4 Best Dog Home Pregnancy Tests: Our Veterinarian’s Recommendation

This article was updated on May 2nd, 2023

Whether you actively had your dog bred or there was an oopsy a few weeks ago, there may come a time in your female dog’s life when you want to know if she’s pregnant or not. One of those ways to find out is through a home pregnancy test. These tests are an option for no hassle, and early pregnancy detection, but not all dog home pregnancy tests are created equal. So, let’s take a look at some of the best ones.

Best Dog Home Pregnancy Tests

If you suspect that your pup may be pregnant, It’s always best seek a veterinarian’s advice. This is important to get the most accurate pregnancy test results but also to help guide you through the next steps if she is expecting. However, sometimes that may not be an option and you may be looking to check for pregnancy at home. If that’s the case, here are some of the best dog home pregnancy tests available:

Bellylabs Pregnancy Test for Dogs

This is going to be your most reliable and easy-to-use dog home pregnancy test option. It requires only a droplet of blood that can be obtained using a small lancet prick of the lip. You will then use the drop of blood according to the instructions and have results within 10 minutes. Testing can be done as early as 28 days post-ovulation (if you happen to know that date). This home pregnancy test is looking for the hormone relaxin in the blood which is only present with pregnancy. Therefore, it weeds out any false pregnancies and even abortions.

Pros: This is a simple-to-use dog home pregnancy test that offers 96% accuracy when compared to early ultrasound. Results will be received within 10-15 minutes with just a single drop of blood.

Cons:
– You’ll still need to wait 28 days before you’ll know if your dog is pregnant. Sometimes ultrasound can detect pregnancy as early as 20 days.
– Relatively high cost at ~$50-$70

Witness Relaxin Canine Pregnancy Test

Another at-home dog pregnancy test option is the Witness Relaxin Canine Pregnancy Test. As you may have guessed, this test also detects the hormone relaxin so it is able to differentiate between a false pregnancy, abortion and a true pregnancy. However, it is a little more difficult to use, requiring a blood sample that needs to be separated into serum or plasma, something that usually takes a centrifuge. Results can be read within 10 minutes and tests can be starting as early as 21 days post ovulation.

Pros: This test provides a fairly accurate early detection of pregnancy in a very short time.

Cons:
– You’ll need some higher skills to get a blood sample and get it separated into plasma or serum for the test.
– It also only comes in a five test pack, which is a little excessive if you just have one accidental breeding.
– High price close to $200

Related post: early signs of dog pregnancy: how to tell if your dog is pregnant.

You’ll find many other dog home pregnancy test options out there, but be leery. Some of these have very confusing instructions and varying degrees of reliability. However, they do tend to be less expensive. Some other dog home pregnancy tests you may see are:

HUHKOUAE Dog Pregnancy Test

This test requires a small blood draw, which may be difficult to do, and has results within 15 minutes. However, there may need to be some retesting done depending on when in your dog’s cycle you run it. It even suggests buying multiple tests since you may have to repeat. This product is inexpensive and easy to get. It may be a good option if finances are tight.

EASYG Dog Pregnancy Test

Here’s another at-home test that has no instructions with it. Since most of these tests require multiple steps in order to achieve the most accurate result, not supplying directions is going to confuse some people and lead to less reliable results. Directions can be found online, but many consumers have stated there aren’t any in the package. It does require a blood draw, but is another inexpensive option.

Is a Dog Home Pregnancy Test the Best Way to Know if Your Dog is Pregnant?

There are more ways than one to find out if your dog is pregnant. It’s in your, and your dog’s, best interest to involve your veterinarian for the most accurate testing and to help you with the next steps toward a healthy pregnancy. They will be able to give you advice on nutrition for the expecting mother as well as vaccinations, dewormings, etc, that can help both mom and puppies. With this in mind, here are some ways to detect pregnancy in dogs.

1. Ultrasound

The gold standard for pregnancy detection is ultrasound by your vet. Not only will this give you a definitive yes or no of pregnancy, it can also tell you how many puppies she’s carrying. The downside is that it is most accurate after 30 days, even though pregnancy can be detected as early as 21 days, and of course, a vet visit is necessary. Obviously, ultrasound is going to be around 100% accurate, especially if around that 30 days mark. Look to pay $300-$500 for this.

2. X-Ray

If you’re willing to wait, x-rays are another option for detecting pregnancy that will give you a yes or no and a number count as well. Little puppy skeletons won’t show up until about 4-5 weeks in, so it’s a later detection method than others. If you wait long enough, x-ray is going to be around 100% accurate. Most x-rays will run you $150-$300.

3. Blood Test

These are the at-home options, but blood tests can also be performed by your veterinarian. These are the earliest detection method but can be a little difficult to do without some vet expertise and help. Blood tests aren’t going to be able to give you the number of fetuses like other methods, but they can determine between a true pregnancy or a false one. Most of these tests are over 96% accurate if done correctly at the right time. At-home tests can be as inexpensive as $10, while vet blood tests may cost $100 or more.

4. Palpation

The accuracy of this one is going to depend on the dog. Palpation is feeling for the fetusesby pushing and squishing on the outside of your dog’s belly. Around 4-5 weeks of pregnancy, most fetuses can be felt as small swellings in your dog’s abdomen. Of course, if you have a large or overweight dog, this is going to be difficult, and dogs that don’t like being touched are going to present a problem as well. Most of the time, vets will include palpation as part of a regular exam, so cost will be $50-$100.

What are Other Signs of Dog Pregnancy?

If you’d rather go with the wait-and-see approach, here are some changes that you may see in pregnant dogs. You can also read our article about early signs of dog pregnancy or view our pictures of pregnant dogs (week by week).

Early (Days 1-30)

Dogs don’t really do the morning sickness thing, but you may notice that your pup doesn’t have her normal appetite for a few days. It’s usually nothing to worry about and will pass very quickly. You may notice that she feels a little more tired and sluggish and may start to gain some weight. Her appetite may increase and she may become more irritable or even more loving.

Later (Days 30+)

You’ll notice a growing and rounding of your dog’s belly. She may also have some darkening and enlarging of her nipples that will eventually fill with milk as whelping nears. During the last couple weeks of pregnancy, you may be able to see the puppies moving around in her belly. She’ll become a little more tired or restless and may want to start eating more frequent, smaller meals.

How to Care for a Pregnant Dog

If you’re certain, or if you just suspect, that your dog is pregnant, there are some changes you can do to make her more comfortable. First off, talk to your veterinarian. They may recommend a diet change to a higher calorie version or to a pregnancy-specific formula in order to make sure she has the nutrients she needs to take care of those pups before and after birth.

Secondly, you may want to start feeding her smaller meals more frequently, especially as her belly grows larger and larger. She simply won’t have the room to stomach an entire meal at a time and may instead choose to graze throughout the day.

Keep her away from unknown dogs and high traffic dog areas, especially if she isn’t current on vaccinations. This will help prevent her from getting sick. Your vet may also advise you to deworm her so that she doesn’t pass worms on to the puppies.

Give her a cozy place to nest. This is especially important in the later days of pregnancy. She’ll need a safe and quiet place to whelp, preferably where you can keep a close eye on her. Let her choose the area and get used to it well in advance.

Dog Pregnancy FAQs

How do I know how many puppies my dog will have?

The only true way to know how many puppies your dog is carrying, before she whelps them of course, is through ultrasound or x-ray. Ultrasound can be done as early as 21 days post ovulation but is more accurate around 30 days. X-rays can be done at around 35-40 days.

How do I know what stage of pregnancy my dog is in?

The most accurate way to know how far along your dog’s pregnancy is to know the date of breeding. This will give you an idea of the ovulation date as most dogs breed within 2-3 days post-ovulation. If you don’t know your dog’s breeding date, you can have your veterinarian estimate the time in gestation or you can judge it based on her pregnancy signs.

What do a dog’s nipples look like when pregnant?

A dog’s nipples may become larger and darker around 40 days of pregnancy. As she gets closer to whelping, the nipples and surrounding breast tissue will also get larger as they fill with milk. Nipples may even leak a milky fluid. Learn more with our veterinarian article about Dog Nipples During Pregnancy: What They Look Like.