LoveToKnow Dogs:Ask the Dogs Expert

I'm so sorry to her about your predicament. When dogs feel very sick they will sometime try to crawl into a small, out of the way place. It might be a good idea to search places like under the porch or crawl space, in any holes (like those belonging to woodchucks), under a garden shed, etc.

It's also possible he may have wound up in a neighbor's yard and been taken in by someone who realized he seemed sick. You could also try calling your local humane society/shelter and vets to see if your dog was brought in. Hopefully you will still find your pet alive, so don't give up hope yet.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know if you find him. - posted by:Kelly

I think if you give this some more thought, you'll agree that it wouldn't be good to leave a dog on it's own outside for three to five days. The weather could turn bad, another animal might steal the food, and the dog could die without fresh water. Some people have even been charged with animal neglect under similar circumstances. There are just too many things that could wrong, so you want to avoid this scenario.

That said, leaving your dog outside in your absence isn't the only option. You could leave the dog at a kennel while you're gone, or hire a professional pet sitter to feed, water and exercise the dog each day. Under these circumstances, you could make your choice from a wide variety of breeds.

Thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly

A pregnancy blood test is the simplest way to confirm whether or not the bitch in question is pregnant. If she had previously been palpated by a vet, the vet might have missed feeling an embryo or two if it was tucked high up in the uterine horn. The blood test will confirm whatever is going on. Whoever takes the bitch in should be prepared to pay for the test.

Next item, the stud fee. I don't know what kind of arrangement you made with your friend, but let me tell you how breeders typically handle things. The stud fee is usually paid at the time of the breeding. It is paid in consideration of the work done by the stud, and is typically not refundable. It is up to the stud and bitch owners to discuss any terms (typically referred to as a breeding contract) before the breeding takes place to agree on which responsibilities each of them has in various situations. Typically, a stud owner will guarantee the female will have at least one live birth, and be willing to repeat the breeding one more time at no extra charge if she doesn't. Some stud owners do agree to return the fee if the bitch doesn't take, but this happens less frequently.

Although I'm not a lawyer, I do know that a judge would try to ascertain whether there was a meeting of the minds regarding the terms set for the breeding in order to determine whether the two of you had a verbal contract regarding payment of the stud fee.

Where you go from here depends on whether the bitch is actually pregnant and whether you received the stud fee at time of service. All of that said, you should also take into consideration how important this friendship is to you. The current situation with the dogs could put the relationship in jeopardy, so consider your actions carefully before making any decisions. Will the money really be worth sacrificing a friendship?

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out for the best. - posted by:Kelly

I'm glad you're interested in putting your dogs on a healthier diet. Although meat and bones do provide some nutrition, they don't amount to balanced canine nutrition.

Changing your dogs' diet will have to be done gradually so you don't upset their digestive systems or their feelings. I recommend you cut back severly on the bones to begin with, and mix a small amount of high quality soaked kibble in with the meat. If you can soak the kibble in the meat broth, that will make it more appetizing for your dogs. Once they are willing to eat this mix, you can begin to gradually cut back on the meat and increase the amount of kibble. If they seem to be eating the kibble well by this point, you can begin soaking it less so your dogs' teeth can benefit from the crunchier texture.

Please realize that you don't need to completely cut fresh meat out of your dogs' diet. It's alright to feed a mix of kibble and fresh foods.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the transition goes smoothly. :) - posted by:Kelly

Under the circumstances it may be better to go with a C-section. Let me explain why.

• First, your dog is having her first litter at six. This is middle age for a dog. Her pelvic bones will likely not open as easily, and this could make birth more difficult for average size puppies, not to mention large ones.
• You've said you have no experience delivering puppies, so it would be difficult for you to help your dog if one of the puppies became stuck. A delay in the birth might cause the death of one or both pups, and it could endanger mom as well.
• The vet has most likely made an educated analysis of the puppies' size versus your dog's pelvis. If he is recommending to plan for a C-section, it is probably the right thing to do.

All of that said, canine pregnancies come with risks, and this is so for both natural births and C-sections. My advice is to ask your vet to explain the C-section procedure to you so you know what to expect. Your vet should also explain how much after care your dog will need. Most females recover from a C-section very quickly, although great care should be taken with the anesthesia, especially with smaller dogs.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out for the best. - posted by:Kelly