What Is Pregnancy Absorption in Dogs? Understanding a Hidden Part of Canine Reproduction

shellyskuza
1 hour ago
2 min read

When I brought my Bernedoodle, Kira, in for her ultrasound, the vet saw seven healthy-looking puppies. But by the time she gave birth, only three puppies were born. It was confusing at first—how could more than half of the litter just disappear?

The answer was something I’d heard of but hadn’t yet experienced personally: pregnancy absorption, also called fetal resorption.

🩺 What Is Pregnancy Absorption in Dogs?

Pregnancy absorption is a natural biological process where a dog’s body reabsorbs one or more developing fetuses during gestation. It typically happens early to mid-pregnancy, before bones begin to calcify (around day 44 of gestation).

Rather than miscarrying or delivering a stillborn puppy, the dam's body quietly and cleanly reabsorbs the tissue, often with no external symptoms at all.

⚠️ Why Does It Happen?

Fetal resorption can happen for a wide variety of reasons, and often it’s no one’s fault. Some common causes include:

Chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in the embryo
Poor placental development or attachment
Infections or inflammation in the uterus
Hormonal imbalance (especially low progesterone)
Nutritional deficiencies or immune disorders
Stress or trauma during early pregnancy

In many cases, the dam remains completely healthy, and the remaining puppies continue to develop normally—just like Kira’s did.

Ultrasound showing developing puppies in early pregnancy.

🔬 How Is It Detected?

Most breeders and vets won’t know resorption has occurred unless:

An early ultrasound confirms the number of puppies
A later X-ray or delivery shows fewer puppies than expected

Since early ultrasounds use fluid detection and later X-rays rely on bone density, resorbed puppies can completely vanish from view between scans. For this pregnancy I did the ultrasound but not the later X-Ray thinking that the ultrasound number would be the final puppy count.

🧠 Is This Common?

It’s not uncommon—especially in large litters or first-time mothers. While it's more talked about in veterinary and breeding circles, it's largely unknown to pet owners.

Estimates suggest that in dogs, fetal resorption can occur in 10–15% of pregnancies, and in some cases, an entire litter can be reabsorbed without the dam ever showing signs of pregnancy.

❤️ Why It Matters to Talk About It

Pregnancy absorption can be an emotional surprise—but it’s not a failure. It’s a natural safeguard. If something isn’t developing right, the mother’s body protects her and the rest of the litter by absorbing the embryo.

As a breeder, I believe it’s important to talk about the hard stuff too—not just the cute photos and happy birth stories. Understanding this part of canine reproduction makes us all better informed.