LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Jose, and welcome to the site.

You will need your vet's help taking smears to determine when your female begins ovulating during her heat cycle. However, I really wouldn't recommend breeding her at all. Problems like this can be passed along in the litter. It would be better to just enjoy her as a pet. If you have your heart set on breeding, you might consider purchasing another female.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello,

I have a female Pom that always has dry-heat (or she never has blood discharge from her vulva when she is on heat). Any suggestions how I can determine the best time to have her ready for breeding as we have not been successful so far? She is 3 years old now and it would really be nice to have puppies.

-- Contributed by: Jose

Hi Frances,

This isn't anything you need to worry about. The heat cycle is going to taper off gradually, even if the breeding takes, so you will probably still see discharge over the next week, but it begin to lessen until it stops completely. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a belgian Malinois that I bred for 2 days.tToday there are a few spots of light coloured blood on the floor,does this mean that she is not pregnant or is there something wrong?

-- Contributed by: Frances

Hi Candace, and welcome to the site.

I think you'll find the advice I gave Kara, just below your own post, will be helpful for you too. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi, i got ride of my 11 month old puppy and while the people that took her had her she mated. i don't know how to tell if she is pregnant or not can you tell me when i could start to tell.

-- Contributed by: candace

Hi Kara, and welcome to the site.

It is going to be several weeks before you'll see any reliable signs. Check out the following articles because they have a lot of solid information on this topic including the changes your dog will go through.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, My dogs bred about 2 days ago,and I wanted to,know how long it will be before,I will be able to tell if she is pregnant or not?

-- Contributed by: Kara

Hi Shaferfam,

The average heat cycle lasts about three weeks. The first week, the discharge is full red, the second week it lightens to tannish-pink, and the third week heavier red bleeding resumes and eventually tapers off. So far, it sounds like everything is going normally right now, even if the breedings were successful. You can have the vet palpate your dog at 28 days gestation to check for embryos. Vets can also perform a blood test to check for pregnancy at about three weeks gestation.

I hope this info puts your mind at ease, and best wishes that the breedings were successful. Be sure to come back if you have more questions. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I recently took our 2 yr. old Bernese Mt. Dog to be breed. The very day she started bleeding I took her out there. She stayed for two weeks and was coupled with a very reliable stud. After returning home with her however, she is continuing to bleed. Is it possible for her to be pregnant and still be bleeding after the breeding encounter?

-- Contributed by: Hello,

Hello,

It is possible for a five-month-old male puppy to sire a litter, but most dogs this age are not quite coordinated enough to get the job. Still, if your female was recently in heat, there's a possibility a breeding could have taken place. It might be a good idea to have your vet perform a blood test to check for pregnancy hormones so you know whether or not a litter is on the way. If not, the vet may want to investigate further to see if a health problem is behind the behavior and appetite change your female is currently experiencing.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your situation.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have a 10yr old .... i just got a english mastiff boy, he is 5 months but three times the size of my female can the puppy at 5 months breed successfully? if so, my female has lost its appetite and has been real confined to herself. we have noticed this in the last 2 weeks do you think my girl is pregnant?

-- Contributed by: i think my pitbull is pregnant

Hi Goldie, and welcome to the site.

It's in your pets' best interest to separate them now because they must be exhausted. Typically, two breedings spaced one day apart are enough to achieve fertilization between two healthy dogs. If you don't separate them, the dogs will continue to breed until your female is no longer receptive.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

i have two pit bulls and they have been mating and locking at least four to five times a day that i have seen. they started September the 30th and are still going strong and its October the 5th. she is eating like a horse already and he didn't start eating until October the 5th. is this normal for dogs and how much longer will they continue to mate?

-- Contributed by: goldie

Hi Christina,

Well, two months is about the gestion length of a dog pregnancy. Is there any chance your female was exposed to an unneutered male? If so, there's a possibility she could have been bred. I'd like you to check out the following articles and see if any of these additional signs of pregnancy seem to fit your dog.

If this information leads you to suspect more strongly that your dog is pregnant, it would be a good idea to consult a vet right away to confirm it.

Otherwise, panting without prior exertion can be a sign that the lungs aren't delivering enough oxygen to the heart. If this turns out to be the case, you would still need your vet's help, so I think it's a good idea to schedule an appointment either way.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your dog will be alright no matter what the cause of the heavy breathing is. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog has been breathing heavy like she does after a lot of activity and has recently started to shake like she is cold. someone suggested to us that she could be pregnant but the last time she was in heat was over 2 months ago. could she be pregnant?

-- Contributed by: christina

Hi,My female yorkie is in heat and my male yorkie is trying to get her. She won't have anything to do with him, she bites him and runs from him. She actually is trying to mate with my brothers pit bull that I watch during the day, but he is neutured and don't want nothing to do with her. She sleeps with me every night. Although a few nights I caught her on the sofa with my male yorkie. What are the odds that she let him mate with her with us not around or knowing and her acting like she don't want him. We want her to have puppies bad to keep..Your thoughts please Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Shannon

Hello Heidi,

I can't be certain, but it really does sound as though your dog is pregnant. You should begin to feel some movement from the pups in the next week. They are typically most active during the last few days before labor. Try snuggling with your dog while you're watching TV, and lay your hand on her tummy. Chances are you will feel some random movements.

All things considered, you might indeed want to set up a whelping box. You can use a cardboard box and line it with paper or even use a small child's plastic swimming pool. A commercial whelping box is a good investment if you ever intend to breed your dog again. Also check out our article on Delivering Puppies for more whelping info.

Best wishes, and let us know how it turns out. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi there, In regarding my question before hand, do you think i should get a whelping kit? Regards Heidi

-- Contributed by: Heidi

Hi There, My rottweiler ... is 51 days pregnant,(if she is pregnant)Her signs are enlarged boobs, Her vagina is swollen, Her tummy has seemed to have droped. Is this due to enlarged boobs? Her rib cage area has got bigger, But i dont seem to be able to feel any movement of pups, Is this normal? With kind regards Heidi

-- Contributed by: Heidi

Hi Helene,

I'm surprised your vet didn't offer to do a blood test or perform an ultrasound to check for pregnancy. These are both fairly common practices when it is too late to palpate. It does sound like your dog might be pregnant, and if she is, she would only have about 23 days left to go.

On the outside chance she is going to have pups, the following articles should be helpful:

Thanks for your question, and don't be afraid to request one of those tests from your vet. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi I recently acquired a beautiful Pomeranian "Gracie" approx. 4 years old. She was used for breeding. I have noticed that her tummy has grown substantially in the 40 days that I have owned her. I brought her to the vet. but he could not determines pregnancy from palpating her. She weighs 7 lbs. and her tummy is 17"s. What do you think...puppies?

-- Contributed by: Helene

Hi Trin,

Check out our article Signs Of Dog Pregnancy for plently of info on this topic. Your vet can also perform a blood test to detect a possible pregnancy.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We had our husky mated twice, but they only tied once. I was told anytime the dogs "tie" the chances are great of conception. Within 3-4 days, hse has become extremely lethargic. I think this is a sign of pregnancy, but what other signs at 3-4 weeks? Trin

-- Contributed by: kay

Hi Undecided,

It's possible the vet would want to charge more to spay a pregnant dog because the greater blood flow to the uterus makes the surgery slightly riskier. My advice is to call two other vets and find out what they would charge to spay your dog under these cir...stances, and then you can decide what you want to do.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My pup, had her first heat about 2-3 wks ago, she did get out of our yard on 2 occasions. We want to get her spayed, but we fear she may be pregnant. Her nipples are enlarged, is it possible? We called the vet to schedule an appt, they want to charge us extra because if she did have her first heat, "her uterus has changed and is not the same as it was before the heat cycle". Is this true that the uterus changes and if so why does it cost extra?

-- Contributed by: Undecided

Hi Karen,

Your vet can perform a blood test to confirm a pregnancy about three weeks after the end of the heat cycle. Your vet could also palpate the uterus at 28 days from the first breeding to feel for pea-sized embryos.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog has a beautiful litter. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

we tried to mate my ... with a dog and although they played and he tried to mount her we are not sure if she has been caught we didnt watch them all the time the first time they were together was on her day 8 on 2/05/08 and then every other day how soon before we know if she is pregnant

-- Contributed by: karen baker

Hi Heather,

There's a good chance that the breeding was a success, but you wouldn't see a significant enlargement of your dog's abdomen just yet. At 28 days, the embryos are only the size of peas. It will likely be another two weeks before your dog takes on that pregnant look. Continue to keep an eye on her and feed her well. My hunch is that you're going to have a canine population explosion about a month from now. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I bred my German shepherd 4 weeks ago two matings a day apart and now her nipples are very large and some have a pink ring around them, is this most likely pregnancy? she is eating veggies and she never like them before and my male and her use to chase each other now she wont alow him to chase her she will grow at him.. but she is not showing at all is this normal?

-- Contributed by: Heather

Hi Josh,

A litter can result from a single mating, so there is a chance a pregnancy could develop. Your vet could detect a pregnancy with a simple blood test about two to three weeks after the heat cycle has ended. Yes, a litter can be aborted, but it may be simpler to have her spayed and eliminate the possibility of this happening again.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I sadly hadn't noticed my hound dog going into heat and my mother saw a male dog out with her earlier today. This is the only strange dog we've ever had in the yard and we aren't even sure if he mounted. I'm going to assume the worst though. What are the chances of her becoming pregnant from a single mounting in her first heat? We can't afford puppies right now because of our financial situation, what should we do if she is pregnant? How early can we tell? Is there anyway to abort the pregnancy?

-- Contributed by: Joshua Daniel

I have just let my Border Collie mate with another Border Collie and wondered if one time of them mating will be enough for her to get pregnant. They were attached for about 20mins and when should i first notice any signs of pregnancy

Thank you

Hi Johanna,

Once is enough to do the trick if your timing was right. The sperm can live on for several days after delivery.

I think you'll find the information in the following articles very helpful.

Thanks for your question, and I wish you success!

-- Contributed by: Johanna

I got a 10 month old lab/border collie mix..and about december of 07 she hit her first period.which lasted about a week or too...then about two or three weeks ago me and my brother came home and she ran to the car with another dog..and ever since then she hasnt had a period.and her breasts seem to be getting bigger.I'm wondering if she's pregnant..Help please

Hi Shane,

Dogs typically have a season once every six months, or even just once a year, so don't be disturbed that you have seen another heat cycle so soon.

If your dog was loose with an unneutered male during her heat cycle, there's a better than average chance that she could have been bred. If you want to know sooner rather than later, your vet can detect the pregnancy with a simple blood test.

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

-- Contributed by: Shane Patrick

I am not sure if my dog may be pregnant? She got out a few times after her heat and came back looking (violated) if you know what I mean. She is too young this was her 1st heat. But now it has been too long to spay her without alot of extra cost. I feel a lump in her belly that is the size of a large grade egg. please let me know what you think she would of gotten pregnant around 12/8-12/18 not sure she is a small dog. She has also become food aggressive toward other dogs. Please help?!!!??

-- Contributed by: Rachel

I am tring to find the diffrent stages of prgnancy, my 2 year old female american bull mated with our male, it has been about 4 weeks, her abdoman is swollen and nipples are enlarged, she is tired and eatting more, she is getting aggresive with her food. It think that it took, but I have heard of false pregnancies, when might I be able to feel the babies moving? or is there a way to tell without taking her to the vet, just yet?

Hi Marisa,

We have two articles I think will help you.

Your vet can also confirm whether or not your bitch is pregnant with a simple blood test.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: marisa

My husband and I have just got a breeding pair of Golden Retreivers given to us. The female is about 19 months and the male is about 11 months. We were told that she was on heat last about may june. So far there is no sign of her coming on heat. Only odd thing is she has started to loose alot of fur more than just getting the summer coat. There is no scar so definatly not been spayed. Hope you can give me some ideas what to look for before she starts bleeding. Thanks Happy New Year.

Hi Sally,

It's highly possible that your bitch is one of those that only come in heat once a year. So, you may have to wait until spring for her to have her next season.

It might also be a good idea to have her thyroid levels checked. Thyroid problems could cause the hairloss, as well as wreak havoc with her heat cycle.

Thanks for your questions and best of luck.

-- Contributed by: sally

Hi myname is tiffany and i am fostering a female black and tan coon hound. She is in the process of heart worm treatment as she was tested positive. she is now in the recovery phase. She went into heat and we had a stray male thet i think mated with her. i was told that if she is pregnent she will for sure DIE of heart failure. i am very attached to her so can you tell me the first signs of pregnency and if this is true that she will die! please help me! email me a response if possible!! thiffany

Hi Tiffany,

Your vet can perform an ultrasound as early as 21 days after mating to check the uterus for embryos.

Pregnancy at this time does pose a risk for your dog. How big of a risk mainly depends on the extent of the heartworm infestation and how much damage the heart has suffered already. The treatment could also cause the embryos to abort, which would solve the potential problem.

If your dog does turn out to be pregnant, your vet will be able to advise you on your options.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck.

-- Contributed by: tiffany

I believe that my teacup Malchi ... is pregnant. Lately she has been very moody and even more picky with her diet. I really want her to get a ultrasound done. the only thing is that my husband and i cant afford it. being that im 7 months pregnant with twins. Do you have another safer and cheaper way of knowing? How do i feel around for puppies. WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT?

Expert Reply

Hi Charmin,

Your vet can palpate your bitch's uterus at 28 days gestation to feel for the pea sized embryos. I do not recommend that you try to do this yourself. It takes an experienced hand to avoid damaging the pups. Palpating is far less expensive than an ultrasound, so it may fit within your current budget.

You will likely be able to feel movement from the pups around six weeks gestation. Just hold your dog in your lap, and lay your palm on her abdomen. Just don't poke or push. You'll feel a rolling movement as the pups change position.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck to you and your bitch. I hope you both have safe deliveries.

-- Contributed by: Charmin

I wanted to know about how many puppies can a small 4lb chihuahua have?

Expert Reply

Hi Chew-Diva,

The number of pups your bitch could possibly have depends a lot on her family history. How many were in the litter she came from? This will provide you with a clue, but not a guarantee of how many pups she might have.

The number of pups is also determined by the timing of the breeding. The sperm have to be available and viable to fertilize any eggs that are released. It's a matter of opportunity.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Chew-diva
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