First Puppy Litter? What to Expect?

Above photo courtesy of KTW Wraps and Knotless Hair Wraps

If this is your first puppy litter, you are most likely very excited and wondering just what to expect. It actually is a fairly quick process, however, with the first few litters the time can go by ever so slowly. 

Dog go into heat about every 6 months. This time frame can vary from breed to breed, but in general, it is about every 6 months. Their heat cycle last approximately 18 to 21 days. What can you expect to happen?

The first signs of the cycle occurs when your female begins to attract the male. There may be swelling of the vulva and some bloody discharge. Again, it will depend upon the breed as to how much bloody discharge occurs. Some dogs require extra help during this time to keep themselves clean, while others have little to no discharge.

The second stage occurs when the bitch is ready to accept the male. This time period can last anywhere between 3 and 17 days. It is a time in which the bloody discharge usually lightens and the vulva will be soft and enlarged. 

The next stage is when the bitch no longer accepts the male. This stage typically occurs around day 14. In this final stage the bitch's vulva returns to normal size and discharge is completely gone.

There are four ways you can find out for sure if your bitch is pregnant. They are:

1. Hormone tests
2. Palpation
3. X-ray
4. Ultrasound

The normal gestation period in dogs is approximately 63 days from conception.