About Canine Gestation, Due Windows, and Whelping Preparation
A dog’s pregnancy typically lasts about 63 days from ovulation, but because exact ovulation timing isn’t always known, many owners count from mating and plan around a broader window. Healthy litters can arrive a few days earlier or later (often 58–68 days from mating). This calculator provides an estimated due date with a conservative whelping window to help you prepare supplies, monitor for pre‑labor signs, and know when to contact your veterinarian.
If your veterinarian performed progesterone testing to pinpoint ovulation, you can refine due date expectations: puppies usually arrive ~63 days after ovulation, ~61–63 days after LH surge, and ~57–72 days after a single mating depending on timing. Without testing, count from the mating date and treat the output as a planning guide rather than a promise.
Preparation is key. Set up a whelping box—a low‑entry, draft‑free space lined with washable bedding—well before the window begins so the dam can become comfortable. Keep the area quiet, with easy access to water and a nearby potty spot. Gather clean towels, a digital scale for puppies, a bulb syringe if advised by your vet, and a safe heat source if temperatures are low. Avoid medications or parasite preventives unless approved for pregnancy by your veterinarian.
As labor approaches, many bitches show nesting behavior, restlessness, and a drop in rectal temperature (commonly to below 99°F/37.2°C) within the preceding 12–24 hours. Stage I labor can last several hours with intermittent contractions. Stage II involves active delivery; puppies may arrive at intervals of 15–60 minutes. Contact your veterinarian if strong contractions persist for 20–30 minutes without a puppy, if you observe green/black discharge without a puppy, or if your dog appears distressed or unusually lethargic.
After puppies are born, the dam typically opens membranes and severs cords. Ask your vet ahead of time how to assist safely if she does not. Track placentas—the count should match the number of puppies—to reduce the risk of retained placenta. Maintain warmth for neonates but avoid overheating. In the days following whelping, monitor the dam’s appetite, hydration, and demeanor, and ensure puppies gain weight steadily. Schedule early veterinary checks per your vet’s guidance.
This calculator offers a planning framework and is not medical advice. Each pregnancy is unique; work closely with your veterinarian—especially if your dog has a history of dystocia, is a brachycephalic breed, or if this is her first litter.
Key features
- Estimated due date and conservative whelping window from mating date
- Context for ovulation‑based timing and progesterone testing
- Preparation checklist and vet escalation cues
- Plain‑language guidance for monitoring labor stages
How to use
- Enter the mating date (or use ovulation timing if known).
- Optionally adjust the gestation assumption (default ~63 days from ovulation).
- Click Submit to view the estimated due date and planning window.
- Prepare your whelping area and keep your veterinarian’s number handy.
Tips
- Introduce the whelping box early so the dam is comfortable using it.
- Keep the environment calm; limit visitors and loud noises during the due window.
- Track rectal temperature trends in the final days if recommended by your vet.
- Ask your vet in advance how to assist safely if membranes are not opened promptly.