Determining Dog Pregnancy

Our LoveToKnow Dogs expert gets more questions about determining dog pregnancy than any other topic. Perhaps these questions and answers will remove any lingering doubts you may have about your own possibly pregnant dog's condition.

Questions About Determining Dog Pregnancy

Not Sure If Our Dog is Pregnant

Hello,

I have an 18-month-old Lhasa Apso that was bred 33 days ago. So far, she has shown very little of the signs of pregnancy I would expect to see. I wondered if you could tell me if you think she maybe expecting or not.

She has been a little off from her normal eating habits. She has also been a little bit sick for three mornings, throwing up foam. She has become extremely attached to me, far more than usual, and she is guarding the house and barking at anything odd.

Her tummy feels fine, but today she had her usual energetic run about and she seemed to run out of energy sooner than normal.

Do you think she could be pregnant? She and the stud never tied properly at the mating, and it just didn't seem like a very good breeding. I'm new to this, and I feel a bit confused.

Thanks for your help~~ Kate

Expert Reply

Hi Kate,

At 33 days gestation, the opportunity to have your vet confirm a pregnancy through palpation has passed. Your dog is at the midway point where most canine pregnancies are very uneventful and not much appears to be happening.

That said, there is still a chance your dog is pregnant. It's always good to get a proper tie, but one is not required to ensure fertilization. For now, I would continue to treat her as if she is pregnant. Many of my dogs have never shown any early signs of pregnancy beyond the development of breast tissue. No sickness, no change in their eating habits.

Your bitch could simply have a very small litter, perhaps just one or two pups tucked up under the ribs right now. You probably won't feel any movement until the last few days before delivery is due. Your vet may be willing to perform a sonogram to check for pregnancy, but this can be expensive and I don't know if you want or necessarily need to have one performed. Time will tell the tale.

I realize this wasn't a firm yes or no answer, but I do hope you find the information helpful.

Best wishes~~ Kelly

Does It Sound Like Our Dog is Pregnant?

Hi,

I am wondering if our Jack Russell is pregnant? She got out of the house while she was in heat and was caught mating with our other dog Bitser. She has developed some tissue under her nipples. Our male is always sniffing her and trying to mount her, even though it has been six weeks since her heat ended. Her vulva never returned to normal after heat; it still protrudes, but it doesn't seem to bother her at all.

Thanks~~ Donna

Expert Reply

Hi Donna,

I can't be 100% sure, but it truly sounds like a litter is on the way. Yes, sometimes the vulva remains slightly swollen throughout the pregnancy, and some male dogs misinterpret the scent as a season.

Do you happen to know the exact date your dog mated with your bitch? If so, you can count forward 63 days and this will give you her approximate due date. Most bitches deliver between 58 and 65 days gestation. If her season ended six weeks ago, then she only has about two weeks left before the big day.

You'll need to provide a box for her to have her puppies in. If you give it to her now, she'll have a little time to get used to it. Make sure someone is around as much as possible in those last days in case she needs help during the delivery.

Best wishes that all goes smoothly~~ Kelly

My Dog Has Milk, But She Isn't Pregnant

Hi Kelly,

My dog Roxy's teats are leaking milk, but she is not pregnant. I'm clueless and need some help.

Thank you~~ Natalie

Expert Reply

Hi Natalie,

Was your dog recently in season? If so, and if she didn't get bred then she may be having a false pregnancy. The reasons for this aren't completely understood, but hormone levels have a lot to do with it.

A bitch will begin to develop breast tissue and milk, and will even look like she has a rounded belly. After a month or so, the symptoms gradually fade, and the bitch gets back to being her old self again.

All of that said, are you sure she isn't pregnant? How long has this been going on? Under normal circumstances, a false pregnancy is nothing you need to see your vet about, however, if you dog continues to leak milk, you may want to take her in for an exam to make sure nothing else is going on. Your vet will check her breasts for any signs of an abnormality, and decide if any treatment is necessary. The vet will also check to confirm whether or not your dog could be pregnant.

Thanks for your question Natalie, and I hope things get back to normal soon.

~~ Kelly.

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