Nesting for Dogs: What Is It?
Nesting or the nesting instinct is typically defined as the motherly drive of a pregnant dog to prepare a safe location to have her puppies. That can mean dragging blankets to a new place, rearranging pillows, or squirreling away some laundry to lie on at the back of a closet.
We also sometimes see the nesting instinct in humans, who might get a burst of energy to clean the house (or their desk) in the days leading up to delivery. Its just that when dogs nest, they may untidy your home instead.
Alicen Tracey, DVM, of Den Herder Veterinary Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, says that nesting can take a variety of different forms for dogs. But the primary motivation is comfort—whether or not a dog is pregnant.
“Any dog can show nesting behaviors,” Tracey says. “For instance, many people have dogs that feel the need to circle, paw at the comforters, or even have a blanket to help them fall asleep.”
Pregnancy or “false pregnancy” are two common reasons that dogs may exhibit more nesting behavior than usual.
False pregnancy is simply when symptoms of pregnancy are mimicked in unspayed female dogs who have been in heat but are not pregnant. This may trigger the nesting instinct but not result in a new litter of puppies.
Other times your pup, female or male, may just be uncomfortable and need to rearrange their environment a bit. They may be feeling too hot, too cold, or too cramped in their current conditions.
“Many dogs prepare a little nest before bed—this is very normal!” Tracey says.
Here are a few things your dog might do when she (or he!) is nesting, for whatever reason.
Why Do Dogs Make Nests?
Several serious illnesses can increase the chance of your dog experiencing a false pregnancy, which is a major cause of dog nesting behavior. If your dog isn’t spayed, she might be pregnant.
Sometimes, your dog is making a nest just because that’s the comfier way to sleep. Who can fault a dog for wanting to drag her bed into the sun or burrow under the blankets? But more serious nesting behavior—like shredding blankets, digging into small spaces, or over-grooming—is often a sign of pregnancy, real or imagined.
What to do if your Dog is Nesting
If your dog is nesting she should be seen by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will help determine if your dog is pregnant or if she is having a false pregnancy. The doctor will perform a physical exam and. he may also recommend a complete blood count (CBC) and an abdominal ultrasound. If your dog is having a false pregnancy the veterinarian may recommend diuretics and mild sedatives. The medication Bromocriptine may help decrease milk production.
If your dog was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, she will need a daily dose of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine. Once the medication therapy is started, your dog will need to be on the synthetic hormone for the rest of her life.
Mastitis may be treated with anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics. Warm compresses on the glands may help relieve the discomfort of the swollen mammary glands. Tumors may need to be surgically removed. Patients that are diagnosed with malignant tumors may need chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
If your dog is pregnant she will be prescribed nutritional supplements. The veterinarian may want to test her for parasites and worms, which can be transmitted to the puppies. Most dogs are pregnant for 58 to 64 days. When the puppies are born, the mother may show aggressive behavior toward people and animals. Small children and any additional pets in the household should not be allowed near the puppies. The aggressive behavior usually disappears within a few weeks after delivery. Puppies are usually weaned in 6 to 7 weeks but should stay with the mother until they are at least 12 weeks of age.
Spaying your dog will help prevent a surprise pregnancy and false pregnancies. Additionally, spaying your dog may also prevent uterine infections and breast tumors. Yearly wellness checks are recommended, to ensure your dog is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Many health conditions may not be prevented but they can be diagnosed and treated in the early stages.
Spaying your dog will help prevent a surprise pregnancy and false pregnancies. Additionally, spaying your dog may also prevent uterine infections and breast tumors. Yearly wellness checks are recommended, to ensure your dog is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Many health conditions may not be prevented but they can be diagnosed and treated in the early stages.
Treatment cost for the symptom will vary depending on what is the underlying cause of your dog’s nesting. For example, the cost of treating a false pregnancy may be $250 while the cost of medical care for hypothyroidism can be around $1300.
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Jelske is nesting | Signs that a dog is about to give birth
A pregnant dog’s behavior changes as she prepares for her pups arrival. Powerful hormones cause the changes. She seeks out a safe place to birth and later to care for her puppies. Nesting is a normal part of a healthy pregnancy in dogs.
When a female dog is preparing for the birth of her puppies she will tear newspaper, rip blankets and gather toys in a designated area to create a nest and to fulfill a mothering instinct. She even carries around toys when not in her nest as a way of protecting her litter.
It’s common to see a dog excessively groom herself before the birth of puppies. This too is a part of nesting. She licks constantly in anticipation of her litter.
A pregnant dog paces and appears anxious and uneasy just prior to labor. She seeks out privacy. Once settled, the dog returns to her nest and prepares to birth (whelp) her pups.
Hormones trigger the nesting instinct in dogs. Ovaries release progesterone and the anterior pituitary gland produces prolactin.
Pet Place says a dog exhibits nesting behavior within days of giving birth. A typical dog pregnancy term lasts as long as nine weeks with whelping starting on days 58 to 68.
Christie Gross has been writing since 1998. Her work writing public policy platforms for elected officials nationwide has been featured in national and local newspapers under various client pen names. Gross has a Bachelor of Arts in English and political science, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of Delaware.