 7

A German Shepherd’s abdomen begins to grow abnormally in size towards the end of the second month, and their vaginal discharge is also quite clear and odorless.

Week 8

As the second month of pregnancy ends, you will notice an instant decrease in your dog’s appetite and an increase in their nipple size. You may even be able to witness the movements of puppies in her abdomen.

Week 9

As the final pregnancy week commences, the puppies are fully developed as they make their way towards the birth canal. This may cause your German shepherd to feel quite restless and uneasy, pushing them to look for a safe place for nesting.

Delivery of Puppies

A German Shepherd will deliver her puppies at any time during the 9th week of pregnancy. Your dog’s body temperature is highly likely to drop around 24 hours before its delivery. However, remember that there’s no need to worry if your GSD doesn’t deliver its puppies in the 9th week, but also wait no more than the start of the 10th week for her delivery. If it takes any more time than that, there are high chances of complications, so you must immediately take your canine to the vet.

Conclusion

Caring for a pregnant German Shepherd is a lot of responsibility, especially because this breed requires special love and attention. We hope that this week-by-week guide to a German Shepherd pregnancy can help you provide better care to your furry friend.