LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Hi Tracy,

We have a great article that covers pregnancy week-by-week. Check out Canine Gestation. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is 46 days pregnant what should her signs be at this stage?

-- Contributed by: tracy

Hi Suzy, and welcome to the site.

In the early weeks it's mostly a guessing game, but we do have some more articles that I think will help. Check out Dog Pregnancy Symptoms and Canine Gestation.

I'd also like to invite you to join our Dogs forum. We have a section there about breeding and pregnancy where you can continue to receive advice and ask questions. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have found these comments very helpful. Our 4 year old Pomeranian ... is hopefully pregnant. She was mated with our male pom dog approximately 3 weeks ago and seems to be displaying some of the signs mentioned above, she is off her food a bit, seems to be sleeping a lot and her nipples do seem to be enlarged. I am new to dog breeding though so am not really sure if she is pregnant or not. Are there other signs I am maybe missing? Many thanks for your help. Suzy

-- Contributed by: Suzy

Hi Alex, I hope you are enjoying the site.

I'm not sure I'm following you about the worming medication you're giving your dog. Do you mean that you are giving it to her through the entire rest of the pregnancy? Most vets advise against worming a dog while pregnant, so you may want to double check with your vet. Also, it's fairly normal for a female to feel sick and go off her food during the first few weeks of pregnancy, but most will bounce back after about four weeks. I havn't read or experienced anything about a female only experiencing nausea from six weeks onward, but it is possible for a female to feel a little sick throughout the entire pregnancy.

Since you are a first timer, I'd like to recommend a few articles that I think you'll find helpful.

Good luck with the litter, and let us know how it turns out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My ...er Spaniel has been bread and we are expecting 6 puppies in 2 weeks time her nipples are larger than normal and she has been off her food for most of her pregnancy, she has become very protective towards the house, she has also been sick throughout her pregnancy from week 3 onwards , so some dogs are not only sick at 6weeks. It can be earlier....Our Vet has assured us that all is ok with her and we have started at 40 days to give her worming liquid until two days after whelpin and we are about to start her on whelping powder that you sprinkle over her food daily until 10 days after whelping....Hope this willhelp other that arte experienceing for the first time like us... looking forward to our 1st litter will let you know how we get on soon hopefully....Within the next 2weeks....

-- Contributed by: alex

Hi Apryl, and welcome to the site.

I can't be certain, but there's a possibility that your female was already in heat when you found her with that stray dog. However, this could still be another false pregnancy. Since one nipple has grown so much larger than the others, it might be a good idea to let your examine her to make sure she doesn't have a mastitis infection. The vet may also be able to tell whether or not your female is pregnant at that time. This is probably the best plan for right now, and then you can decide what to do next once your get the results of the exam.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know what you find out. We have a number of good articles on dog pregnancy if you find you have need of them. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

HI, I HAVE A 9/19 YEAR OLD PITBULL FEMALE. SHE HAD A FALSE PREGNANCY WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND STILL GOES IN HEAT EVERY SO OFTEN. ABOUT A MONTH IN A HALF AGO SHE GOT OUTSIDE AND WAS OUTSIDE FOR A WHILE, WHILE I WAS AT WORK. WHEN I GOT HOME SHE WAS OUT WITH A STRAY DOG IN THE BACKYARD. WELL SHE WENT IN HEAT NOT TO LONG AFTER SHE WAS LEFT OUTSIDE AND HASNT BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT ON HER OWN LATELY TO BE WITH ANY DOG SINCE. WELL NOW IVE NOTICED THAT HER NIPPLES ESPECIALLY ONE ARE VERY HUGE THAN NORMAL. HER PRIVATE AREA IS A LITTLE SWOLLEN TOO.SHE HAS GAINED JUST A TINY BIT OF WAIT, NO MOOD CHANGES OR EATING CHANGES. I WAS WONDERING IF SHE COULD BE PREGNANT WHCH WE DONT WANT, GOING IN HEAT AGAIN OR IF SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG. SHES NEVER LET ANY MALE DOGS MATE WITH HER EITHER. IVE TRIED BREEDING HER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND IT WASNT HAPPENING.

-- Contributed by: APRYL

Hi Nikki, and welcome to the site.

Since you just adopted this dog, the best thing you can do is take for a vet exam to make sure she's in good health. You can also ask your vet to test her for pregnancy. That way you'd know exactly what's going on and what you'd need to do for her. We have some great dog pregnancy articles on this. Here's a couple you should check out:

Thanks for your question, and good luck with everything. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

we just got a lab 4 days ago they said she was 1 year old her nipples look like she might be pregant and she licks them all the time i just want to know how i tell if she is going to have puppys

-- Contributed by: nikki

Hi Israel, and welcome to the site.

The size of the abdomen isn't always the best indicator of whether or not a dog is pregnant because a litter of just one or two pups doesn't show a lot of change. At 43 days gestation, you vet should be able to detect pregnancy hormones in the bloodstream with a simple blood test. This would take all the guess work out of it, and then you would know what you're dealing with. However, in another week, you may actually be able to feel some movement from the pups, so you may want to wait. Just continue treating your female as though she is pregnant because she may well be.

We have some great articles on this topic that I think you'll fing helpful. Check out:

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know what happens. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello my dog was mated 43 days ago.but she only showed few signs of being pregnant.she gets fat and become very affectionate.and she eats twice as much as what she eat before.but her stomach is still not big really it is just look like normal.and i noticed some discharge on her.but it was odorless and just stop after 2 days.i am confused really if she is pregnant or not.i stopped his training session as they said it was not good for the pregnant.but its been 43 days and she still doesnt have a big stomach.and she also didnt experience the morning sickness.so im confused please tell me

-- Contributed by: israel

Hi David,

I can't be 100 percent sure, but it doesn't sound like your dog is pregnant. The average pregnancy lasts anywhere from 58 to 67 days, with 63 days being the most common average. At 69 days, your dog would have most likely delivered by now. You might find our article on Dog Pregnancy Symptoms helpful because you can compare all of your dogs changes and get a better idea of whether or not she could be carrying a small litter. That said, the symptoms you mention might also be related to an undiagnosed health problem, so overall it might be better to schedule an exam with your vet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info points you in the right direction for determining what's going on. Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi my dalmatian dog was on heat and was mated 69 days ago.but i am not sure if she got pregnant.i dont know much about the signs.but she looks more bigger than her usual body.but her stomach doesnt look so big really it just look usual.she didnt have any morning sickness.but she is always panting though i only gave her a short walk she pants heavily.and she sleep on my bed now when no one is around.though before she didnt do it.please tell me if those signs means pregnancy

-- Contributed by: david

Hi Dory, and welcome to the site.

Determining whether or not a dog is pregnant can be difficult under the best of cir...stances. What I can tell you is that a two-day cycle isn't the norm. A heat cycle usually lasts for 21 days. So, either your female didn't have a normal cycle, or she could have been in heat longer and you just didn't realize it because her discharge lightened up significantly during ovulation.

Since you didn't actually witness a breeding, what I suggest is that you ask your vet to perform the progesterone blood test to check for pregnancy. That should hopefully take the guesswork out of the situion and give an idea of how to prepare.

We also have some great articles on site that may help. Check out:

Thanks for your question, and I hope this information helps. Good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I've been looking around for dog pregnancy information, but it just doesn't seem quite conclusive (though likely) to me that my dog is pregnant, so I would like a second opinion.

I have a fifteen month old pomeranian who's nipples and vulva are both extending noticeably, and who's apetite has also picked up signifigantly. She's been laying down a lot more than usual, also as well as losing her energy during play time and walks.

She went in to heat a month ago, but it only lasted two days, and in the past her heat cycle has lasted roughly a week and a half. During that time she was left alone with an unneutered dog for short periods of time, but no one knows if something happened during those times or not. I do know that I heard no strange sounds, but I also know that my dog has, to put it gently, a liking for male dogs and has even gone so far as to adjust their position in their attempts to mount her. Also, the male dog began showing her affections that he does not show the other dogs after the bleeding stopped.. allowing her to eat his food, for example, while growling at the husky-wolf hybrid (He's a long haired chihuahua)who tried to do the same.

I don't know how much of that is relevent, but I suppose it can't hurt to add extra information.

-- Contributed by: Dory

Hi Alma,

A swollen vulva can be a sign a dog is either in heat or coming into heat, but it can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Have you ever noticed any blood discharge? That's the surest sign of a heat cycle, but some females discharge very lightly, and some keep themselves so clean it's difficult to tell they're in season.

The signs you describe almost sound like your dog is in the early stages of pregnancy, but I can't be sure. Do you know if she's ever been around an unneutered male dog? Does she go outside alone to exercise? If so, she could have been bred by a dog if you didn't realize she was in season. Males can detect the scent of a female in heat, and they can be relentless about trying to reach her.

We have a couple of articles that offer more information. Check out Signs Of Dog Pregnancy and Canine Gestation. You can compare your dog's recent changes to the signs listed in these articles, and hopefully it will shed more light on the situation. You may also want to schedule and exam with your veterinarian to try to determing exactly what's going on.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know what you find out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Ive had my dog for 6 month, the vet told me she was about a year old, ive never known her was in heat but lately she has very little appitete, her nipples a big and she sleeps alot, when before she was very playful, she always wants to be next to me, she cuddles under me and her vulva is kinda big..

-- Contributed by: Alma

Hi Lisa,

A small amount of breast development is fairly normal for a dog that has been through her first heat cycle, and it's instigated by the flux in hormone levels. As long as she wasn't in contact with an unneutered male, it shouldn't be a sign of pregnancy. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My puppie is 9/12 months old and had her first heat she has lumps in her nipples what is that?

-- Contributed by: Lisa

Hi Tina,

At approximately six weeks gestation, your dog would be in that stage of a pregnancy where it is nearly impossible to palpate the uterus. At six weeks, the embryos would still be about the size of peas, but they would be getting ready to go into the growth spurt that will help them to gain size rapidly before birth. This could still be a false pregnancy, but an ultrasound should tell the story.

Sounds like your vet is taking the right approach, so let us know how the ultrasound turns out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly~

I had an appointment with my vet to verify if my dog is actually pregnant which the "accidental" breeding time was the week of January 12, 2009. According to the vet he wants to do an ultrasound next week but at this point he believes this is a false pregnancy. With the time frame of 6-7 weeks should there be some signs of puppies after feeling her abdomen? He also indicated the 2 rear breasts that are enlarged, 1 has a small cist and the other breast has decreased somewhat. Any input?

Thanks.

-- Contributed by: Tina

Hi Tina,

Yes, dogs can go through a false pregnancy, but the duration of the symptoms does vary. Some dogs go through a false pregnancy without any breeding activity at all, or at least unsuccessful breeding activity. This is due to a hormonal imbalance, and it usually only lasts a couple of weeks. In other cases, a fertilization did take place, but the embryos were absorbed for some reason. This is mother nature's way of dealing with a pregnancy when conditions are not right. In cases like this, it may appear that a false pregnancy lasts longer because an owner unknowingly includes the time the dog was actually carrying embryos. It also takes some time for the hormones to return to their normal levels so the signs of pregnancy go away.

Either way, there's usually nothing you need to do for a dog in this condition other than make sure she gets mild exercise and fresh air. Both serve to take her mind off the situation, especially if she "adopts" a toy or another item as a surrogate puppy. However, don't hesitate to contact your vet if the situation goes on for more than a month after onset, or if the dog begins to display other symptoms that cause concern.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly~

I understand that dogs can go thru a "false pregnancy" with ALL of the signs of an actual pregnancy, but in turn, are not pregnant. How long do "false pregnancies" last? Any information you have would be more than greatful.

Tina

-- Contributed by: Tina

Hi Tina,

Good questions. Let's address the size of your dog's abdomen first. Until about six weeks gestation, the pups aren't much bigger than peas. From six weeks on, they increase dramatically in size, and this is when most pet owners notice their dog really fill out. So, it's still possible she is pregnant even if she doesn't show much just yet.

As for those rear breasts, they naturally develop first, and they usually become larger than the breasts that are closer to the chest. Yes, they could just be slightly enlarged due to the recent heat cycle, but they could also be a sign of pregnancy, so you'll need to continue keeping watch. We have another article about Canine Gestation that helps track some of the bodily changes mom goes through during the pregnancy. You might find that info helpful too.

Hope this info helps. Keep in touch and let us know what you find out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly~

Thank you for your response regarding the possibility if my dog may be pregnant. I have one last question, it has been about 30 days since she "may have bred" during her heat cycle. I did look at her abdomen area along with placing my hands on her stomach/abdomen area/under her rib area and did not feel anything out of the ordinary. I guess the only thing that concerns me are the nipples in the lower area that looks like "bulbs" and her other nipples appear to be normal. The weight gain is not excessive but I can tell she has increased a couple of pounds. Can the two nipples that are causing concern possibly look that way from her heat cycle....and does the heat cycle cause certain changes in dogs?

Thanks again Kelly.

-- Contributed by: Tina

Hi Tina,

It sounds like there could be a small chance your dog is pregnant. We have two very good articles on this topic that I'd like you to read. Check out Signs Of Dog Pregnancy and Dog Pregnancy Symptoms.

Additionally, your vet can check for pregnancy with a simple blood test performed about three weeks after the end of the heat cycle.

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to come back if you need more info.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,

I'm concerned my dog may be pregnant. This is my first female dog, so I am not very familiar with pregnant dogs. My concern is her nipples (within the lower area) seem to be somewhat enlarged. When pressing them they appear to feel like small "bulbs". She has always had enlarged nipples. Her heat cycle ended 2 weeks ago but within her heat cycle another dog wandered into our back yard and this incident happened a month ago. I did not actually see the dogs "together" from the time frame in which I just let her out to releive herself and get some fresh air. She also appears to show weight gain. Please provide any info to help try to figure out if she may be pregnant?

Thanks.

Tina

-- Contributed by: tina

Hi Faye,

If you immediately ran after your dog when she disappeared behind the fence and she wasn't already engaged with that other dog, chances are excellent that no breeding took place. At least in that instance. If the dog has been hanging around and your female was out unsupervised, it could be a different story. You can keep an eye on her just to be on the safe side, but you probably have nothing to worry about thanks to your quick action.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,

I have a 3 year old American Bull. Her heat cycle was approximately 3 weeks ago. I allowed her out to relieve herself when she ran behind the back yard fence (which is unusual for her to do). When I went to retrieve her I noticed there was another small dog she was around. I did not see them intertwined, and she does not take well to other dogs, but she was in the same vicinity of the other dog without being aggressive. I am very concerned she may be pregnant due to the 5 seconds she ran from me. She has been her normal self, playing, eating, but her belly seem to appear a little larger than normal, and she has always had larger nipples than the average dog where she appears to be is pregnant every since she was 6 months old. Please advise.

Faye

-- Contributed by: Faye

Hi Linda,

I wouldn't worry too much about the false pregnancy throwing off your dog's heat cycle too much, although dogs rarely come into heat like clockwork. It might be wise to allow a couple extra weeks leeway just to be on the safe side. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello I have a 2 1/2 year old yorkie that went in heat around the first of October, the first of December I took her to the vet. to have her checked. and she was in false pregnancy. (I was sad) my question is will this throw her heat cycle off? I want to hopefully breed her succesfully next time. and need to plan our vacation around her cycle/pregnancy The things we do for the love of our dogs. Thank you, Linda

-- Contributed by: false pregnancy and heat cycle

Hi Derick,

Your dog's heat cycle will continue as normal until it has finished, even if the breeding was successful. The average heat cycle is about three weeks from start to finish, with a lightening of discharge during that second week. You can learn more about this in our article on Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding.

Thanks for your question, and be sure to come back for more info if it turns out she is pregnant. With have a lot of info that can help you through every stage. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello, i have a mix daschaund and chiauia and bred her with a full blood mini pin and was wondering if she can still bleed if she is pregnant or how long she will bleed after she is pregnant? thanks alot Derick

-- Contributed by: derick h

Hi Joanne,

The heat cycle continues to the finish whether or not a breeding led to fertilization. This means it would be best to treat your dog as though she is pregnant for the time being. Your vet can perform a simple blood test to check for pregnancy around three weeks after the heat cycle ended.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 5 year-old, female yorkshire-terrier. I think she "tied" with another male at about 10 days into her heat-cycle. I thought she might be pregnant, but she was still bleeding like it was toward the end of the cycle (bright red discharges) and she started eating well after few days after mating. If she did not stop bleeding after mating, does that mean she is not pregnant?

Thank You.

-- Contributed by: Joanne

Hi Jessie,

Becoming a vet is fantastic goal. You'll be able to help many pets, and you'll also have a very secure financial income. Hang on to that dream!

Did you know that a vet can do a blood test to check for pregnancy? The test can be carried out approximately three weeks after the heat cycle ends. At 20-30 days gestation, your dog won't show too much sign of being pregnant, so the test is the quickest way to know what's going on.

Thanks for your question, and do continue to check out the site. We cover a lot of topics related to dog care.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My girl dog looks like she is going to have pups. I have a nother girl and a boy and he has tryed but im no sure dut she has milk. I think she is but my mom and dad dont think she is. Its been a 20-30 days since but it may be fack. so can you help me im 12 and want to be a vet and i hope im right.

-- Contributed by: jessie

Hi Trisha,

A drop in appetite is typical for many females in the early stages of pregnancy, but the problem should resolve over the next two weeks. Just keep a close eye on your dog to make sure that this doesn't turn out to be indication of an illness. It's also normal for her to be a bit more tired, but you know your dog better than anyone. If you begin to feel this is more than a pregnancy-related issue, don't hesitate to give your vet a call. My hunch is that everything is going to be alright.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with the upcoming birth. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My black lab was mated 28 days ago. I have not had confirmation of pregnancy from my vet yet. She has been refusing to eat except very small amounts of food for the last 3 days, Is this normal?

-- Contributed by: trisha

Hi Becky,

It's definitely a possibility, but your vet can perform a blood test to tell you for sure.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi my dog was saw matting with another dog around march 10th she has a disstinded stomach and is making milk do you think she is going to have puppys?

-- Contributed by: Becky

Hi Abbey,

Breast enlargement after a heat cycle is sometimes a sign of pregnancy, but it's not a sure thing. If your dog's breasts haven't reduced by three weeks from now, you might want to ask your vet to perform a blood test for pregnancy.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I first noticed that our dog was in heat about 3 weeks ago, and now i am beginning to notice that her breast are increasing in size. They are alot larger than they were a few days ago. I do not recall that she has had any sexual contact with any dogs. Is she pregnant?

-- Contributed by: abbey

my dog mated 2 days ago while in heat she is a maltease and she mated with a yorkie they mated over a 3 hour period off and on but i never actually seen them tie could she be pregnant and how soon will she start to show signs? she follows me around constantly and is really ...y with our other family dog her behavior is off. thanx

Hi Jenn,

It's too soon to tell if the mating will be fruitful, but your vet can perform a blood test to detect pregnancy about two weeks after your dog completes her cycle.

For more information, visit Signs Of Dog Pregnancy. This article will help you recognize some of the most typical signs to watch for in the coming weeks.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Jenn

my gsd got tied on the 13th day for 25min is she pregnant.

Hi Gemma,

A tie is not a guarantee of pregnancy, but it's nice to get one if you can. Your vet can tell if your dog is pregnant with a simple blood test.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Gemma

I first noticed our lab was in heat the 2 day of Jan. Her vulva was really swolen and she even bleed alittle. She was seen at least 3 time within the next week with our neighbors choc lab. I'm sure she is pregnant and now has milk in her last 6 teats. Is there anyway you could tell me about when the puppies will be here.

Hi Stephanie,

If your dog was in heat at the beginning of January, she'll likely deliver near the beginning of March. If you can remember at least one of the dates you saw her breed with the neighbor's dog, you can count forward 63 days from that date to get an approximate due date. That's about as close as I can estimate, but if you allow your vet to perform an ultrasound, he/she can use the pups' gestational size to determine how far along they are.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Stephanie

OK.. my dad recently gave me his dog and now she has milk coming from her teats and is very sleepy and always nesting in blankets and im not to sure if shes pregnant shes got a slightly swollen vaginal area. I have no idea if shes been in heat recently

Hi Arielle,

The surest way to find out what's going on is to have your vet perform a blood test. This will reveal whether or not your dog is pregnant, or it could indicate if anything else is going on.

Thanks for your question and best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Arielle

my dog can't be pregnant, she hasn't been around any male dogs, but her tits look like they have milk. What could this be?

Hi Tina,

If your bitch isn't spayed, she might be experiencing a false pregnancy. Did she recently have a heat cycle? If so, then this is probably what is going on, and it's nothing to worry about. The symptoms should subside in a few weeks, and then she'll be back to normal.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: tina

Hi there Kelly, I have a beautiful Jack Russell she is about a year and a half. She went into heat last month and escaped the back yard. She is deffeinitly a bit thicker and her tummy is pretty firm. She has never been a big dog always very trim. Is there any other way of knowing if she is pregnant? I can't get her into my vet until after Christmas because they are booked solid. I am scared I am going to wake up with a surprise under my tree! I just don't want her to get hurt if she ended up mating with a larger breed.

Hi Tina,

You don't need to totally switch vets, but you could call around to see if another office has an opening to have your btich examined. This would help you prepare for a litter.

I'd recommend an ultrasound because this would help determine the size of the pups and whether or not your bitch might require a C-section.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Tina

My beautful yorkie , Hina, is 23 days pregnant. She has not wanted to eat much of anything the last 2 days. Is this normal?.... I've tried all her favorite foods, and she just turns her nose up.....Thanks , Patsy

Expert Reply

Hi Patsy,

Some bitches do go off their food for a bit, but you can usually tempt them to eat something.

Tell me, has your bitch been eating well up to this point? If so, then I wouldn't worry too much at this point. As long as she is drinking water she should be alright for another day or so. If she stops drinking, take her to the vet right away.

In the meantime, let's see what we can do to tempt her to eat. First, have you tried feeding her chicken? I would boil it and add a little brown rice for good measure. Let it cool down and serve it with some of the broth. Most dogs find this meal hard to resist. You could also try preparing ground beef or lamb the same way.

Will your dog eat cottage cheese? If so, this is a very good calcium supplement. Let her have as much as she wants if you can get her to take it.

We also have a very tempting recipe for "Little Man Meat Loaf" in our article on How to Cook for Your Dog. I hope at least one of these suggestions turns out to be helpful to you. If your bitch doesn't start eating again within the next two days, you may want to take her in for a vet check to make sure there is nothing else wrong.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck with the coming litter.

-- Contributed by: Patsy

Hi Kelly, Princes my lab/ setter (have asked you questions before on this pregnancy) first tied on Sept 24 and the last tie we saw was on the 27th. We did ultrasound about 3 weeks ago and counted 4 sacs. did x-ray yesterday and counted 7 skulls but based on there size, my vet thinks rather than only a week left more like 2 weeks if not bit longer. Dad is a Cane Corso Mastiff, so obviously worried that the pups may be too big for her. Is it possible to go that much longer? even our vet was surprised they were so small because she has really bulked out in the last 2 weeks. I ws going to start watching her temp this weekend but now not sure when should start. any suggestions? Thanks Debbie

Expert Reply

Hello again Debbie,

There's a possibility that these pups are the result of the last known breeding, but could your male have possibly bred her after that without your knowing?

With that in mind, the sperm can actually live and continue to fertilize eggs up to five days after the last breeding. If your bitch happens to release eggs very late in her cycle, this could account for why your vet is judging your bitch to be an additional week away from delivering than previously thought.

As long as she isn't showing any obvious signs of distress, I wouldn't worry too much. I have bred Chihuahuas to Chihuahuas and still had to have C-sections performed because the bitch could not pass the pups. It's not fun, but C-sections are fairly routine in dog breeding.

Keep a close eye on her from her original due date forward. She just might surprise you.

Thanks for your question, and let us know what happens.

-- Contributed by: Debbie

my dog is also leaking milk but she was breed about 3 months ago and nothing. how long till the next heat and will the leaking affect her next heat

Expert Reply

Hi Jess,

Leaking three months after a heat cycle is unusual, so I think it would be a good idea to let your vet examine your dog. It sounds as though she might have a slight hormonal imbalance going on.

Typically, you can expect a heat cycle every six months, so according to the info you provided, your dog should come in season in about another three months. That said, if the current leaking is hormone related, it may put her cycle off a bit.

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

-- Contributed by: jess

Hi Crystal,

The easiest way to confirm or rule out if your dogs are pregnant is to ask your vet to perform an ultrasound on both of them. Since they would both be around 28 days gestation, your vet may try to feel the embryos first by palpating your bitches' uteruses. If that isn't possible, the the ultrasound is the next step.

Thanks for your question. Best wishes for healthy puppies.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly and Char,

I think this is worth a trip to the vet. Your bitch might have a single puppy litter. Sometimes it is harder for a bitch to deliver a single pup because there are no other pups behind it to help push the first one out. This is even more difficult for large breeds, since there is so much more room.

Your vet will be able to confirm if there is a puppy in there. If there isn't, he or she will be able to diagnose if it was a false pregnancy or if something went wrong.

My best wishes for you and your dog.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have two rat terrier/ chi mix an i tried to breed one of them an they both got breeded. but i'm not sure. there still both seeping, from the tits. the bellies are kinda mushy and hard. its been maybe a month ago. one of them has been throwin up foam. still quite active. they sleep more though. i haven't really gotten the right answers if there is. to know if they are. or one of them. thanks.

-- Contributed by: crystal

I'm worried that my femlae Akita is pregant and not sure if i should take her to the vet's or wait. She was bred by my male 64 days ago She has gotten a little bigger and her vulva is swollen and she breast tissue is filling in her eating habbits have changed and her temp runs between 100.4 and last night it jumped to 101. she don't look as fat/full as she did .......char

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My akita female was bred by my male august 17 and she is 64 days she has a swollen vulva and it lite pink and she has swollen breast tissue , but i can't feel any pups . I have felt a flutter 3 different times in the last 2 weeks but she don't look very big! what do you think?

-- Contributed by: Char

Hi Rob,

Typically you'll begin to notice a dramatic increase in the size of a pregnant's bitch's belly approxiamtely two weeks before delivery as the pups move down from under the ribs. The pups tend to become quite active lining up a few days before delivery and then are rather quiet that last twenty four hours before birth.

If you marked your dog's heat cycle on your calendar, count forward 63 days from her 12th day in heat, and this should give you a good idea of when she will deliver. Just to be on the safe side, prepare a box now for her to whelp in so she can get used to using it. You'll also want to have some clean towels on hand to wipe the pups down with during delivery.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find the info useful. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi kelley, My dog zia is preganant no doubt about it.. but i do not know the exact date she and my male bred and it took.. My question is about how far along in the pregnancy do the puppies start to move back? the belly is not as large but it is because pups are moving towards teh exit.. I just do not know when to expect them.. can you help me?

-- Contributed by: Rob

Hi Teresa,

It's more likely that she's having a false pregnancy if the male never entered her. I think you should take her in to your vet to have her palpated on the 28th day from that breeding. This will determine if the vet can feel any embryos.

You might also discuss with the vet whether you should breed such a tiny Chi. Usually, we don't breed the undersized Chihuahua bitches because they can have such a difficult time delivering a litter naturally, and they aren't good candidates for anesthesia. Typically "teacup" types are sold strictly as pets. I'm just concerned that you may loose her during the whelping. If your vet gives the go ahead to breed her then you can proceed with caution.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a question of my own if you don't mind! My name is Teresa and I own a choclate Tea cup Chihuahau. She was in heat and I put her with a male chihauhau but never saw them get stuck together. He was mounting her and his private part was completely out. It's been two weeks and her teats are hard and swollen. I'm still not sure because it never looked like anything got in when he mounted her.Could she still be pregnant? (thanks for any information you can give to me)

-- Contributed by: Teresa
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