Normal Dog Nipple Appearance vs. Pregnant: How to Tell How Far Along Your Dog Is

Did you know there’s a way to know how far along your dog is in her pregnancy by the appearance of her nipples? There is, and even how to tell if she’s not pregnant at all. Of course, it’s always best to take your pup to the vet and double-check her pregnancy status. 

Like most pregnant mammals, your dog will have similar pregnancy symptoms. She will be thirstier than usual, possibly a bit nauseous, maybe begging for more snacks, or just flat-out tired all the time. Pregnancy is a beautiful time, but it can also be difficult for your canine best friend, just like it can be for any pregnant lady.

With familiarity comes knowledge and secrets that get passed down from generation to generation. Maybe that happens from dog to dog, too? In this article, we will explore the exciting life changes a pregnant pup’s nipples’ appearance goes through and how they can help clue you in on timing.

Normal Dog Nipples

Your dog’s nipples’ appearance will differ from dog to dog, even in the same breed, to some degree. It is the same for any mammal, even humans. Darker-skinned dogs will automatically have darker nipples right out the door, but knowing their usual coloration, size, and texture will help you know when something has changed. This is a humorous topic but an important one for your sweet girl. 

Unbred Dog Nipples

On an unbred (virgin pupper) dog, the nipples will be tiny, soft, and the color of your dog’s skin or a close color for the pigmentation. If you have a dog with a white tummy, your dog’s nipples will likely be pale pink or even white. When your dog is dark-colored, the dog’s nipples will still match or be very similar to the color of its natural skin tone. If you have a dog of mixed colors, the coloration can become a bit trickier since spots and birthmarks can equate to nipples being different colors. However, the nipple should be tiny and similar to what it looked like when your dog was not yet mature. If your dog is not pregnant, her nipples will remain this way until she becomes so. 

If your dog is a senior, her progesterone has likely fallen, resulting in nipple appearance color changes, size, and sometimes overall shape. You will not want to breed her at this point in your aging dog’s life. Please have your dog spayed if there is no intent of puppies. It will keep her healthy longer and lessen her chances of reproductive cancers and also of breast cancer. 

Bred Dog Nipples

Nipple’s appearance on a dog who has already had one or more litters of puppies will be a bit tougher to understand visually. Don’t worry because there are plenty of other nipple signs to help you know if your dog is pregnant again. 

Once your dog has nursed puppies, her nipples will be more prominent, longer, and darker. When a mammal is pregnant, their nipple color darkens, and the nipples become firmer for little seeking mouths to find them and be able to latch on easily. Dog moms don’t have lactation consultants, and their puppies’ survival depends on their ability to feed and grow strong with the mother dog’s milk. 

Sometimes things happen, and the pups need to be bottle fed; in that extreme case, mama dog’s nipples will still be a darker shade of their natural color and also still be more significant than they would if she did not have pups. Still, they will not get the stretched-out and “used” appearance that a nursing mother would show signs of.  

False Pregnancy 

Your dog could undergo a false pregnancy, in which case her nipple’s appearance will change as it would in a confirmed pregnancy. It is always best to take your dog to the vet at the first suggestion that she could be pregnant. Your vet will be able to run a simple blood test and give you a guaranteed and scientifically backed answer generally the same day as the test takes place. Not every dog is the same; sometimes, it can be difficult to tell just by nipple appearance. You will want to take the appropriate measures to keep your dog healthy, pregnant or not. 

False pregnancy is relatively common in unspayed dogs due to fluctuating hormones throughout their lives. Each unspayed dog will go through heat cycles which have four different stages; proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. During the lengthy diestrus stage of 60 days, the progesterone has fallen in your dog, and she may experience a false pregnancy. The fall of progesterone causes a rise in prolactin, the mammary-stimulating hormone, which will cause your dog’s nipples to appear swollen even though she is not pregnant. Tricky, right? 

Pregnancy Dog Nipples

As mentioned above, the coloration, size, and overall texture of the nipples change when a female mammal is pregnant. This change also comes with the different stages of pregnancy, and as time moves closer to the puppies’ birthday, the mother dog’s nipples will continue to change and prepare for feeding those tiny babies. 

Pregnant Dog: First-Time Mother 

As mentioned earlier, please get your dog to the vet before you notice her nipples’ appearance changing. They do not generally change until several weeks into the pregnancy, and you will want to have the appropriate food, habits, and vet needs onboard long before her nipples change color. The gestation period for most canines is 60 days, so by waiting three weeks to get your dog to the vet, you could be harming your mama dog and her puppies, which you surely would be devastated over. Better safe than sorry, like OUR human mamas told us. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks One and Two Nipple Appearance

At this early stage, it is pretty unlikely that you will notice any change in the coloration or size of your dog’s nipple’s appearance. 

Dog Pregnancy: Week Three Nipple Appearance

At this stage, your dog’s nipples’ appearance will become noticeably rounder. The pigmentation will remain the same until the blood flow increases in the next stage.

Dog Pregnancy: Week Four Nipple Appearance

This is when it will become apparent that your dog is pregnant or falsely pregnant. Her nipples will darken in pigmentation from increased blood flow and become swollen and raised. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks Five through Seven Nipple Appearance

Your pregnant dog’s nipples will continue to darken and become firmer, making it easier for her puppies to find her milk source and latch on comfortably. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks Eight and Nine Nipple Appearance

At this final stage, your dog will lose most of the fur on her tummy to further help her puppies source her nipples and thrive. When the time is near during the final week, your dog will likely begin leaking colostrum, and her nipples will not darken further. Once the colostrum is in the bellies of her puppies, she will start to produce milk.

Dog Pregnancy: Nursing Puppies and Nipple Appearance

As your proud mama dog feeds and cares for her puppies, she will likely leak milk occasionally. This is perfectly normal. You may notice her nipples looking very sore, swollen, cracked, or raw. You can help her at this stage by applying nipple balm to her tender nipples. One way is to apply small amounts of coconut oil to her nipples after each feeding. If her puppies are a bit older but still nursing constantly, consider getting her a shirt that covers her overworked nipples and allows her to break between feedings. Your vet can suggest other creams, oils, and remedies. 

Pregnant Veteran Mother

If your dog has given birth to litters of puppies in the past, her nipples will already be stretched, a bit larger, and darker in pigmentation from previous wear and tear. This is perfectly normal, just as it is with humans. The telltale signs of your pregnant dog’s changing nipples will be more subtle, but the apparent signs will still be there. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks One and Two Nipple Appearance

At this early stage, it is pretty unlikely that you will notice any change in the coloration or size of your dog’s nipple’s appearance. 

Dog Pregnancy: Week Three Nipple Appearance

At this stage, your dog’s nipples’ appearance will become noticeably rounder, or they won’t. This is perfectly fine because your dog has already had puppies, and her nipples have remained round after they finished nursing. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks Four through Seven Nipple Appearance

This is when it will become apparent that your dog is pregnant or falsely pregnant. Her nipples’ appearance might darken a bit more in pigmentation from increased blood flow and will become slightly more swollen and raised. 

Dog Pregnancy: Weeks Eight and Nine Nipple Appearance

At this final stage, your dog will lose most of the fur on her tummy, if she has any that has grown back after her previous litter. When the time is near in the final week, your dog will likely begin leaking colostrum. Once the colostrum is in the bellies of her puppies, she will start to produce milk. Follow the same protocol for sore nipples whether or not your dog has given birth before. 

Once your dog has weaned her puppies, you will notice that her milk dries up, and her nipples will become slightly deflated. Her mammary area may appear more pronounced and somewhat saggy, like humans. This is perfectly natural, and it’s time to give your happy mama dog tons of love, exercise, and adventures just as you did before she was pregnant. You should always let her know how proud you are of her and how much you love her anyway, for good measure. Mamas need plenty of love, too. 

How Do You Know Your Dog Is About To Give Birth?

There are some tell-tale signs that would indicate that your dog is near or going into labor. It’s important to be aware of what to look for so that you are prepared to help your dog if needed or get proper care if something is awry. Your dog’s first 12-24 hours of labor may be quite difficult to identify, as she could just be experiencing light contractions that will intensify with time. Below are some symptoms to watch for that could indicate your dog is in labor:

• Loss of appetite
• Hiding or nesting
• Restless behavior
• Excessive panting (or more than usual)
• Changes in behavior
• Vomiting
• Shivering
• Drop in body temperature below 100°
• Becoming clingy, or the opposite–distant
• Excessive licking of the genital area
• Hardened belly