LoveToKnow Dogs:Custom Dog Pregnancy
Questions

It is a bit unusual that these breedings were spaced so far apart. That's not typical for a Shih Tzu or any other breed as far as I know. Depending on how long your female was releasing eggs and when they were fertilized, there could be quite a difference in the gestational age of the pups at the time they are born. I would recommend in future that you manage the breedings rather than let the dogs breed freely on their own. Hopefully none of the pups in this litter will be premature, but there is a possibility this could happen. You'll be able to spot the preemies because their won't have any fur on their paws.

This leads me to your next question about false pregnancies. Is there a particular reason why you think your dog might be having a false pregnancy? If it's because her abdomen hasn't increased much in size yet, that's probably normal. Going by the last breeding date of October 6, she would only be 37 days along (approximately 5 weeks). Athough the pups are forming all their limbs and organs in these initial weeks, they are only the size of peas. They don't really begin to gain size until somewhere between five and six weeks gestation, but they grow rapidly from that point on. The number of pups in the litter will also affect the ultimate size of your dog's abdomen.

For the most part, there's not a lot of difference between the way a false pregnancy and a real pregnancy look. The major difference is that a false pregnancy may seem to fade away before the due date approaches, but some females appear pregnant, produce milk and even mimic labor to some extent. I should add here that sometimes what appears to have been a false pregnancy could be a a case of reabsorption, where the embryos are absorbed into the uterine lining.

The one thing that I would point out as a major indicator that a female is likely having a false pregnancy is if she adopts toys or household items to use as surrogate "pups". She'll usually gather these items and lay with them as though they were her litter. If you're seeing anything like this, perhaps this is a false pregnancy after all.

If you'd like to find out exactly what's going on, your vet should be able to detect a pregnancy with a simple blood test at this point. That way you'll know what to expect.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info proves useful to you. Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

I can't be certain whether or not your female is pregnant, but it would help to have a little more info. How long ago was your dog bred or in heat? The reason I ask is because while the embryos develop all of their limbs and organs during the first five weeks, the embryos remain the size of peas. They begin a rapid growth spurt between five and six weeks weeks gestation, and this is usually when the female's abdomen will begin to enlarge.

That said, the activity with the Teddy bears almost makes me think that this could be a false pregnancy. I have never had a female that was actually pregnant adopt surrogate "pups" before the delivery. That is usually associated with behavior from a false pregnancy. If it is close to 63 days since your dog was bred or her heat cycle ended, she might just be going through a false pregnancy.

You have a couple of choices here. You could go ahead and treat your female as though she is pregnant and prepare a place for her to whelp. Or, you could schedule an exam with your vet to try to determine if this is a false alarm. Either way, it's not really necessary to go to the vet unless you really want answers now. A false pregnancy resolves itself, and the nesting behaviors do fade away with time. If your dog is truly pregnant, she'll have the litter. So, you can wait and see, or you can ask the vet for an exam. Either way is fine.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope things turn out the way you want them to. Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

That's very interesting. What it sounds like is some retained placenta material, but I can't be sure about that. You'd need to take the tissue to a vet for examination to get a better idea of what it is. You're sure this came from the vulva and not the anus? It also sounds like it could be an intestinal worm.

Did you by any chance take your female for a post delivery exam after she had the puppy? A vet will usually palpate the uterus to check for leftover placentas or retained dead puppies. Even if nothing is obvious, many vets will give a pitocen injection to help the uterus finish evacuating and return to normal size.

Right now, it sounds like your dog is doing well with no obvious sign of a uterine infection, but you'll want to watch her closely in case she begins to develop symptoms. A dog's normal temperature is between 100 and 101 F, so try to monitor her to make sure she doesn't begin to go above that. A foul odor coming from her hind quarters as well as pus discharge would also indicate an infection.

All things said, it would be safest to drive your dog to the vet for an exam on Monday, but it doesn't sound like she's in immediate danger at this point. Hopefully everything will be alright.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this info helps you decide what to do next. Best wishes for mom and puppy's continued good health. :) - posted by:Kelly

It's fairly normal for a female to be uncomfortable in the later weeks of pregnancy. At the point where your Min Pin is right now, the pups are going through a rapid growth stage, so you female will need to become more accustomed to her new girth. Still, there shouldn't be cause for serious concern. Just try to give her a cushion to lay on so she can be more comfortable. She's likely to get bigger before she delivers, but that's the natural course of things.

Now for your questions about the C-sections. Vets seem to be split on their thoughts about pre-scheduling a C-section for the 63rd day. Some vets are actually willing to do this, and I know of a very high ranking Chihuahua breeder who regularly schedules C-sections for her females since that breed is known to have problems delivering.

As I understand it, the main reasons many vets prefer to let a female try delivering on her own to begin with include:

• It's usually better not to perform surgery unless it's absolutely called for. There are risks to using anesthesia, and post operative infections are also a cause for concern.

• Allowing the female to go into labor naturally is thought to aid milk production due to the contractions and a chemical in the afterbirths that stimulates milk production.

To sum it all up, it doesn't sound like your female is experiencing anything too unusual right now, and she may just be carrying a big litter. If it were me, I'd let her try to deliver on her own first, and keep the C-section as a back up plan in case she is unable to deliver on her own. We have an article that touches on the signs of when a C-section may indeed be needed. Check out Delivering Puppies.

I'd also like to invite you to keep in touch via our Breeders Corner in the Dogs forum. You can continue to ask questions and receive advice there as needed.

Best wishes for a lovely, healthy litter. :) - posted by:Kelly

At this point, you probably don't have anything to be alarmed about yet. That first breeding may not have resulted in successful fertilization until a few days later. If your female wasn't quite ready to ovulate at the time of the breeding, the sperm would have implanted in the uterine walls and waited for the eggs to arrive. That's why many breeders consider 63-67 days the average gestation length.

Unless you're seeing any signs of stress in your dog, things are probably okay at this point. Just keep a close eye on her. You should also begin taking her temperature if you already haven't. Take a rectal temperature reading first thing in the morning and once again in the evening about 12 hours apart. Dogs experience a temperature drop 24 hours before labor begins. Normal temperature is between 100-101 degrees F. The true drop (sometimes you'll see small temporary drops) goes down to around 97 F and stays there for two consecutive readings. When that happens, look for labor to begin within 24 hours.

We also have a couple of good articles that I think you'll find helpful. Check out:

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please keep us posted. I'd like to invite you to update us via the Breeders Corner at our Dogs forum. We can keep in touch there.

Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Although I can't be certain, it is very possible that a breeding took place. Harley may have been gone a little longer than you realized, and from what you describe, it does sound like they may have bred. Now that doesn't guarantee that Chloe will become pregnant, but the chances are fairly high. If she was bred on 8/8/09, she would be about 43 days pregnant right now. At this point, her abdomen would begin to expand rapidly as the the pups go into their growth spurt, so you should be able to tell if there are any changes. We have a couple of articles that you may find helpful. Check out:

• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation

This information should help you determine if Chloe is indeed pregnant.

At eight months old, this isn't the ideal time to go through a pregnancy, so the best thing you can do is check if with your vet about the situation. Hopefully all will go well even if Chloe is pregnant, but this will be a strain on her because she is still a growing puppy herself. Be sure that you are feeding her a very high quality dog food so there is enough nutrition for her to support a litter.

I know you're worried, but this situation can work out alright if you take the extra care to help Chloe through it. It does sound like you were trying to be careful to keep these dogs apart, but accidents do happen. All we can do is try to make the best of the situation when it happens.

Please keep in touch to let me know what you find out. I'm limited to how many visitor questions I can handle through the expert column, but you can get additional help and support through our Breeders Corner in the Dogs forum. I hope you'll join us there.

Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

This is a great question. I always recommend that all dogs whelp indoors, even if they are kenneled outside most of the time. Pups are fragile and susceptible to a lot of germs and chills as newborns, so it's important that they are kept safe from the elements and environmental hazards.

That said, the idea whelping box has sides low enough for the mom to step over as she gets in and out. The box needs to be roomy enough for mom to lay down to nurse the pups with a bit of room to spare to help avoid laying on the pups and smothering them. Professional whelping boxes actually have an inner rail that keeps mom away from the walls just enough to leave room for a pup caught behind her.

Once you've found a box that's the right size, you want to consider which type of bedding to use. I've seen people use everything from old blankets to newspapers. For the birth, I prefer to use newspapers. They are absorbent, the mom can rustle them up as she creates her nest, and you can just keep adding layers over the wet ones until the whelping is finished. At that point, you can remove all the soiled paper and reline the box with a thick layer of newspapers. As they become soiled from the pups' eliminations, you can peel off the top layers to keep things fresh. Some people also like to use one of those artificial sheepskin blankets because they hold the warmth and provide some cushioning under the puppies. Newborns kept on hard surfaces sometimes develop flat chests because their bones are still rather soft.

Beyond that, you just want to make sure you place the whelping box in a quiet area of your home away from general foot traffic, family noise and drafts. New moms usually do a better job with less distractions to make them feel anxious.

That's about it, but if you find you have more specific questions, please feel free to join us over at the Dogs forum where we like to share info and suggestions. You'll find a lot of support.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

I'm not a vet, but I would have to say that I don't think leakage from just one breast is all that common. Your vet is right to have you come back to repeat the test, because the hormone level will change further if your dog is truly pregnant. There's an outside chance that your dog had a heat cycle that really didn't present much sign, and she could have been bred if she was around a male dog without supervision.

That said, there could also have been an unusual flux in the hormone levels that might have triggered some milk production, but an infection of the breast could also present similar symptoms. My advice right now is to follow through with the retest, and also ask your vet to examine some of that milk to see if it's infected. If it is, your dog will need an antibiotic to clear it up.

Thanks for your question, and please let us know what you find out from your vet. Best wishes for your dog's health. - posted by:Kelly

Any significant change in the breast tissue is worth having your vet examine. The change could be due to fluctuating hormones. This might indicate your dog is trying to come into heat, or she may have recently had what we call a silent heat cycle - one that gives very little indication and usually goes unnoticed. If this is the case, the swelling could be attributed to a false pregnancy. However, it's also possible that there is some sort of infection involved. Do the breasts seem hard or look rather red? Do they feel especially warm as though there is a fever? It's kind of rare, but it is possible for a female experiencing a false pregnancy to develop a mastitis infection. I'd have your dog checked out just to be on the safe side. That will also give you the opportunity to discuss your dog's lack of heat cycles with your vet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this doesn't turn out to be anything serious. Please let us know what you find out. - posted by:Kelly

Nipple enlargement, milk production and a growing tummy are some of the typical signs of pregnancy. However, they can also occur even if it turns out to be a false pregnancy because the same hormones are involved. To complicate matters further, a dog can actually be pregnant, absorb the embryos later on because conditions for the pregnancy aren't quite right and yet still display signs of pregnancy because it takes time for the hormone levels to return to normal.

Honestly, it can be a little confusing, but time usually tells the tale. Most dogs deliver a litter by the 63rd day of pregnancy, give or take a couple of days. If you're having difficulty determining whether your dog is truly pregnant or just displaying a false pregnancy, your vet can help you sort it out. Depending on how far along your dog would be, the vet may actually be able to feel puppies. If it is near the end of the suspected pregnancy, the pups should show up on an x-ray.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope this info helps. Don't hesitate to ask more questions if you need to. :) - posted by:Kelly

First, let me commend you on the adoption. That was a very kind thing to do, and this dog is especially lucky to have you considering her condition. It does sound like your dog could be pregnant, but the vet can confirm that for you on Wednesday. As for when milk production begins, it varies from one dog to the next. On average, some development begins about two weeks before delivery, but some females don't produce milk until the pups arrive and their nursing stimulates production, so it's difficult to use milk production as a guideline for when the pups are likely due. Your vet should be able to give you a better estimate.

Right now, the best thing you can do is keep a close eye on your dog and provide her with a box to have the pups in. Line it with several layers of newspaper so she can work it into a nest. We have a couple of articles that I think you'll find helpful at this time.

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Check those out, and don't hesitate to come back if you find you have more questions. You may even want to post about the pregnancy on our Dogs forum to get more feedback.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope all goes well. :) - posted by:Kelly

The interesting thing about dogs is that females don't go through menopause like women do, so they continue to cycle throught their lifetime. However, the regularity of those cycles can change as the female ages. Cycles can grow further apart, and they can even lighten in intensity; this can make them difficult to track.

That said, other factors such as nutrition and stress can also affect when a female comes into heat, as well as medical complications like an ovarian cyst.

All things considered, it may be worth it to relay your observations to your vet and schedule an exam. If there's a medical reason your dog hasn't come into heat, the vet should be able to figure that out and address it. At six years old, your dog would probably be able to handle a pregnancy, but the uterus does begin to lose elasticity around this age and that can lead to post delivery complications in some cases. You may want to consider having your pet spayed so you no longer need to worry about her having a litter.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

I wouldn't worry too much about the early leaking. It's true that many females don't begin producing colostrum/milk until a few days before delivery, or sometimes not until the pups arrive and begin nursing. However, some females do go into production a few weeks before the pups arrive.

For now, just watch for any abnormal signs such as unusual breast swelling, hardness or a change in color of the drainage. If you notice anything like this, consult your vet immediately. In the meantime, it's important to avoid pinching the nipples to check the milk. This sort of mimics the sensation of nursing pups, and it can stimulate production even more.

That's about all you need to do for now, and the pups will be here before you know it. Do let us know how the litter turns out, and thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Based on the breeding date, your dog would be about 38 days pregnant. At this point, it can be difficult to see much sign of pregnancy because the pups are only about the size of peas. There won't be much enlargement of the abdomen until around six weeks gestation when the pups put on a growth spurt.

As for milk production, the good news is that you don't have to worry about that just yet. Right now, you'll probably notice some breast development, but your dog may not begin producing colostrum until closer to delivery time. Colostrum is the first milk that contains important antibodies that will tide the puppies over until their own immune systems become functional. True milk doesn't come in until the pups are nursing regularly, and the more they nurse, the more your dog will begin to produce.

For now, you can continue to treat your dog as though she is pregnant (and it sounds as if she might be). We have some good articles that I think you'll find helpful. Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

These articles provide more background info, and they will help you prepare for what lies ahead. Don't hesitate to come back with more questions. You can also keep in touch through our new Dogs Forum. Do let us know how things go, and good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

Ten puppies is a large litter. Yes, rotating the pups is a good idea to make sure everyone gets a turn to nurse, but I also recommend buying puppy formula and supplementing the litter.

As for how long each one needs to nurse, I think it's better to think in terms of being full rather than setting a time limit. Some puppies nurse faster than others, so it's better to take a look at the tummies before you put them on, and watch to see when each puppy's tummy looks a bit rounded. This is the best way to judge when one has likely had enough milk. That's the time to pull him off and let someone else have a turn. It's important that all the pups have a turn to nurse mom in the first few days so they get some of that colostrum that contains important antibodies. These will tide the pups over until their immune systems become more functional. However, if you break the pups into two groups, you can let one group nurse mom while you supplement the other group with formula. On the next shift (about two hours later) you can let group two nurse mom and supplement group one. If you have runt that is lagging behind, make sure it gets extra turns on mom. And do make sure that mom cleans each pup to help it potty. If she doesn't, you can stimulate a pup to potty by wiping its genitals and anus with a soft, wet warm cloth.

I hope this is enough information to help you get started, but don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions. You might also want to post on our dog forum for more replies.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with the litter. :) - posted by:Kelly

There is still an outside chance that this could be a false pregnancy, but more than likely your dog is pregnant. When the pups are packed in tightly, it's difficult to distinguish one from another. Sometime in the next week or so you may feel a lot of activity as the pups line up for the birth. About 24 hours before the big event, the pups go quite still as though they are conserving energy for the birth. If you hold your dog while you're watching television and keep your hand against her belly, you may be able to feel some random movement.

So, keep treating your dog as though she is pregnant, and get a box ready for her delivery. You'll soon find out whether or not she is truly pregnant. Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

It's not unusual to see a bit of greenish discharge during the last week of pregnancy. This usually means a puppy has soiled in utero.

However, seeing green discharge midway through gestation could be a sign of an infection. Green, pus-like discharge could be a sign of open pyometra or perhaps even brucellosis. Both of these infections can cause the loss of a litter, but pyometra is especially dangerous and can cause death if left untreated.

Since there's no way to be sure what's going on unless you take your dog in for an exam, I recommend you do so right away. A case of pyometra is treated by spaying the bitch. Hopefully there is nothing that serious going on, but it's very important to get a quick diagnosis if this is indeed a serious infection.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for the health of your dog and her litter. I hope everything will be alright. - posted by:Kelly

I'm not sure how far along your dog is in her pregnancy, but milk production doesn't really begin in earnest until after delivery. Allowing your dog to eat a couple of the afterbirths will stimulate milk production, as will the pup's nursing. The small amount of milk in the breasts right now is actually colocstrum, and it contains important antibodies that will help protect the pups until their own immune systems begin working.

Right now, all you really need to do is make sure your dog gets enough high quality kibble to satisfy her hunger. During the last two weeks of gestation, you can add a tablespoon of cottage cheese on top to provide added calcium for the puppies' bone development and later milk production. After delivery, continue to feed your dog well and make sure she always has plenty of fresh water available so she stays hydrated and able to produce enough milk for all the pups.

Thanks for your question, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

This is actually a great question, but the short answere is no, you wouldn't be able to listen for the puppies' heart beats. Even with a stethoscope, there are so many sounds coming from mom's body that it's just about impossible for a layperson to single out individual heartbeats the way a obstetrician listens for the heartbeat of a human baby. I've never seen a vet attempt to verify a pregnancy this way either, so I have to assume it's just not an efficient method.

Until the pups reach six weeks gestation, they are only about the size of peas. After six weeks, they grow rapidly and at some point you'll be able to feel movement from them. Before this time, your vet can detect a pregnancy about three weeks after the heat cycle has ended by performing a blood test to check pregnancy hormone levels. Additionally, the uterus can be palpated on day 28 of gestions to try to feel embryos, and an ultrasound is sometime useful for detecting embryos during mid-pregnancy.

Thanks for your question, and I wish you the best of luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

The time for delivery is getting closer, and I think what you've observed is the pups getting into position for birth. This typically occurs the week before the due date. There's a period of noticeable activity, and then things go very quiet for several days. It's as if the pups are saving up their energy for the struggle out of the canal.

We have a couple of articles that I think you might find very useful right now. First, check out Signs Of Dog Pregnancy. The section titled "Signs Delivery Is Imminent" tells you how to track your dog's temperature to predict the onset of labor within 24 hours. Next, read Delivering Puppies. This article lets you know how to prepare for the births, what you should have on hand and how to identify if your dog is having trouble delivering the pups.

You're in the home stretch now, and soon those pups will be here. Go ahead and get a whelping box ready for your dog so she can get used to it before the big day arrives.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that all goes well. :) - posted by:Kelly

I really can't say whether this is a false pregnancy or the real thing, but your vet can help you figure it out. It may be too late to palpate the uterus to detect embryos, but your vet can take a blood sample to check for pregnancy hormone levels. This should help confirm whether or not there is a litter on the way.

As for a possible breeding with the Shih Tzu next door, a tie is not neccessary for fertilization to occur. The dog would only have have had to mount your dog long enough to deliver a small discharge of semen to get the job done. So, if there was any mounting involved, there is still a possibility of a pregnancy.

It would be good to follow through on the vet appointment, but in the meantime we have a couple articles you might find helpful. Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation

Thanks for your question, and be sure to come back if you need more help. :) - posted by:Kelly

I'm sorry to hear about what your Chin is going through. I can't say whether or not she might be pregnant, but I can tell you that the symptoms you describe do not sound like a typical pregnancy. Due to the eating/drinking issues and the abdominal pain and general lethargy, I suspect your dog is very ill and in need of immediate medical care. I don't want to scare you needlessly by guessing at possible causes. Let's leave the diagnosis for your vet's expertise. The most important thing you can do is make the appointment right away before your dog becomes any weaker. In the meantime, try to get her to drink more water because she is likely becoming dehydrated. You might also want to pick up some NutriCal at your nearest Petco to give her some nutrition. It's a gel paste packed with vitamins and other nutrients, and it should give her a little boost.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and I hope your pet will be alright. Don't hesitate to let us know what you find out. Best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

This is a very good question, but a difficult one to answer because it involves so many variables. At the simplest, there's a 50/50 chance that a given female will die due to pregnancy complications. As a rule, smaller dogs often have a more difficult time during delivery than medium to large dogs, and puppies can become stuck leading to C-sections being reguired. A dog undergoing surgery is more at risk than a dog that is able to deliver naturally. That said, post-delivery infections can occur both in dogs that delivered naturally and dogs that had a C-section.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Certain breeds like Chihuahuas and English Bulldogs are known to have difficulty whelping. Other dogs are injured during pregnancy. The main thing I want to convey in all of this is that there are definite risks to breeding a female, so it's a decision that should be made only after careful consideration. There is never a reason that a female needs to be bred, contrary to old tales that it's good to let her have one litter or that children should see the miracle of birth, etc. It is actually far better for the female's health to have her spayed.

I hope that even though I couldn't give you firm statistics on the death rate of pregnant dogs, you've found this information helpful. Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

With the breeding taking place just a week ago, you really won't see much sign of anything just yet. It usually takes about three weeks to see any of the early changes. One of the first signs is development of the breast tissue, although this isn't a guarantee that your dog is pregnant. Still, it's one of the early signs to look for. You might also notice a change in your dog's appetite. Some females will become reluctant to eat for a couple of weeks, while others are suddenly hungry all the time.

We have two good articles on the site that offer a comprehensive list of all the signs to watch for. Check out:

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

In addition to the signs in these articles, your vet can also determine a pregnancy with a simple blood test about three weeks after the breeding has taken place.

If it turns out your female is pregnant, be sure to come back and check out the rest of our dog pregnancy articles. We cover every stage from breeding to delivery. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, pregnant dogs do sometimes experience a little nausea and vomitting during the early weeks of gestation. Although no one knows for sure what causes this, it's generally believed that the pregnancy hormones have an effect on the part of the brain that controls nausea.

That said, nausea isn't a sure sign that your dog is pregnant. By three weeks along, a vet can perform a blood test to check for the presence of pregnancy hormones in the bloodstream. You may want to take advantage of this test to learn for sure whether there is a litter on the way. You might also want to check out the following articles for a list of more pregnancy signs to watch for.

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that all works out well. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, it is possible for a pup or two to be tucked up so high in the abdomen that you can't feel the embryo through palpation on the 28th day of gestation. Couple that with the fact that the pups don't begin to grow much in size until about the sixth week, and it can be difficult to determine if a small litter is on the way.

If you're just trying to determine if she is pregnant, the vet can check for pregnancy hormones with a blood test. This would be far less expensive than an X-ray, although the X-ray would also reveal how many pups there might be if she is indeed pregnant. It just depends on how much information you feel you need.

All of that said, it wouldn't hurt to continue treating your dog as though she is pregnant and prepare a place for her to whelp. Assemble any supplies you feel you'll need and have everything ready to go just in case she goes into delivery. You'll feel better knowing you are prepared, and you can always put everything away if she doesn't deliver a litter after all.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that she has at least one healthy puppy. Good luck. :) - posted by:Kelly

Nature will take care of things for the most part, but you can support your dog's pregnancy by feeding her a high quality kibble so she gets all the nutrition she needs for those developing puppies. You can begin adding a spoonful of cottage cheese per day during the last three weeks to increase her calcium for milk production. You'll also want to make sure she gets moderate exercise to keep her toned throughout the pregnancy. This should make delivery just a little easier.

I have several articles that I think you will find helpful throughout the entire experience. Give them a read, and don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions afterward.

• Dog Pregnancy
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies- You'll want to bookmark this one for quick reference.

Thanks for your question, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Although your female is on the small side for a Schnauzer, she won't necessarily need a C-section to deliver, regardless of which male (or both) might be the sire of the litter. Many females deliver on their own after breeding with larger males.

My advice would be to talk the matter over with your vet. That accomplished, you can allow your female to try to deliver the pups on her own, which she may be capable of doing. If she strains for more than an hour without delivering the first pup, you can go ahead and take her in for the C-section. However, if she's able to pass the first puppy, there's a really good chance she'll be able to deliver the rest. It would actually be better to avoid the surgery if possible. Your dog will have less complications that way.

In the meantime, I think you'll find our article on Delivering Puppies will help you prepare for the big day.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's safe an easy delivery. Keep us posted! - posted by:Kelly

First, let me say how kind it was of you to take that little dog in. I raised and showed Shih Tzus for many years, and it's heartbreaking to think of one roaming the streets alone. You did a wonderful thing giving this little girl a home.

Now for the pregnancy. Shih Tzus happen to be very hearty whelpers in my experience. Even if the puppies were sired by the Boxer, I don't think you're likely to have too many problems with the delivery. We had quite a few breech births back when I was breeding, and the pups seemed to come out just as easily whether they were bottom first or head first. This doesn't mean you won't need to watch your dog carefully during the delivery, but I believe your dog should make it through just fine.

I have two articles I think you'll find helpful. Be sure to read them, and feel free to come back with more questions if you need to.

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question, and I wish you the very best of luck. Let us know how things turn out. :) - posted by:Kelly

Although this isn't the best time for your dog to go through a pregnancy, hopefully everything will turn out alright if she is indeed pregnant. The reason breeders normally advise against breeding on the first heat cycle is because it usually occurs while the female is still a growing puppy herself. If she becomes pregnant, her resources must be stretched to support the growth of the embryos as well a herself. This can lead to stunting of her own development.

As for your dog's symptoms at this time, it's still too early to tell if she's pregnant. Most females will experience a little breast development due to the hormones involved, but it isn't always a sure sign of pregnancy. The easiest way to determine whether your dog is pregnanct is to schedule a blood test for approximately three weeks after the heat cycle has ended. This will reveal any pregnancy hormones if they are present.

If it turns out your female truly is pregnant, you'll want to discuss the situation with your vet. The vet can recommend a diet plan that will help support your puppy and her litter.

In case it turns out that you need them, here are a couple more articles that could prove helpful.

• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for sharing your situation. I hope everything works alright. Please feel free to visit us again if you have more questions. :) - posted by:Kelly

That physical exam your vet performed was a palpation, and vets use this technique to try to detect embryos in the uterine horns. This technique is typically performed on the 28th day of gestation because it's the perfect time. The embryos are about the size of peas at that point. The problem is that after the 28th day, the uterus begins to swell in size and it is no longer possible to feel the puppies again until they are much larger, usually around six weeks gestation. There's a possibility that the day you took your dog in for the prenatal check was not the optimum time for a palpation, so it is still possible she is pregnant.

All of that said, yes, it's possible this is just a false pregnancy. However, your vet can perform a blood test to check for pregnancy hormones, and this would either confirm or rule out a real pregnancy. I recommend you have the procedure done so you know one way or the other. However, you could choose to wait and continue to treat your dog as though she is pregnant until you can determine whether she goes through any more changes. If it's a false pregnancy, she should be back to normal in a few weeks.

In the meantime, I think you'll find our article on Dog Pregnancy Symptoms very helpful.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things turn out the way you want them too. Good luck! - posted by:Kelly

Since your Pug was in season and she did sneak out on you, it's safer to assume she might have been bred. The changes you've noticed could indicate a pregnancy, but a false pregnancy would give nearly the same signs at this point.

I think the best thing to do is ask your vet to give your dog a blood test for pregnancy. The hormone levels should reveal exactly what is going on. This way, you won't have to guess or worry about what's going on, and then you can prepare if you need to.

On the outside chance your dog is carrying a litter, here are a few articles that I think you'll find helpful.

• Canine Gestation
• Delivering Puppies

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything works out for you. Let us know if your dog does have a litter. :) - posted by:Kelly

From the signs you describe, it's possible that your dog could be pregnant. However, I wouldn't be too worried that she has miscarried. A little clear vaginal discharge is typical during most canine pregnancies. Many owners never even notice it. As long as the discharge doesn't have a foul odor, everything is probably alright. Just keep an eye on the situation and notify your vet if there's a significant change.

Now to address the puppy movement. At approximately four to five weeks gestation, the embryos aren't much bigger than a pea, so it's unlikely that you could feel them at all. Real growth doesn't begin until the pups are about six weeks along. It is possible to feel some movement from the bowels, and many pet owners mistake this as movement from the pups. Bottom line, don't worry that you're not feeling the pups yet. You should be able to in a couple of weeks.

As for your dog's reluctance to eat or drink, it's also fairly typical for a pregnant female. You could try adding some boiled ground beef and rice to her kibble as an enticement. Most dogs can't resist it. The broth will also provide her with hydration. Be sure to keep her water dish very fresh.

All of that said, it's your pet's previous injury that concerns me the most. It is possible that there was an additional injury to your dog's back from the car accident. There could be a disk problem or even a pinched nerve that causes your dog's painful reaction. My main concern is that the increasing weight from a growing pregnancy will put additional stress on the back and cause more pain. My guess is that you will have to be very careful with your dog as the pregnancy nears the end.

It doesn't sound like you are fully satisfied with the care your vet has given your dog. I strongly recommend you find a new vet at another clinic and schedule a pregnancy blood test. This will help you establish whether or not your female is pregnant, and it will also give you an opportunity to discuss your dog's previous injury and the lingering pain. There's probably not much the vet can do at this time if your dog is pregnant, but there might be a way to treat the injury once the pregnancy is over.

The following articles provide additional pregnancy information:

• Canine Gestation
• Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy

Thanks for your questions, and I hope you find this information helpful. Good luck, and keep us posted on the litter. - posted by:Kelly

At possibly two-and-a-half weeks pregnant, you may not see much sign of pregnancy yet. In fact, the pups don't really begin to gain size until about six weeks gestation. Still, I'd say with a complete tie witnessed and the fact that your female seems tired, there's a good chance she's pregnant.

I recommend you check out our articles on Dog Pregnancy Symptoms and Canine Gestation. They both contain valuable pregnancy information that may help you pick out the signs sooner.

Thanks for your question, and be sure to explore the site. :) - posted by:Kelly

With an enlarged abdomen and milk production under way, there's a better than average chance that your female could actually be pregnant. However, it's not a sure thing. Many people are unable to feel movement from the puppies until the last two weeks of the pregnancy when they are growing rapidly.

You could wait and see what happens, but if it's not cost prohibitive, you might want to ask your vet to perform an ultrasound. This should reveal any embryos in development, plus give you a head count so you know what to expect.

This could still turn out to be a false alarm, so I don't want to discourage you. I'm just trying to be realistic based on the signs you've described. An ultrasound, or at the very least a blood test, should solve the mystery.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things turn out the way you want them to. Good luck. - posted by:Kelly

You'll see the temperature yo-yo a bit like this, but it is normal. The real drop should hit almost 97 F and stay there for two readings taken 12 hours apart. From that point, your dog will likely go into labor within 24 hours.

Did you happen to breed your dog more than once? If so, it's possible that she took on the second breeding. If this is the case, it could alter her expected due date slightly.

Just keep taking her temperature every twelve hours and you should get a warning of when delivery will happen. So far, things sound like they are going normally.

In case you haven't already read it, you might also find our article on Delivering Puppies quite useful.

Thanks for your question, and good luck! - posted by:Kelly

If you are certain your dog had no opportunity to breed during her season, this is most likely the product of a false pregnancy.

When females go through a false, they do tend to produce milk. Most dogs will use toys and other objects as surrogate puppies, but some will nurse other animals if the opportunity is there. I saw a case on Animal Planet the other day where a dog was nursing a kitten as well as a litter of squirrels the dog's owner had rescued.

My main question is how old is the kitten? Is she young enough to still be dependent on the milk? If so, you should probably wait to wean the kitten before you separate it from your dog. The most that can happen to your dog already has, so there is no rush to put an end to the nursing if the kitten needs the milk and has no mother.

However, if the kitten is old enough to wean, you need to separate the two gradually since they have bonded. Begin by offering the kitten soft food and milk. As she learns to eat on her own, she'll gradually taper off nursing. This will allow your dog's milk production to taper off as well. This way she can avoid becoming congested.

Granted, it's an unusual situation, but a very sweet one indeed. I would let it play out naturally. Your dog will become less protective of the kitten as the kitten becomes more independent. It will all be over in a matter of weeks.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your "blended" family. :) - posted by:Kelly

Yes, some females do experience "morning sickness" just like we women do, although morning can virtually mean any time of day. This is usually noted in early pregnancy and then it tapers off. By mid-pregnancy, most females are recovering their appetites and may eat as much as twice their normal rations. Toward the end of the pregnancy, a female may tend to throw up a little if she over eats. There just isn't much room left by then, so it's usually better to offer smaller meals more often to avoid an overload.

Hopefully your dog's nausea is a good sign that a litter is on the way. In the meantime, check out our new article on Dog Pregnancy Symptoms. You'll find a list of signs to watch for. You might also enjoy our article on Delivering Puppies to help prepare you for the big day.

Thanks for your questions, and best wishes. - posted by:Kelly

First, let's talk about what constitutes a fever in dogs so you can be sure whether or not this dog's temperature is normal. A female runs a temperature around 102 degrees F during delivery, but this should lower back to the average temperature of 100 to 101 F. As you can see, dogs naturally run warmer than humans. If your mother-in-law's dog is still running 102 or above, she has a genuine fever.

At this stage, the fever is mostly caused by one of two things. First, the dog may be a bit dehydrated from the delivery and the sudden demands of nursing. Try to coax her to drink more fresh water, and offer some low sodium chicken broth too.

Second, the fever could be the result of a post-partum infection. This sometimes occurs when a dead puppy or a placenta is unknowingly retained in the uterus. If this is the case, this dog will definitely need to see a vet for treatment.

Since it will be difficult for you to determine what is going on, I recommend you reach your mother-in-law and ask her for a credit or debit card number you can use to pay for a vet visit. You might also ask her to wire money directly if she prefers. You can then take the dog and her pups for an examination to make sure everything will be alright.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it all works out. - 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

Accidents do happen, and you're not the first owner to be caught in this position. There is a possibility that your Min Pin puppy could have impregnated your Chihuahua, although it is only a slight chance. Males become fertile somewhere between four and six months of age, although they shouldn't be used for breeding until they have reached maturity. Most males this age won't be able to figure out how to get the job done, but perhaps your pup has.

There's also some concern about the age of your female. You state that this is her first heat cycle, which puts her age between six and twelve months. This is still very young for her to produce a litter, and it will likely be quite taxing on her own resources. My best advice for the situation is to take your female in to be examined by your vet. Chihuahuas are very delicate, and even adult females often have difficulty delivering. You'll want your vet's expert opinion on whether it will be safe to allow a pregnancy to progress if she is indeed pregnant.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope everything works out alright. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, there's a possibility that your dog could have been bred during her last heat cycle. Some bitches will fight off an interested male during the early portion of the cycle, but will usually become receptive later on. If a breeding occured, you have a 50/50 chance of your dog getting pregnant. According to the signs you're seeing, I'd say your chances are even higher.

You can find out for sure whether your dog is pregnant by asking your vet to perform a blood test. This way, you'll know for sure what you're dealing with, and you'll have a better idea of how to care for your bitch through a pregnancy. We have plenty of articles on pregnancy topics in our Dog Health category if you find a need for them.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for a happy outcome, no matter what happens. - posted by:Kelly

Yes, bitches do discharge a certain amount of blood from their vulvas during the heat cycle. You can read more about this at our articles Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding and Female Dog Heat Cycle.

Some bitches will develop a little breast tissue after a season. Sometimes this is a sign of a false pregnancy, especially if the bitch was never exposed to a fertile male during her heat cycle.

There's a sligh possibility that your bitch could be pregnant, but since she is still currently cycling, it's too early to tell. Has she been exposed to any unneutered dogs? Has she spent time outdoors by herself. Do you currently own a male dog? If your answers to any of these questions is yes, she could have been bred.

My suggestion is to watch her and see if she begins to show more signs of pregnancy after her heat cycle ends. If you truly begin to suspect she's pregnant, make an appoint with your vet to examine her about one month after her cycle ends.

Thanks for your questions, and I hope you find this info helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

While many of the behaviors and signs you're describing are often associated with pregnancy, they are not a guarantee your bitch is actually pregnant. This is especially so if you are sure she wasn't exposed to an unneutered male.

Your bitch may be going through a false pregnancy. This mimics many of the signs of a true pregnancy, but the symptoms eventually go away after several weeks. I have a Terrier bitch that has a false after every season.

That said, some of your bitch's behaviors are a bit extreme, the nipping and house soiling in particular. All things considered, it might be worth it to let your vet examine her. An ultrasound can detect embryos around three weeks. If your vet is able to rule out a pregnancy, you'll have a better idea of what you're dealing with. Your vet may decide this is indeed a false pregnancy, or may want to test for something else such as a urinary tract infection.

If your bitch does happen to be pregnant, she will need good nutrition to support her growing pups. She won't necessarily need vitamins as long as you're feeding her a high quality kibble, because this can actually throw the balance off. Usually it's enough to simply offer larger portions of the kibble. I also like to add a dollop of cottage cheese to the dinner for the added calcium the pups will need to make strong bones. Many pregnant bitches go through a period where they don't want to eat, but this usually passes and then they make up for it with ravenous appetites.

Thanks for your question, and I hope that everything turns out alright.

- posted by:Kelly

It does sound like the dogs were tied, and pulling them apart was a dangerous thing for those people to do, as it could have caused internal injury to one or both dogs.

It sounds as though your bitch has a very good chance of being pregnant. Her risk for a C-section is only slightly higher because of her young age, not really due to the size of the stud. If the bitch were fully grown, I wouldn't expect puppy size to create any special problem in this particular breeding. That said, many bitches wind up having C-sections because they can't fully dilate. It's just something that you have to watch for during delivery, and take the bitch to the vet if she can't push out her pups.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope that everything works out alright whether your bitch is pregnant or not. - posted by:Kelly

Do you suspect your dog was actually bred? Was there a time when she was outside unsupervised during her season? Do you own an intact male dog? If the answers to these questions are yes, there is a possibility your dog is pregnant. There's also a possibility that she is going through a false pregnancy, especially if there wasn't any chance she was around a male. If this happens to be the case, the pregnancy signs will eventually fade away.

The only sure way to know what's going on would be to have your vet examine your bitch in a couple more weeks to check for embryos. I normally recommend having the bitch palpated on the 28th day from the breeding, but this isn't really possible if the breeding date isn't known. Vets can also perform and ultrasound to detect the embryos from 21 days on, so this would be the best route to take in your situation.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck. - posted by:Kelly

Miscarriages are common in bitches that have lyme disease. The disease can also put a strain on your bitch's heart, something the increased blood supply during pregnancy can do too.

I think the best thing you can do is call your vet, explain the situation and get a qualified medical opinion about what is best for your bitch at this time, if indeed she is pregnant.

Best wishes for a happy outcome to the entire situation. - posted by:Kelly

If your bitch was truly pregnant and due to deliver according to your breeding date, then the bleeding isn't normal. If there is any chance that you figured the due date wrong (63-67 days from the mating), there's still a possibility that she is about to deliver. There's also a possibility that this is a sign of a developing uterine infection from the breeding.

To be on the safe side, I would call your vet and run the scenario by him/her. The vet may want you to bring your bitch in for an examination just to make sure of what's going on, and if any intervention is necessary.

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

This is a tricky situation. First, there's the question of whether your dog was ever really pregnant. Some dogs have false pregnancies following a season that seems like the real thing. Did you ever have your vet confirm the pregnancy?

Second, dogs are pregnant for approxiamtely 63 days from the date of the breeding. Are you sure you counted correctly? Is there any possibility that your dog could have been bred a final time without you knowing about it?

It's difficult to say what's going on here because of all the variables. If your dog was bred later than you thought, that would throw off her due date. If she was truly pregnant and is now overdue, the bleeding could be a sign of a problem or an infection. Our third option is that your dog really is coming back in season, which could signal some sort of hormonal problem considering her last heat cycle was just two months ago.

I'd say that a trip to the vet is definitely in order. This way you can be sure of exactly what is going on, and get your dog the treatment she may need.

I do hope that everything works out, and thank you for your question. - posted by:Kelly

Thanks for the extra details. Yes, I do think it would be beneficial to let your vet examine that one significantly enlarged breast. She may be developing an infection that needs to be addressed.

Best of luck.

- posted by:Kelly

By "glands" do you mean your bitch's breasts? If so, you likely observe some increas in size as the breast tissue devops inpreparation for milk production. Some bitches even ebgin making milk, but I wouldn't expect to see a big difference until right before or after birth. Is there a possibility that you might have miscalculated her due date? I'd like you to read the following articles because I think you'll find the information helpful.

• Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

I would advise against checking your bitch for milk. Squeezing the nipples may only stimulate production, and this is not needed until the pups arrive.

Thanks for your question, and I hope all goes well with the delivery.

- posted by:Kelly

It's not a sure sign of pregnancy. Some dogs come into milk when they go through a false pregnancy.

You need to check your calendar and try to figure out when your dog was last in season. This will help you figure out how far along she might be if she is truly pregnant. Most breedings take place during the second week of the three week heat cycle. To get an approximate due date, count forward 63 days from the middle day of that week.

That said, you'll have to wait to see if she begins to show more Signs Of Dog Pregnancy. If she does, you may then want to ask your vet to try to confirm the pregnancy by ultrasound. If there are embryos, your vet should be able to give you an approximate due date based on their size.

Thanks for your question, and I hope things work out the way you want them to.

- posted by:Kelly

A home pregnancy test for women work work on dogs, but your vet can perform and ultrasound to detect the embryos. This test is especially useful because then you'll know how many pups to expect. This is good to know not only because you'll have a better idea of when the whelping is finished, but also in case of an emergency.

If this happens to be the first litter you've ever bred, you may find our article on Delivering Puppies quite useful.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for a healthy litter. - posted by:Kelly

Even if the male Rottie had bred the bitch earlier, it would only have made a few days difference. I don't think the bitch would have been showing and increased abdomin after just one week. Even at 28 days gestation, the embryos are only the size of peas. What you may have noticed is an increase in breast tissue. This could make the belly area appear a bit fuller.

To be on the safe side, you might even want to have your vet take a look at your dog. If she truly looks like her belly has enlarged significantly, there's a possibility that she may have a bladder infection developed from the breeding.

Best wishes, and I hope all goes well. - posted by:Kelly

The average dog pregnancy lasts about 63 days. Since you have a full year before you breed these dogs, you'll want to use the time wisely to learn everything you can about this subject. I'm going to suggest you read our following articles. They will really help you prepare.

• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding
• Dog Breeding
• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Pregnancy
• Delivering Puppies

Best of luck, and don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions. - posted by:Kelly

The temperature drop will typically go as low as 97 degrees F., and needs to stay that low for at least 12 hours for it to signal impending labor.

At this point, everything you're telling me sounds normal, so it's really just a waiting game. As long as your dog doesn't seem to be in distress there's no need for worry. Believe me, you'll be able to tell when she goes into the early stages of labor.

Good luck, and let us know how things turn out! - posted by:Kelly