Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Dr. Julie
If you own a Rottweiler and you’re interested in breeding, knowing what’s the length of the Rottweiler gestation period is important information. Just like with humans, pregnancy and giving birth is a serious process with dogs. That’s why it’s important to understand the entire process before you decide to breed or not to breed your dog.
In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at the stages, length, and other aspects of dog pregnancy.
Table of Contents
Rottweiler Pregnancy Stages
First stage – Embryogenesis
The first phase of your dog’s pregnancy starts immediately after mating. It lasts for about 35 days and it’s a period during which you shouldn’t try to make your dog put on additional weight. At this stage, your dog won’t be spending more energy than it would if it weren’t pregnant.
There’s also very little change in nutritional requirements. Some vets might suggest that you add supplements and vitamins to your dog’s diet – do not do this unless your vet tells you to!
During this period, the embryos will implant themselves in the uterine lining. There, your vet can confirm the pregnancy after about 25 days. This is usually done through ultrasound and they can also tell you the approximate size of the litter. It’s also possible to confirm pregnancy through blood tests.
Second stage – Fetal stage
After the initial 35 days, the fetus starts to form from the embryo. That means that the organs are starting to form and take place in the body. The small fetuses will gain a lot of weight, so your dog will probably start craving more food. At this point, your dog needs a much richer diet, one with more protein, minerals, and energy.
It’s not uncommon for dogs to actually avoid eating during this phase. Because the puppies are growing inside of her womb, the mother might feel a lot of pressure on the inside. This makes eating uncomfortable and she might eat just the bare minimum to get by. This isn’t good for the puppies, though, so it’s best to feed her several smaller meals during the day.
This way, she’ll definitely eat all the time and won’t cause any trouble for the pups.
Third stage – Final moments
During the final moments of your dog’s pregnancy, she will start looking for a comfortable place by instinct. You should prepare the bedding yourself – make it a secluded, calm, and warm place, far away from any hustle. Simply take a large box and insulate it from the floor, allowing your dog to retain heat. Most vets can determine whether whelping will start by taking the temperature of the dog, but you can do this on your own.
A temperature drop of 1 degree Celsius compared to the day before is usually a clear sign that your dog will go into labor within the next 48 hours. If you’re wondering how long are dogs pregnant, know that these three stages can last up to 70 days, with some dogs giving birth as early as 55 days. It really depends on the breed and the individual dog!
Learn more about Rottweiler Giving Birth First Time
Taking Care Of Your Pregnant Rottweiler
The most obvious thing you need to take care of is taking your Rottie to the vet regularly. Your vet is going to tell you how often you need to come in for checkups, so make sure to keep up with those dates. Most vets will also do a blood test once they determine that your Rottweiler is pregnant and that the fetuses have started to grow. Through this blood test, they can easily determine whether any dietary changes need to be made!
During their pregnancy, once the fetuses start growing, your Rottweiler will need double the amount of food it usually would. Some mothers might even ask for more. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t exercise your dog.
Taking it out for a jog would obviously be overkill, but walking your dog at its own pace is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, this is going to relieve a lot of stress and boredom for your dog.
Aside from that, there isn’t much for you to do during the pregnancy period. Listen to your vet, feed your dog regularly and walk your dog regularly. What’s important is to react to any possible health problems and help your dog during and after delivery!
Health issue symptoms
Many things can go wrong during pregnancy. Fortunately, they usually don’t if you follow the vet’s orders and you visit them regularly. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately: whimpering, bleeding, refusing to eat and/or drink, not passing feces.
Delivering Puppies
Once your Rottweiler goes into labor, she will instinctively go lay on the bedding that you already set up for her. Labor might not start instantly, though. They usually feel the labor coming in advance, and that can sometimes be just a few hours and at other times, it can be a long while before puppies start appearing. Labor itself can last up to 18 hours!
During this period, your dog might not want you to touch it, even if you’re just trying to pet it and make it feel comfortable. It’s also likely that it won’t want any food or water. You should also expect a little bit of bleeding, but nothing too serious (if you notice a lot of blood – that’s definitely a cause for concern). After she delivers all her puppies, she’ll be cleaning them and you should leave her to it.
If the bedding is dirty (and it can easily get dirty from labor), change it. Make sure that there’s enough food and water for the mother and leave her alone with her babies!
Oh, and if you’re wondering how many puppies do Rottweilers have – you can expect up to 12 puppies. Your vet should be able to tell you more about this in advance.
In Conclusion
Pregnant Rottweiler might need up to 70 days before they deliver their babies. During this period, the dog will go through several stages, and it will need a lot of food after the second stage starts. While they’re pregnant, a dog needs medical attention, so make sure you visit the vet regularly. Additionally, make sure to take care of your dog’s diet and exercise needs.
Read more about What Are Rottweiler’s First Heat Symptoms?
