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Dog pregnancy calculator
Enter a date to see the likely due date and when to book vet checks.
How the due date is worked out
Dogs carry puppies for about 63 days, but the count only holds tightly from ovulation. From the LH surge the interval is 65 days give or take one. Ovulation falls about 2 days after the surge, so birth comes 62 to 64 days after ovulation. Counting from mating is looser, because sperm survive for days and eggs can be fertilised some time after a mating, so the window is wide: roughly day 56 to 68.
If you only know the mating date, plan around the middle of the window and ask your vet about a progesterone test, which can pin the date down.
What your vet can see, and when
| Check | When (days after ovulation or LH surge) |
|---|---|
| Ultrasound: embryo sacs | from about day 18 to 20 |
| Ultrasound: heartbeats | about day 23 to 30 |
| X-ray: skulls visible, so a puppy count is possible | about day 45 to 49 |
| X-ray: teeth visible | about day 58 to 63 |
Near the end
About a week before the due date, many breeders take the mother's rectal temperature two or three times a day. A drop of 1°C (about 2°F) or more is a sign that whelping is approaching. Have your emergency vet's number ready, and call if labour stalls, she seems distressed, or she goes past the end of the window without starting.
Timing figures from the International Veterinary Information Service canine reproduction guidance. Every pregnancy is different: this calendar is a planning aid, not veterinary advice.