Being the owner of a pregnant dog can be both exciting and anxiety-producing. While you may be hoping your beagle is pregnant and looking forward to adorable puppies, you will also want to know as soon as possible in order to be able to provide your beagle with the best care throughout her pregnancy.

Luckily, there are many signs that you can watch for and things that you can do to help your beagle get through a healthy pregnancy and birth.

Signs of Pregnancy in Beagles

While there are lots of indicators of pregnancy that you can watch for at home, it’s also important to remember that any major changes in your dog’s eating or sleeping habits, weight gain or loss or temperament should all warrant a visit to the vet to rule out any possible health problems.

Signs of pregnancy arise as a result of hormonal and physical changes, as well as the actual growth of the puppies. Watch your beagle carefully for any of the following, which may be a sign of pregnancy.

• Changes in sleeping habits

Growing puppies requires a lot of energy! If you notice your female dog has become spending more time sleeping or resting, it could be an early sign of pregnancy. As the pregnancy continues, you can expect your beagle to sleep even more. She is conserving energy in order to devote more of her body’s resources to the puppies.

However, this can also result in changes in sleeping patterns and behavior. Your beagle may end up sleeping more during the day, and being more awake with bursts of energy at night. They may sleep in only small chunks round the clock, instead of for hours on end. Andy noticeable changes in their overall habits should make you consider that they could be pregnant.

• Lethargy

Lethargy will often accompany your beagle’s increase in sleeping hours. Pregnant beagles are typically less active in general and may not want to do things that they normally enjoy which take a lot of energy, such as play that involves a lot of exercise.

It’s important to note however that lethargy is also a symptom of a variety of other conditions, some of which can be quite serious. So in any case, if you notice an increase in lethargy for multiple days in a row, you should talk with your vet about it promptly.

• Changes in eating habits

A pregnant beagle will be hungrier due to increased caloric needs. After all, she’s now eating for a whole litter of puppies!

Increased appetite may not be as obvious until later weeks of pregnancy. It’s important to provide additional food at regular intervals throughout the day for your pregnant beagle, as she may not be able to eat large quantities at a time.

Additionally, dogs – just like people – can experience bouts of nausea throughout pregnancy. These bouts of nausea may make it difficult for her to keep food down, and may make her lose interest in food. You should monitor a pregnant beagle’s eating habits even closer than a regular dogs, because it’s vital that they’re getting all of the essential nutrients that they need.

• Weight gain

There are a number of potential causes for weight gain in beagles. However, pregnancy related gain can actually begin fairly early in pregnancy.

You can expect your dog to gain somewhere from about 10 to 25 percent of her total weight before she gives birth. This number includes not only the litter of puppies themselves but all of the additional fluids: the placenta, amniotic fluid and the increased blood volume that is produced by your dog and used to maintain the pregnancy.

• Abdomen Swelling

Any abdominal swelling and bloating should definitely be checked out by your vet, as this can be a sign of any number of serious health problems. However, it is also one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy in beagles. Within the first few weeks of gestation, you may begin to notice that your beagle’s stomach is getting firmer. Shortly after that, typically by about the fourth week, the abdomen swelling will be quite noticeable.

• Withdrawing Behavior

Behavioral changes are common in animal pregnancies, and beagles are no exception. If you notice that your beagle is becoming more withdrawn, it’s nothing to be alarmed about. Pregnant beagles will experience mood changes partly due to hormonal changes and partly as their instincts tell them to prepare for birth by nesting. Nesting behaviors can include withdrawing to quieter and darker spaces, scratching at floors or other objects, guarding or hoarding food and being less social with owners. They may in some cases be a little aggressive, but this is normal if it isn’t too extreme. 

They can also have heightened levels of general and separation anxiety, especially if they were very dependent on you prior to the pregnancy.

As long as these behavioral and physical changes are not extreme, they are to be expected as a normal part of pregnancy. Of course, any behaviors which cause your dog to indulge in unhealthy or harmful behaviors or withdrawal to the point of refusing to eat or exercise should be promptly addressed by your veterinarian.

How Long Does Beagle Pregnancy Last?

As with other dog breeds, a beagle’s pregnancy lasts an average of around 62 to 63 days. This is a very short amount of time – only about two months! For growing an entire litter of puppies, things can change quickly with your dog from day to day. It’s important to have your dog examined so that you know how far along she is, which will help you in planning for her medical care as well as for whelping (birth).

There are a few different phases of beagle pregnancy that you’ll want to be familiar with over the 8-9 week span.

Beagle Pregnancy Timeline:

• Week One

After initially mating, several eggs get fertilized in the dog’s uterus and start implanting within the uterine wall. During this phase, your dog’s heat cycle will cease as pregnancy begins.

This phase has likely will come with some early hormonal changes, but they are hardly noticeable. Behavior should remain pretty constant, and their nutrition requirements won’t change yet either.

• Week Two

Developing embryos are continuing to grow at a steady pace, but your dog’s amount of required food should still remain flat. You may start to notice some firming of your dog’s abdomen, but no large physical changes. While weight gain isn’t entirely expected at this time, weight loss during this phase is a bad sign and you should check with your vet about it.

• Week Three

There still won’t be any noticeable differences in your dog’s appearance, but your beagle may start to have a bigger appetite. Physical activity and walking schedule can still remain at the same levels during week three.

• Week Four

At this stage, which is about the halfway point of a dog’s pregnancy, you should take your dog to the vet for an initial check up. At this point your vet should be able to provide an ultrasound so that you can learn roughly how many puppies will be in your beagle’s litter.

The vet will also be able to assess the health of your dog, the puppies, and recognize any potential issues that are developing for the pregnancy.

• Week Five

At this point, the puppies will have ended the state of embryogenesis, meaning that their organs are going to start forming. During this phase of rapid development, your beagle will start to gain weight at a much faster pace, because the puppies are also starting to gain much more weight.

At this point you should start feeding your dog more, but it varies from breed to breed and can be different for each individual dog. Your vet should be able to give you some recommendations when you go in for your week four check up.  You may need to get specific food for pregnant dogs that have all of the additional nutrients required, but your vet will be able to give you a more comprehensive list of nutrients that they need. (Read lower for the foods we recommend for pregnant beagles).

• Week Six

At this point the puppies are really starting to grow, and your dog is going to need more food than the prior week. However, you may notice that their appetite is decreased as symptoms like nausea and bloat can arise. The quick development of the puppies may cause some discomfort, but you’ll want to make sure that your beagle is getting enough fortified food so that her body can care for herself and her growing litter.

• Week Seven

At this point in the pregnancy, the puppies have started to develop their coats, and their bones have started to take shape. You’ll want to check back in with your vet to make sure that your dog has received worm treatment, because now is when they are starting to become vulnerable to parasites even within the womb.

• Week Eight

You’re almost there! Technically early births can take place during this phase, so you should start getting prepared. Your beagle’s teats will start to swell with milk, which is very uncomfortable. You’ll want to get her nesting and whelping area ready so she has a roomy and comfortable place to give birth. If necessary, you can also go into the vet’s office for an X-ray to get the exact figure of how many puppies to expect out of this litter.

• Week Nine

At week nine puppies can be born any day! You’ll want to make sure your beagle has a warm and safe environment, and make sure that you have all the necessities for puppies!

When the first puppy is born, the mother may tear open the fetal sack, but may need your help if she doesn’t. You should still allow the puppies to be born naturally on their own and not intervene. Your dog may choose to eat the placenta, but if she doesn’t you can discard it like any normal waste.

At this point your job is to help the mother without getting too much in the way. You’ll want to gently clean the puppies with a dry tower and position them near their mom so they can start drinking milk. If you have any questions definitely consult with your vet during this phase.

Risks of Pregnancy In Beagles

Unfortunately there are some risks that can be associated with pregnancies in dogs. While no one wants them to happen, it’s important to know what to look out for so that you can keep your beagle safe.

One example is prolonged pregnancies. If your dog’s pregnancy lasts for more than 63 days, you should call your vet just to be safe.

Other examples that could be signs of complications in pregnancy include:

• Narrowing of the pelvic canal

This can be specific due to dog breeds, but any prior injuries to a pelvic canal can make delivery more challenging for your dog

• Uterine exhaustion

This takes place due to an inability to contract the uterus. A vet will need to diagnose this as it’s hard to detect on its own.

• The puppies are too large, and may not fit the birth canal, which could require surgery

Frequent trips to the vet will be able to catch this kind of abnormal development early, so that you can make the right preparations for a more complex type of birth.

• Puppy position

Like humans, the position of the puppies in the womb can also be a complication if they are positioned sideways or bottom first, which could either harm them or make it impossible for them to exit the birth canal

• Excessive lethargy

As mentioned above excessive lethargy can indicate that something is wrong with the pregnancy, and may require extra care or medical intervention. If you notice lethargy for days on end, you should consult with a veterinary professional.

How Can Vets Help With a Pregnant Beagle?

Your vet should be seeing your beagle regularly, but it’s particularly important to get your dog in for a visit as soon as you suspect a pregnancy. Your vet can confirm the pregnancy and determine approximately how far along she is in her pregnancy. But there are more reasons to bring your dog in as early as you can.

First of all, they can do endocrine tests to confirm pregnancy and check hormone levels. They can also determine how many puppies your dog is expecting and do x-rays or ultrasounds to diagnose any potential problems.

Your vet can also conduct tests to check the nutritional status of your beagle and address any deficiencies and offer advice on feeding during gestation and throughout the post-partum period. You should also discuss what to expect during your dog’s birth and what to do if there is any kind of pregnancy or whelping-related emergency.

If your dog is high risk, with a medical condition prior to getting pregnant, you shouldn’t ever hesitate to check in with your vet as pregnancy can complicate certain conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

How to Properly Care For A Pregnant Beagle

Although pregnancy is a natural process, there is a lot that you can do as an owner to help your beagle have the healthiest pregnancy, whelping and post-partum period possible. Before you breed your beagle, it’s a good idea to get her a thorough vet exam to identify and address any pre-existing health issues or concerns if possible.

• Proper Nutrition

It is vital to the health of both the beagle mother and her litter to have adequate and proper nutrition throughout pregnancy. While a pregnant dog has increased caloric and nutritional needs, the growing size of her abdomen can also cause her to be unable to eat as much at a sitting.

Some veterinarians may recommend switching to a different, more nutrient dense food or adding supplements to your dog’s current diet.

• Proper exercise

While your pregnant beagle is no doubt more sleepy than usual, it is still important for her to continue to get regular exercise. You may have to modify her routine a bit but it is still possible to fit in activity. For example, consider taking more frequent, shorter walks rather than one or two longer walks. Encourage your beagle to play when she has the energy and spend time with her doing things that she enjoys, such as playing with a favorite tug toy.

Exercising during pregnancy will keep your dog flexible, improve her mood and generally keep her in good health in preparation for whelping. 

• Proper Accommodations

As I mentioned above, you’ll want to have a nesting or whelping area prepared for when the big day comes. Having ample space, lots of blankets, and towels to clean the puppies is essential. Also making sure that the room is warm is vital for both the mother and puppies’ health, particularly if she’s giving birth in the cold winter months.

Final Thoughts

Dogs, unlike humans, typically do not need a lot of help while whelping. It’s a natural experience that most beagles will go through just fine without any interference or assistance. However, there is a lot you can do to help keep your dog healthy and to prepare for her big day! Finding out your beagle is pregnant early in the gestation period, providing regular vet care and following your doctor’s instructions and suggestions will all help assure the healthiest outcome for both your mama beagle and her pups.