In this guide, we’ll cover the signs that your Pitbull is pregnant. Have you noticed that your four-legged friend is lazing around more than usual? Is your female Pitbull rejecting its favorite treats? Brace yourself. This could be a sign that your Pitbull is pregnant. Ensuring your pregnant pet stays healthy and safe requires a lot of preparation. Don’t worry. We bring you this comprehensive guide on Pitbull pregnancy signs so that you are not caught unawares.
Before scrolling down this article “Signs That Your Pitbull is Pregnant,” you can check out our related content: Can a Dog Get Pregnant When Not in Heat and How Many Puppies Can a Dog Have?
How Do I Know My Pitbull is Pregnant?
A pregnant Pitbull will exhibit specific signs. For example, you may observe the following physical and behavioral changes in your pet:
Behavioral Signs
1. Physical Inactivity
Are you wondering why your canine buddy is unusually quiet? A Pitbull is a friendly and social animal, so this is a crucial pregnancy indicator. Your dog has no way to communicate with you directly, but this passive behavior speaks volumes. Physical weakness is another tell-tale sign of pregnancy. Before, your pet can effortlessly sprint while fetching the ball. Now, it seems to get tired quickly and has low energy. It walks more slowly and seems hesitant about running to you.
2. Irritability and Isolation
Usually, your dog would love to be the center of attention. They would seek your approval and presence the entire time. However, a pregnant Pitbull may prefer to be left alone. Your dog could also get irritated when bothered. There is a chance that your dog would enjoy some time in isolation. It’s best not to disturb them while they are getting accustomed to this new change. Ideally, keep your pregnant Pitbull away from your children or any possible disturbance.
3. Nesting and Territoriality
Motherhood brings a wave of change in every creature. It may surprise you that the Pitbull starts to get more affectionate towards their toys. Your pet starts to guard its sleeping space and food bowl ferociously. In the last leg of your Pitbull’s pregnancy, you will witness the mother gear up for the new puppies through nesting. The dog will prepare a nest with available shreds and materials around.
4. Appetite Changes
A pregnant Pitbull would have visible appetite fluctuations. They would be averse to food in the initial days. But suddenly, their appetite will shoot up, indicating that there is something different. Since a pregnant Pitbull requires more calories for growing its puppies, it consumes between 35% and 40% more food. Pregnancy hormones trigger all these appetite changes.
Physical Signs
1. Vomiting and Nausea
Your Pitbull may have persistent feelings of nausea and dizziness. Unfortunately, morning sickness here is a misnomer as your dog may throw up any time of the day and night.
2. Lower Body Changes
During pregnancy, your dog will have increased vaginal discharge and enlarged nipples. This change is easy to spot as Pitbulls have tiny body hair on their bellies. An increase in nipple size is an important hormonal change as the expectant mother prepares for milk production.
3. Size and Weight
A pregnant dog will experience rapid weight gain. This change is visible as early as a couple of weeks. If your pet’s belly is increasing in size, there is a high chance of them being pregnant. Your dog may gain 15% to 25% more weight during pregnancy, depending on the number of puppies they carry.
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How Does Your Vet Tell Whether Your Pitbull is Pregnant or Not?
The surest way to know whether your Pitbull is pregnant is to consult your veterinarian. Expect the following diagnostic procedures to be done to your pet.
- Abdominal Palpation: In this physical examination, your vet will touch your dog’s belly and feel for the puppies. It’s a helpful method when you are unsure when exactly your dog was conceived. Unfortunately, this can only be done successfully approximately a month into the pregnancy.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound is a non-invasive way of checking whether your canine is pregnant. The ideal time to carry the scan is between days 25 and 35 of the pregnancy. You can see the puppies on the machine while the test is conducted. A printout of the scan may also be available.
- Blood Test: Relaxin is a specific hormone that a Pitbull releases only when pregnant. This hormone enables easy delivery of the little ones by softening the walls of the mother’s cervix. A blood test can help you detect this hormone. However, you have to wait till the fourth week of your pet’s pregnancy to detect this hormone.
- X-Rays: Your vet may do an X-ray to check if your Pitbull is expecting a litter. It’s usually conducted at day 55 when the puppies’ bones are visible. Keep in mind that radiation poses some risk to both the unborn dogs and their mother.
Related Guide: How Long is a Chihuahua Pregnant For?
Understanding Your Pitbull’s Pregnancy Stages
Like other dogs, a Pitbull is usually pregnant for about nine weeks. Here are the changes you can expect at each stage of gestation.
Week 1 to 2
In the first week, your Pitbull may experience morning sickness. Some dogs also have pinkish secretion from their vaginas. The second week will witness cell development. Finally, the little puppy embryos will start to move in the mother’s uterus.
Week 3 to 4
Instead of looking like blobs, the tiny fetuses now appear more like puppies on a scan. Your expectant Pitbull will be hungrier this week and may require more calories. It will also continue to have pink discharge and swollen nipples. Both are completely normal. At this stage, you can prevent a miscarriage by reducing your dog’s activity.
Week 5 to 6
An ultrasound scan will show that the puppies start growing cure paws, claws, and whiskers. The mother Pitbull will increase in size. This implies that the food requirements will shoot up as the dog has to foster the babies inside. The sixth week will display apparent changes in body size. The nipples get darker. The puppies will also start to show distinctive markings. Your Pitbull’s nesting behavior will also become more pronounced. Finally, it will find a safe space where it can comfortably give birth and nurse the puppies.
Week 7 to 8
At 42 days of pregnancy, the mother Pitbull will show some loss of fur. This is a natural way to prepare the belly for feeding the puppies after birth. However, you have to take special care of Pitbull’s diet. Remember to give your pet calcium-rich food or supplements to ensure the little puppies come out healthy and strong. In the eighth week, some Pitbulls undergo premature birthing. Hence, you have to be all geared up by this time. You can see the puppies move in the Pitbull’s belly, and the mother Pitbull will show even more nesting activity. At the end of this stage, your pet may start to leak milk enriched with colostrum.
Week 9
Usually, a Pitbull pregnancy lasts for around 63 days so that the moment can happen anytime. After that, your Pitbull will finally go into labor. You should be ready with all the gear for birthing and welcoming the newborn puppies by this time.
Related Guide: How Many Puppies Can a Chihuahua Have?
How Do You Take Care of a Pregnant Pitbull?
The pregnancy period of your Pitbull demands extra attention to ensure both the dog and the newborn puppies are healthy. Here is what you can do:
- Provide high-quality nutrition. A nutritious diet is an essential requirement of pregnancy. As the pet owner, ensure that your Pitbull gets all the vital nutrients from the diet or supplements. Your dog should also be well hydrated. Remember to provide enough water near the Pitbull, especially during the delivery time.
- Take careful note of the changes. A Pitbull pregnancy can be sensitive. You have to monitor all the behavioral and hormonal developments constantly. Talk to your vet in case of any unusual pattern.
- Routine exercise. Exercise should be done in all pregnancy stages. This will keep the mother fit and prevent her from slipping into lethargy. However, do not expect the pregnant dog to exert too much, especially during the eighth and ninth weeks. Instead, limit the routine to a short stroll.
- Vet visits. Your Pitbull will need several prenatal checkups to prevent any complications. Expect your vet to deworm your dog and give other necessary medication. In case your dog is missing any vaccinations, now is your opportunity to catch up. Ask your vet about what to do in case of emergencies. Also, schedule neutering in case you want your pet to stop having puppies after this pregnancy.
- Whelping area. Prepare a warm and comforting whelping place. This is usually a box that is easy to clean. You can even use a kiddie pool for this purpose. Introduce it to the mother during pregnancy to get it accustomed before labor. This will help your dog smoothly give birth to the puppies.
- Care of newborns. The little bundles of joy will captivate you the moment they are born. However, you should also take precautions to protect the puppies as they will be vulnerable to infections. In addition, puppies are born quite helpless. Not only are their eyes are closed, but they are also deaf and have no teeth. Therefore, these cute puppies will depend entirely on their mother for survival.
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What is a False Pregnancy in a Pitbull?
Dogs may undergo a condition called phantom pregnancy. Your Pitbull may show clear signs of pregnancy like gaining belly weight, showing nesting behavior, even lactating. However, they are not pregnant. It’s not a dangerous condition, although it may confuse you and your pet. About 50% of female dogs may experience this if they are not neutered.
Conclusion For “Signs That Your Pitbull is Pregnant”
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful yet challenging experiences for your Pitbull. If you own a female Pitbull, you’re probably excited about adorable puppies filling up your home. However, don’t forget to take care of your Pitbull’s health. The diet, comfort, and well-being of the Pitbull and its babies must be your top priority. Now’s the time to shower your pet with love and care. We hope this guide has given you a better approach to deal with your pet’s pregnancy.
For more Pitbull guides from WeLoveDoodles, you can check out:
To learn more about a dog’s pregnancy, you can watch “How to Tell If Your Dog is Pregnant” from Top Dog Tips down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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