my dog is pregnant, and I want to know if this is normal

Question
My dog is about 45 days pregnant. Her belly feels really firm, kind of like when a person is bloated. Is this normal? And when should I feel movement of the puppies. this is her first and LAST litter! I'm in school, was moving, and oops. Don't want to go through this again!

Answer
Hi Lisa.  The normal gestation period for dogs is between 58 to 63 days.  So you still have a couple of weeks to go.  Yes, it is normal for her belly to be really firm - after all she has a litter of puppies in there : )

You may or may not feel or see the puppies move, but if you pay close attention, now is the the time that you should see some action.

Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com