Dogs – they are man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Without puppies, we can’t keep falling in love with these fluffy balls of enthusiasm and entertainment! But puppies don’t just happen. It takes some careful planning to breed the female dog to get the next litter of pups.
So, when can dogs get pregnant in their heat cycle? That is a great question we want to answer in this quick and informative blog. Our Vitalize® team is filled with dog enthusiasts who have done their research to bring you the answer. Vitalize is a line of dog supplements with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing. Our goal is to make an undeniable impact on every animal.
The Dog Heat Cycle
Let’s review the dog heat cycle and how dogs get bred. Dogs can become pregnant during their heat cycle, which occurs approximately every six months in intact females. However, this can vary depending on the breed, age and individual dog.
A dog’s heat cycle consists of four stages:
- Proestrus
- Estrus
- Diestrus
- Anestrus
Pregnancy is possible during the estrus stage, commonly referred to as being “in heat.”
Dogs Get Pregnant During Estrus
The estrus stage typically lasts between 5 and 13 days, starting about a week after the onset of proestrus. During this phase, the female dog becomes receptive to male dogs as her hormone levels peak, particularly estrogen, and ovulation occurs.
Signs that a dog is in estrus include:
- A swollen vulva
- A decrease in bloody discharge (which becomes lighter or pinkish)
- Behavioral changes, like increased friendliness or actively seeking out male dogs
It’s important to note that dogs are most fertile during the middle of the estrus stage. However, sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract for several days, increasing the likelihood of pregnancy if mating occurs. Additionally, ovulation timing can vary, so keeping unspayed dogs away from males during their entire heat cycle is essential to prevent unintended pregnancies.
Work with your Veterinarian
At Vitalize, we always encourage building a strong relationship with your veterinarian. When it comes to determining when can dogs get pregnant in their heat cycle, we suggest consulting with your veterinarian. To determine the optimal time for mating or artificial insemination (A.I.), you might need your veterinarian to conduct a hormone test.
Vitalize can Help!
We hope we have answered your question: when can dogs get pregnant in their heat cycle? The one aspect we haven’t addressed is how nutrition and reproduction work together. While we are not reproduction experts, we are dog lovers who know a thing or two about dog health and nutrition. A healthy dog with a well-balanced diet is more likely to conceive. While high-quality dog food typically provides all the necessary nutrients, some supplements may provide additional benefits. Only add supplements under veterinary guidance to avoid overdosing.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Promote fetal brain and eye development.
- Probiotics: Aid digestion and improve gut health.
- Calcium & vitamin D: Only under veterinary advice, especially in cases of eclampsia risk.
- Vitalize® Dog: A granular vitamin and mineral supplement for dogs designed to support breeding and performance.
You can top-dress Vitalize Dog. It contains necessary omegas for healthy skin and hair, vitamins, minerals and our proprietary research-proven prebiotic AO-Biotic® Amaferm®, designed to enhance digestibility.
Our own Sure Champ Brand Sales & Field Manager, Lori Lawrence, has been breeding Corgis for more than 16 years. She confirms that since she started feeding Vitalize Dog, she has seen what the research suggests.
“Since I started feeding Vitalize Dog, my girls have averaged 2 more puppies per litter. Our biggest litter used to be 8. Now we are having litters of 10, and that’s a lot of puppies for a small breed. Plus, the pups come out with a lot more vigor. I feel like the increased litter size with more vigor is a great combination,” Lawrence said.
Why Vitalize?
We know your dog won’t be in heat or pregnant forever. We also know that 70% of the immune response occurs in the gut, so if you keep your dog’s gut healthy, its overall health should be in stellar condition, too. That is why providing products with Amaferm is so important. Research shows that Amaferm increases digestibility. Further canine studies show that dogs fed Amaferm experience fewer stillbirths, produce larger litters and wean more puppies.
In addition to Vitalize Dog, the Vitalize line carries other products powered by Amaferm to give your dog a #goodgutfeeling. Vitalize also produces joint products for your dog’s health and performance.
Get your Vitalize Today!
Now that you know when can dogs get pregnant in their heat cycle, we hope their diet will include Vitalize! We have made purchasing Vitalize as easy as possible.
You can visit your local dealer to purchase Vitalize products. Discover where to buy near you today.
Perhaps you prefer the convenience of online shopping. You can shop online and have Vitalize delivered right to your front door.
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