Dogs can be very discreet about their mating and the pregnancy. If you don’t pay attention, you might not even know that you have a pregnant dog until she gives birth. If you suspect that your beagle may be pregnant, have confirmation of the pregnancy by your vet. Early detection of a pregnancy will not only ensure that your beagle gets proper care but it will buy the time needed to prepare your house for the birth of puppies.

Pregnant beagle signs

Canine gestation typically lasts for the 63-day mark. There are also indications of pregnancy in your dog. Be attentive to your dog’s sleeping habits as a litter can cause a dog to appear tireder than usual. Beagle s who are expecting may exhibit an increased appetite, bigger belly, bigger nipple, and weight gain. Dogs who are expecting may have mood swings. Certain days, they’ll be more affectionate while others they may be more angry.

Recognizing a pregnant beagle

If you want to determine if you’ve got an unborn beagle in your home, go to the vet for one of the four diagnostic tests. The first one your vet may perform will likely be trans-abdominal palpation that involves gently probing your dog’s belly for an expanding uterus, or fetal sacs. To determine if there is a hormone relaxin, the vet may also draw blood. If your dog has puppies, you will only experience an increase in levels of relaxin.

The vet can perform an ultrasound during the first 25 to 35 days of gestation to determine the number of puppies and to detect heartbeats from the fetus. The heartbeat of a puppy is about three times faster than that of the mother’s. The pregnancy of a canine can be confirmed by an X-ray.

Be sure to take care of your new dog

The pregnant beagle needs to be taken care of to ensure healthy puppies. Start by keeping all of her appointments with the vet so she’s checked and any complications can be noted promptly. Good nutrition is also key for dogs who are expecting and that means sticking to a good dog food and ensuring the quantity you’ve fed her in the initial two-thirds of her gestation. It’s risky when you feed your dog too much food during the initial stages of dog’s pregnancy.

It is possible to gradually increase the amount you offer your dog until she is eating around 35-50 percent of the normal portion size. Make sure that your dog has the same routine of exercise. Normal walks and playtime are fine for pregnant beagles however, not until her belly is too big. Once this is the case, ease off the exercise and stick to shorter but more frequent and less strenuous outings.

Prepare for puppies

A pregnant beagle’s final stage is the birthing process, so it’s best to be prepared for this. For birth and labor you’ll need a large container or a child’s pool. Cover it with newspapers or old towels or bathmats, and then put it in a quiet part of the house in a place that’s not too cold. Setting it up a few weeks before the puppies are born allows the mama dog to get used to her new home.

If your dog’s mother can’t do this, you will require sterilized scissors and paper towels to cut the umbilical chords. You can also use iodine to wash the pup’s stomachs, where the cord was cut. Keep the number of your vet in your pocket and dial it if there is anything wrong during delivery. The majority of dogs perform the labor themselves. However in the event of an issue with the delivery, or you discover a missing placenta (each puppy must have one) Contact your veterinarian.