is my dog pregnant ??????

HELLO EVERY1
        We have a bitch who tied on the 25/08/09 this was her 1st ever encounter with a dog. I was just wondering if she could be pregnant she has become even more loving she wont do as her told n her eating patterns have changed.We had the stud come down 2days later n she didnt want anything to do with him which was the same the day after. Can any1 help us please thank you.

Hi Elsa, and welcome to the forum.

It has only been about six days since that breeding, so it’s still a little too soon to tell if your dog is pregnant. Sometimes it takes a couple of days for the sperm and eggs to meet up, so for now it’s kind of a wait and see situation. At this point, not even the vet would be able to determine if she’s pregnant for about another two to three weeks.

Are you familiar with the progesterone test or palpating?

Thank you for getting back to me. Could it be possible for my bitch to fall pregnant after just been tied the once.

Oh yes, it’s very possible for a bitch to become pregnant from a single breeding, especially if there was a decent tie because that ensures delivery of the sperm. From that point, it depends on the health of the sperm and whether or not the bitch is ovulating. Years ago, we had a Standard Poodle bitch that we bred just once to a champion stud, and then we took her home. They had a good tie, so we decided once ought to do it. Carly ended up having 15 puppies and two still births. We were floored, especially since the stud was about ten years old at the time!

Thank You for getting back to me. I have noticed our bitch elsa is eating alot more,wont let us near her tummy or no longer wants her tummy rubbing n is alot more loving n resting alot more n her nipples are showing alot more.Its been nearly 2 weeks since we breed her. Could this be early stages of pregnancy???

Hi Elsa,

Yes, these could be very early signs of pregnancy, but it may still be a bit too soon to say for sure. You might want to check out this article we have on the site so you can really compare what’s going on with your dog.

Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

Aside from that, you may want to have your vet palpate your dog on the 28th day after the original breeding. At that point, the vet may be able to feel the pea-sized embryos along the length of the uterus.

Check out that article and then let me know what you think. 

hiya i would just like to say we took our bitch to the vets n had her palpated n the vet confirmed she could feel 3 small lumps, we have to take her back at 7wks for a check up. she is now 5wks.

Hi Elsa,

It sounds like things are really moving along. Three puppies is a nice size litter to deal with. Not too large, and definitely less stress on the mom. It’s also easier to socialize a smaller litter and give the pups a better start in life. Keep us posted as things go along. In case you need it, we have a great article about whelpinf on the site. Check out Delivering Puppies . 

yea we are very excited as this will be our 1st litter. I must admit we were a little shocked as this seems a small litter for a german shepherd is it possible our bitch could have more and the vet just could not feel them ??

Hi Elsa,

Yes, it is possible that there are more pups tucked farther back in the uterus just beyond your vet’s reach. Most Shepherds have larger litters, but that really depends on the fertility of both the male and the female, as well as the timing of the breeding. If the breeding took place after ovulation had already begun, some of the eggs might have already washed out without getting fertilized. Breedings that take place earlier in the cycle tend to produce larger litters because the sperm will implant in the uterine walls and wait for a chemical signal that the eggs have matured and are available for fertilization.

Right now, I’m thinking that since your female refused to breed again after that one tie, she was probably getting ready to go out of heat. You may have caught the last three eggs available. Still, this will be an easier pregnancy for her if that’s all she has to carry, and labor should go much quicker.

Keep in touch and let us know how things progress. Good luck.

hiya
  elsa is now 7wks pregnant, i have noticed in the last 3/4 days she is not eating very much i this normal. we are back at the vets in two days but i am a little concerned. Can you help me in any way please. thank you x

Hi Elsa,

This sounds fairly normal at this later stage of pregnancy, but don’t hesitate to bring it up to your vet. The pups are beginning to crowd your dog’s tummy, so she’ll probably eat smaller portions at a time rather than a full meal at one sitting. Just make sure there is kibble available for her all through the day so she can pick if she wants to. You can also entice her a bit by offering some boiled boneless chicken. That will provide some extra protein. It also won’t hurt to offer a spoonful of cottage cheese each day. This is a natural way to increase her calcium intake to help the pups build bone density. You just don’t want to overdo it or you can throw off the balance of nutrients in her diet.

hiya
i would like to inform every1 elsa has given birth to 9 very healthy fit n active german shepherd puppies on the 24 oct, 6 girls & 3 boys. thank you for all the advice.  lesley x x

Hi Lesley,

All this time I thought ‘‘your’’ name was Elsa, lol. Sorry about that. I’m really glad to hear that everything went smoothly, and 6 girls and three boys is a very nice litter. Was it a long delivery? Sometimes those first time moms take a bit longer.

Keep us posted on how the pups are doing. My older sister actually raises German Shepherds. I used to love going over to her house to play with them when I was a kid. They are such awkward pups, but they grow into such majestic animals. It’s really amazing.