It is said that since the pug is a brachycephalic breed, their births are complicated and almost always need a caesarian section. However, this is not always the case.
Whether you’re planning to breed or already have a pregnant pug residing in your home, you’ll want to know everything. This article helps you define whether your pug is pregnant and what to expect throughout the process.
Pug Pregnancy Symptoms
Is your pug pregnant, or have they just gained weight? Pregnant pug symptoms can be challenging to interpret. One obvious sign is a protruding abdomen. However, this doesn’t happen for a couple of weeks after conception.
Some of the most common early pregnancy signs in pugs are:
- Skipped meals or decreased appetite
- Lethargy and tiredness
- Noticeably red and swollen nipples
- Your pug is sleeping more
- Short of breath after exercise
- Less playful
Although the above symptoms can mean that your pug is sick or has an undiagnosed illness, take her to the vet if you notice symptoms.
The vet will do a physical check-up, and if they suspect your pug might be pregnant, they’ll test with an ultrasound or blood test to determine pregnancy and how far along she is.
Pug Pregnancy Week by Week
Like most dogs, a pug’s gestation period is approximately three months. Pug pregnancy stages begin week by week. The first stage is the first three weeks, and then three weeks after, until labor.
Weeks 1 -3
During the first three weeks of your pugs’ pregnancy, you may not notice any symptoms. Though, some pugs lose appetite and sleep more during the third week.
By the third week, symptoms such as a swollen abdomen and red nipples may be apparent. You’ll notice your female pug grooming herself more, coupled with a lack of appetite.
Weeks 3-5
At week four, your pug’s belly will be noticeably pregnant. At this point in her pregnancy, she will be searching for a safe place to birth her pug pups. At this point, if you haven’t already, take her to the vet for a pregnancy test.
Moving into weeks five and six, her appetite will significantly increase. Ensure she has fresh water throughout the day and enough food to sustain her new litter.
Weeks 5-7
During the fifth, sixth, and seventh week, your vet will be able to tell if there will be complications, and you may hear some heartbeats. During these weeks, you should know how many pug pups you’re expecting.
By the end of the sixth or seventh week, your pug is ready to give birth, so expect nesting and restlessness to happen. Once labor starts, ensure you have your vet on call or get ready to take her to the vet hospital.
Preparing for Labor
If you’re planning to have a home birth with your pug, ensure that it’s okay with your vet and that there are no complications. You’ll need to know how many puppies she is expecting before labor starts. You can expect them to have at least four puppies in pugs but no more than six.
Labor starts when you notice visible contractions coupled with heavy breathing. Each labor lasts up to 12 hours. Giving birth is natural for most dogs. However, in the case that your pug needs help, you should have:
- Clean linen
- Heating pad
- Scissors for the placenta
- Rubbing alcohol
- Sterile thread
- Surgical Gloves
If your pug has not chewed the umbilical cord right away, she’ll need your help to wrap a sterile thread around the cord and pull it tightly to cut. Ensure that you keep your distance and only jump in if your pug seems distressed.
Whining, shaking, whimpering, moving, and panting are typical labor and delivery signs. Have your vet take over immediately if you are not sure or confident to care for the pug’s delivery.
Some pug owners find it helpful to have their female pug at the vet during labor if there are any complications, which are common in pugs.
Caring for Your Pregnant Pug
Aside from the normal day-to-day activities your pug needs to stay healthy, there are three main areas where your pregnant pug needs extra care:
- Nutrition
- Reassurance/affection
- Exercise
As soon as you know your pug is pregnant, you’ll need to start switching her food to high-nutritious puppy food. Avoid calcium supplements and other supplements unless directed by her vet.
Pugs are companion-based dogs and usually need lots of attention and care to feel happy. A pregnant pug is more prone to become anxious and restless. You’ll need to offer your female a bigger and more private space. Her space needs to be quiet and filled with her favorite things away from kids and other pets.
As for exercise, ensure that you take your pug for a walk daily. It doesn’t need to be a long walk; however, even a few times a day, to go outside in the yard helps. Exercise will allow your female pug to give birth naturally easier and decrease stress throughout her pregnancy.
Caring for Newborn Pug Puppies
The mother will do most of the work for the first few weeks that your pugs’ pups are born. However, know that you cannot adopt your pug pup for 8-10 weeks. You must socialize and handle the pups during their stay to ready them for their new homes.
Remember that you should not handle the pup for at least three weeks so that your mother pug doesn’t become stressed out or abandon her pups. After the pups are three weeks old, their eyes will be open and you can wean them off the tit and introduce them slowly to puppy chow.
When introducing the pug pups to other pets or people, do this one at a time and slowly. Watch mama’s pug’s behavior and know her body language. Allow them all time and space to get used to the new normal.
Summary – Pug Pregnancy
The average pug pregnancy length is up to seven or eight weeks. During this time, ensure you have your vet on call in case of any complications. Since a pug is a brachycephalic breed, complications are more common.
However, with proper diet, exercise, and special care, your pregnant pug should have no issues when it comes to delivery and caring for her newborns.
