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Hi Gisellen,

That's fairly natural to see some discharge like this during the course of the pregnancy. It's nothing to worry about unless the mucus starts turning darker in color or it emits a foul odor. As long as that's not happening, it sounds like things are moving along as they should. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my dog is having a clear to sometimes milky discharge what oes this mean she is five weeks

-- Contributed by: Gisellen123@aol.com

Hi Dana,

I'm sorry to hear about the lost puppy, and I do think this is worth a call your vet to discuss what happened. I can't say for sure what happened with that single pup, but the main concern right now is whether the birth canal is still open. If it is, it could lead to a uterine infection. I really think you should have your vet examine your dog to find out exactly what's going on. Please let us know what you find out because I haven't encountered a situation like this in over 20 years of breeding, and I think we could all learn from it.

Best wishes that the rest of the litter will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Sorry My name is Dana not Hi, with the 2yr old shih tzu

-- Contributed by: Dana

I have a pregnant 2 yr old Shih Tzu, this is her 2nd litter, Everything went fine the first time....Today she is 7 days away from her due date, Yesterday (when she was 8 days away) she had one puppy. It was still born. She is not in labor or showing any signs of labor. The other puppies are moving and kicking inside her. When the one pup came out, I thought she was pooping, she thought she was too. She was in that position, when it came out. But she never turned and looked at it or nothing. She is acting normal she is still eating, playing, going to potty. I took her temp yesterday afterwards and it was 99.8. Today her temp is exactly 101...... The puppy had the sack on it, I tore it open, It did not have any hair, but it looked fully developed as far as features, it had ears, head, body, arms, legs, tail, tongue,even toe nails. It was about 4 1/2 to 5 inches long. But it wasnt like a normal puppy when they are just born, it was really soft and squishy like. My husband said it may have been outside the womb or not in the same area as the other puppies and her body aborted or rejected it or something like that.

-- Contributed by: Hi

Hi Tina,

I can't be certain, but it sounds like one of the placentas may have separated from the uterine wall. You usually don't want to see green discharge this early in the pregnancy, although it's usually harmless when it appears near the end. The slightly elevated temperature, along with the discharge, indicates some infection, so it's difficult to say if the entire litter will be affected. The best thing you can do is keep a close eye on your dog for any changes, and keep in close contact with your vet. I really hope this all works out for the best. Keep us posted.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi,My bull mastiff is pregnant but at 2 weeks she started to bleed followed by a green greemy discharge took her to the vets she has a slightly raised temp she has been put on antibioticks she is about 24 days into the pregnancy will she lose the pupps

-- Contributed by: Tina

Hi Alyson,and welcome.

The pregnancy hormones tend to soften up the ligaments a bit in preparation for the delivery ahead. However, the extra weight of carrying a litter can sometimes cause a mild, yet undetected problem to show up. Right now, your vet will want to wait until after the pups are delivered to examine your dog's hips. Hopefully the problem will correct itself after your dog regains her tone. If the clicking continues after that, it will be time for your vet to take a look at what's going on.

Thanks for your question, and I hope that everything turns out alright. Let us know about the litter. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I think my staffy is pregnant. She has swollen teats and put on a bit of weight, but not much. Her abdomen feels quite firm but I can't feel anything else. If she is pregnant I think she will be due within the next 10 days. But I think I have a problem. In the last few days I have noticed her hips are clicking. I know women can get hip displasia when pregnant, is it the same in dogs? Please help, as I don't know very much about ...es.

-- Contributed by: alyson nmccracken

Hi Hunter,

Many dogs have C-sections for a variety of reasons, but vets typically resort to the procedure when a dog is unable to push her pups through the pelvic opening. Like any surgery, there are risks involved, and anesthesia can cause complications. However, the procedure is fairly routine for most vets. Several of my Chihuahuas have needed C-sections, and they came through the procedure just fine. Although the tummy will be tender, healing happens quickly and my dogs were still able to nurse their pups.

Each situation is different, and it is better to let a dog deliver on her own if she can. However, a C-section is certainly a viable alternative when called for.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,my ... is pregnant and is in her last 3 weeks or so. What I want to know is whether surgically removing the pups would be a good idea? ( due to various reasons) Would this affect her health badly? Our vet is ok about it. What is your opinion? Many thanks.-Hunter

-- Contributed by: Hunter72

Hi Sharne,

I think you're right about the continued nausea. Just like women, some dogs have a harder time with pregnancy than others. I'd be careful about letting your dog get to the plants just in case she gets ahold of something toxic. Make sure you're not treating your grass with any fertilizer or weed control products at this time. Also keep your dog from eating any grass near the road because exhaust fumes settle on it.

At week seven, you're just about in the home stretch. The clear discharge is completely normal, so don't worry about that. Restlessness can also be somewhat normal due to discomfort, especially if this turns out to be a large litter. Just continue to feed your dog well and keep an eye on her. If you truly suspect there's a problem, don't ignore your instincts. Just schedule a check up with your vet to discuss what's going on. Overall, it sounds like things are progressing fairly normally. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, my working ...ers spaniel is in week 7. This is her first time (well for us both!). She is eating tons of grass and any plants she can get hold of. She pulled my thyme out of it's pot as well as some bedding plants. She then just throws it all up again. 2-3 times this morning. She also has a clear discharge from her vulva. I know morning sickness occurs in week 2-3..but is this normanl. She is also very restless. I'm really panicky ~ a bit over protective I know..but any comments woudl be most helpfull. Many thanks Sharne

-- Contributed by: Morning sickness in week 7

Hi Tina,

You would likely see some bloody disharge if your dog were miscarrying, but I think what you described sounds more like a urinary tract infection. It's not uncommon for a dog to come down with a UTI after breeding. It would probably be best to take your dog in for an exam to find out exactly what's going on. If this is a UTI, your dog will need an antibiotic to get rid of it.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

we think our dog is abut 4 weeks and today we noticed blood i her urine and i am not sure but how would you know if she misscaried.

-- Contributed by: tina

Hi Wendy,

Many females experience a lack of appetite at some point in their pregnancy, but it concerns me that you describe your dog as very lethargic. It's natural for pregnant females to slow down a bit, but serious lethargy could be a sign of illness. I recommend you ask your vet to examine your dog as soon as possible. You can't be too careful at this point. Please let us know what you find out. Best wishes that all will be well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, my dog is approx 4 weeks pregnant, pomeranian. She is been very lethargic and off her food especially in the last 3 - 4 days. Now her back legs are twitching even when she isn't asleep. Can you please advise me if this is normal.

-- Contributed by: Wendy

Hi Samantha,

A small amount of blood like this passed during a pregnancy may indicate that one of the placentas pulled away a little from the uterine lining. There's not much to do about it except try to limit rambunctious behavior a bit. It probably won't have any lasting effect on the pregnancy, but do call your vet if it happens again and/or there is a greater amount of bleeding.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My ... is almost 3 weeks pregnant with her second litter. I noticed a dark blood discharge for one day which has now stopped. Is it ok for a small amount of blood to be passed so early in the pregnancy? Her last litter was without complications

-- Contributed by: Samantha

Hi Mindi,

It might help to offer your dog several small meals to see if that helps her hold them down. This phase should pass soon, but it is distressing to watch our dogs go through it. If she continues to throw up everything, be sure to give your vet a call.

Best wishes that your dog rebounds very soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog is about 2 weeks preg I hope anyways it was a planned breeding but last time we had a false preg hence the I hope. This time she has started vomiting every time she eats this has been going on for 4 days now. Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: Mindie

Hi Patti,

These last days always seem like the longest. I can't be sure, but there's a possibility that your dog didn't take on the exact day of the breeding. Sometimes the eggs aren't quite ripe when a breeding takes place, so the sperm attach themselves to the lining and wait for the eggs to release a chemical signal the moment they are ready. Once the signal comes, they race to fertilize the eggs. This can actually happen several days after the breeding, and it actually pushes back the expected due date.

As for the temperature fluctuation, that is very typical. What you want to see is a drop down to about 97 F that stays there for two readings. Once that happens, labor should begin within 24 hours. There's not much else you can do at this point but try to keep your dog comfortable. Make sure her whelping box is set up, and have your supplies on hand. If you haven't already read our article on Delivering Puppies, you might want to read it now. It has a lot of good information that you might need in a pinch, so be sure to bookmark it so you can find it easily in a hurry.

That's about it for now, but do keep in touch and let us know how things turn out. Don't hesitate to come back with more questions. We'll do all we can to help. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Pit is 66 days pregnant, her temp goes from 99.7 to 98.0 day to day for the last week. She looks miserable and pants and stays to herself alot, but no puppies yet..What could be taking so long for her to go into labor and how can i help her along?

-- Contributed by: Patti

Hi Heather,

Some females can become more pushy about eating when they're pregnant, but since there was a previous behavior problem on this issue, you'll have to be extra careful. I recommend feeding your female by herself, and give her a generous portion so she has her fill. Hopefully she'll realize there is more than enough food and there's no need for the aggression. Continue to work with her as you did before to reinforce the positive behavior she was displaying before the possible pregnancy.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and best wishes that it all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello...My female pit recently "broke into" our males pen while in heat. My husband witnessed them stuck together so I can only assume that she is now pregnant. That would make her two weeks along now. I noticed today that she was showing signs of food aggression. She is a rescue that I had worked tooth and nail to get over that exact problem. She has been so well for a good time now! Is this something that can happen when pregnant? Or do I have bigger problems on my hands?

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me!

-- Contributed by: Heather

Hi Jim,

Yes, actually any breed of dog can produce a pup that is too big for mom to pass, but toy dogs can be especially at risk.

Your vet can take an X-ray about five days before your dog's due date to check the size of the puppies' skulls and assess whether your dog might have any trouble delivering. Additionally, you should watch your dog during labor. If she pushes hard for more than an hour, it's time to seek your vet's assistence.

We have an article that I think you'll find helpful. Visit Delivering Puppies, and please don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions. We'll try to help in any way we can. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Can a dog (yorkie) have pups that are to big to deliver. And how can you tell if this may be the case.

-- Contributed by: Jim

Hi Sam,

If you're sure your dog was completely out of heat, she shouldn't have been able to breed. A male may have mounted her due to the lingering scent, but I doubt he would have been able to penetrate.

However, if you mistook the second week of the heat cycle (the one where discharge lightens to almost non-extistent) as the end of her heat cycle, there's a chance she still could have bred and conceived a litter. If you have any doubt at all about where she was in her heat cycle at the time of her escape, it would be a good idea to have the vet perform a blood test a couple of weeks from now. A blood test will reveal pregnancy hormones if they are present.

Thanks for your question, and I hope it all turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my ... has been out of season about 1 wk and unfortunatly escaped out of my garden, she was found with another dog and was wet at the back end, could she be pregnant, this was only last wk but her temperment is quieter than usually, she is sleeping far more and relaxing rather than been energetic and playfull like she usually is, she is healthy and i know she has no health probs all vaccinations r upto date,

-- Contributed by: sam

Hi Connie,

It's certainly worth a check with your vet. Some meds aren't suitable to use during pregnancy while other cause no problem. Better to be safe than sorry, so go ahead and give your vet a call.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy litter. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my boston terrier is expecting. I wondered if it will harm the puppies if she continues to take her allergy medication

-- Contributed by: connie

Hi Zed,

Good observation. This kind of behavior following delivery is often indicate of a problem. I can't be certain, but it sounds like your dog may have retained either a placenta or a dead pup. The very best thing you can do is take her to the vet right away. The vet will take her temperature to check for a fever and palpate the uterus to see if anything can be felt. He/She may decide to administer a shot of pitocen to make the uterus contract and evacuate any remaining contents. Your dog may also need to be on antibiotics to quash a possible infection.

Thanks for your question, and be sure to call the vet right away.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my mongral has had her pups 24 hrs ago, they r fine n feeding, but she is anxious shivering n whining.. wot coukd b wrong?

-- Contributed by: zed

Hi Concerned Mom,

It sounds like your dog might have absorbed the embryos. This can happen if conditions aren't right to sustain the pregnancy. You'll seldom see a sign of anything going on. The pregnancy just seems to go away. I once had a female absorn her litter, and there was virtually no sign that anything was going on.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I was told by our vet that my maltese t cup was pregnant. A few weeks later we did an ultrasound and was told that they anticipated that she would give birth to four puppies. She was due by the third week of september but nothing happened. She seems fine. We took her back to the vet and she told us that she's NOT pregnant! Now're they saying she must have had a miscarriage. We've never noticed any discharge or anything that would indicate that. I'm extremely worried and dont know whats going on with her.

-- Contributed by: Concerned Mom!

Hi Melissa,

Your dog may not have lost any puppies yet, but that blood is likely a sign of a complication. This is sometimes seen when one of the placentas tears away slightly from the uterus. You best option is to give your vet a call to let him/her know what's happening. The vet may want you to bring your dog in for an exam to try to determine the cause of the bleeding and just how serious it might be.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I do hope that everything will turn out alright. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I hvae a female St Bernard that i mated 4 weeks ago,but in the last day or so i have noticed some blood coming from her vulva, not alot like when she was on heat and it seams thicker and darker. Has she lost her pups??

-- Contributed by: Melissa

Hi John,

The substance you're seeing is mostly likely blood. There's a possibility that one of the placentas has pulled a little bit away from the uterine lining. While your female may still be able to go full term, this is a good reason to contact your vet, just to be sure nothing more serious is going on.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that all turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, We have a 9 year old lab who is pregnant and we think she is close to or about two weeks out from having puppies, the question she has a brown runny discharge that has been coming out for a day now and it is getting all over. She continues to lick her vulva area and the carpet where she has laided what is this and should we call a vet?

-- Contributed by: john

Hi Amber,

I'm glad to know that you do have your vet on the case. I suspect that one of the placentas has pulled away from the uterus a little, and this is probably the cause of the bleeding. I think if you keep you dog quiet and limit her exercise, she should be able to go full term. Keep in mind that the bleeding could be related to the UTI, but your vet would probably have told you that if it was what he/she suspected.

All of that said, this is a situation that needs to be monitored, so be sure to let your vet know the bleeding has started again. If the bleeding is slow, there's probably not too much your vet will want to do at this point. If the bleeding becomes heavier and turns bright red, you'll want to take your dog to the vet straight away.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and please let us know how things turn out. I'll keep thinking good thoughts for you.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My pregnant b**** is having vaginal bleeding that started this past Wed. I have had her to 2 different vets for treatment, but neither seems to know what the cause is.

She was sonogramed last Sat. and again on Wed. and the pups are still viable and appear to be doing well. A vaginal swab and as well as an exam were also performed on Wed.

The vet that did the sonogram, exam and swab doesn't appear to be to concerned as the pups seem to be fine. However, this just doesn't seem normal to me and I am concerned for my b**** and the pups.

She stopped bleeding on Wed. evening and there was not bleeding Thurs. or Friday. However, she has begun bleeding again today.

She is being treated for a UTI with Amoxicillin. She is not running a fever and is eating/drinking and otherwise acting normally.

The discharge is a dark reddish/rust color. She is 43 days along, and they said that the earliest we could do an emergency c-section and have the pups be viable is at 55 days.

This is my b****'* first pregnancy. She is 4 - almost 5 years old.

-- Contributed by: Amber

Hi Sylvia,

Brown discharge from the vulva might indicate a small drainage of old blood. This could come from a partial separation of one of the placentas from the uterine lining. Such discharge might also indicate a urinary tract infection. Whatever the cause, it would be a good idea to notify your vet about what you've observed and see if he/she wants you to bring your dog in for an exam. This might turn out to be a situation that doesn't require any treatment, but it's always better to err on the side of caution.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the pregnancy continues without further complications. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I have a bullmastiff ... who had a healthy litter of pups a year and a half ago. We have bred her now again but it will be her last, if she is pregnant she would be nearly 4 weeks, however i have noticed this morning that there is a few drops of brown discharge coming from her vulva, i dont remember this happening the last time. Is this normal or should i take her to the vet just to be sure, any advice u can give will b much appreciated. many thanks sylvia.

-- Contributed by: sylvia

Hi Jennifer,

This could be a false pregnancy, but it could also be a single pup litter that took several days to fertilize after the last breeding. To be on the safe side, I'd ask your vet to examine your dog's uterus to see if even a single puppy can be felt. At least that way you'll know whether you can stop worrying or if there is anything else that needs to be done.

Best wishes for a happy outcome.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi my bijon friese is about 4 weeks into her pregnancy. She has went off her dog food altogether now and is being a little sick like the bile. I have been giving her liver as its the only thing she has been eating.could you tell me if this is normal, or is there vitamins or somethng else i could give her . She is still active and not showing any signs of being unwell. thank you .

-- Contributed by: louise caw

my dog was bred exactly 65 days ago and she still hasn't had her pups. is something wrong? she has grown tits but really didn't widen in her belly...is this a sign of a false prgnancy?

-- Contributed by: jennifer

Hi Cody,

Typically a pregnant dog only needs to see the vet once in the beginning for an initial pregnancy exam to confirm the pregnancy and make sure the dog is in good health. Unless there's a need for a C-section, the next visit comes after the litter is delivered. Here the vet will feel the uterus to make sure that all pups and placentas have been expelled. The vet may also choose to administer a pitocen shot to help the uterus finish contracting, as well as an antibiotic to ward off a potential uterine infection. That's about all that is required. As for prices, you'll need to consult directly with your vet.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have an Olde English Bulldogge who I believe may be pregnant. I was wondering how often I should take her to the vet and how costly the vet bills will be assuming she doesn't need a c section.

-- Contributed by: Cody

Hello, My pregnant dog (shih tzu) was at the dog groomers today and had a seizure. I was wondering if that could effect her puppies? Shes 7 weeks along today. Thank you

Hi Josh,

How frigthening. I hope the puppies aren't affected by the incident. A seizure can sometimes reduce the oxygen supply, which can result in retardation. This won't necessarily happen to your litter, but it is something to watch for.

I can't say for sure what caused the seizure, but it could have been a reaction to one or more of the ingredients in the products the groomer used. I would suspect this especially if your dog has never had a seizure before. My advice is to get the list of products used and their ingredients from the groomer, and go over this list with your vet to see if any of the ingredients might be suspect.

That said, this isn't necessarily the groomer's fault. There's no way to predict what a dog will have a reaction to until it happens. I'm just glad your dog came out of it.

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

-- Contributed by: Josh

I have a female english bulldog who may be about 30 days into her pregnancy. I have been noticing a clear pinkish or red discharge. What's going on with her? This is her 2nd litter and the 1st was completely fine.

Hi Jody, it sounds like she may have picked up a urinary tract infection from the breeding. The best thing to do is let your vet check it out.

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

-- Contributed by: Jody

My dog is pregnant and going through her morning sickness phase, and she has not had anything to eat in two days. She is drinking small amounts of water and is peeing very little. Should I be worried or is this just a phase?

Hi Amy,

It's a good thing that she is still drinking water because at least she won't dehydrate. If she doesn't begin eating in another day, it would be best to call your vet and get his opinion about the situation, and if this is still pregnancy related. If indeed your dog does have great difficulty with this pregnancy, I would suggest having her spayed after the litter is weaned.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the situation improves.

-- Contributed by: Amy

My dog just had puppies two weeks ago and she is showing signs of bloody leakage. Is this normal discharge or should I be worried?

Hi Paige,

While bloody discharge is normal after a delivery, you should expect to see it lighten up every day until it is gone. If this sounds like what you have been observing then it should be finished very soon. However, if the bleeding has suddenly begun to get heavy again, this is cause to take your bitch to the vets.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that all is well.

-- Contributed by: Paige
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