If you own a pregnant beagle, you would ask yourself how many puppies can your beagle have. There is no specific answer to this question, though. However, beagles can have up to four to eight puppies, and six of them would be the average healthy puppies.
The average beagle dam’s pregnancy period is around 60 to 65 days. During this period, it would be hard to tell the exact number of puppies your beagle can deliver.
It is observed that you could only come close to a specific number until it is 6 months pregnant. After 6 months of pregnancy, you could take your beagle to the veterinarian for an ultrasound test or X-ray to be performed.
In this case, you could get the exact number of puppies your beagle can have. Sometimes, the number of puppies a beagle dam could have varied, and it ranges from 1 to 10 puppies. However, the records have proven that an average-sized beagle would have 6 healthy puppies.
How Many Puppies Can A Beagle Have?
Typically, a Beagle will have anywhere from 1 to 10 puppies per litter. In beagles, litter sizes tend to stay consistent in each mother. So if a Beagle has a large litter, her next litter will likely also be large and vice versa.
How Many Puppies Can A Beagle Have In Its First Litter?
Averagely, beagles have a litter size of 6. However, there can be some beagles that could have up to 10 puppies in the first litter.
The number of puppies she could have depends on the number of times she has gotten pregnant because some can have more than 7 puppies per pregnancy and this is not the case for every beagle dam.
Ways To Tell How Many Puppies A Beagle Can Have
There are 3 methods to get close to a specific number of puppies a beagle can have which depends on the beagle’s litter size.
We have the:
- Early Palpation: Your veterinarian should be able to feel and identify the fetuses in the womb of your beagle when it is 4 weeks pregnant. This is done by touching the beagle’s stomach to feel and count the number of bumps in the womb. This may not always be accurate, but at least it would give you a fair idea of what to expect.
- Ultrasound: After 4 weeks, it would be difficult for your vet to palpate so in this case, he would employ the use of ultrasound. Compared to palpation, this is more accurate and could get you close to a specific number. This technique could reveal the gestation sac as early as 18 to 21 days, and the heartbeat of the fetuses can be identified around day 28 to day 31.
- X-ray: Among the other techniques, this method is the most accurate because you could get the exact number of puppies your beagle is carrying. This is usually done from day 45.
How Long Does A Beagle Stay Pregnant?
The expected gestation period for a dam is between 60 and 70 days, but this is not definite. Some factors determine the pregnancy date. The size of her previous litter and the age all affect the determination of the gestation period.
However, it is better to note that the average period for the majority of the breeds is 63 days. Beagle dams are fertile after delivering their puppies. Beagles could get pregnant 2 to 5 times depending on the breeders and wait up to a year and some months between pregnancies.
How To Tell If Your Beagle Dam Is Pregnant
Your beagle dam would show signs of pregnancy after 2 weeks of sex. There would be changes in her body as well. This has to do with her nipples being large and noticeable, a swell in her belly, and there may be an increase in appetite.
A pregnant beagle dam would begin to produce milk. Mostly, this leaks from her nipples and there would be a swell in the vulva. This normally comes with a yellowish color discharge with an odor.
You should keep an eye on your beagle dam’s puppy because if you notice the swell of her belly is abnormal, then chances are that she has developed complications, and it would require medical attention immediately.
How many times can a Beagle get pregnant?
Beagles will get pregnant between 2 and 3 times in their lifetime. The pregnancies should also be spaced out by at least 18 months at a minimum. Anything more than this and the dog’s health can suffer.
What is the largest litter of puppies?
The largest litter of puppies that have been recorded is 24 puppies according to the Guinness Book of Records.
What 2 breeds make a Beagle?
The Beagle we know today was created from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the Northern Hound, the Southern Hound and the Harrier. Known as “scent hounds,” these breeds imbued the Beagle with a great sense of smell, making them excellent hunters of rabbits and rodents.
What is the best age to breed a Beagle?
According to the American Kennel Club, the female dog (or dam) must be at least 8 months old when she is bred. However, many breeders recommend waiting until she is at least 2 years old. This allows her body to grow and mature before enduring the stress of pregnancy.
What increases litter size?
The age of the dog when breeding plays a key part in litter size. The older the dam, the smaller the litter, especially in larger breeds. Dams bred from 2-5 years usually have the largest litters. Despite the age of the dam, the first 2 litters will generally be smaller than the ones afterwards
Conclusion
It is a good idea to know how many puppies your beagle dam could have, so you prepare for what is coming. This is not just about the numbers; you also get to know the strength of your beagle dam and keep her in check.
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