LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Hi Cait,

That's kind of difficult to predict because each dog reacts so differently. We have an article on the Signs Of Dog Pregnancy that I think you'll find helpful.

Beyond that, just keep an eye on the female you suspect is pregnant and see if you notice any behavior changes. She could become very affectionate, or she might get grumpy. The most important thing to know is that you should keep your other dog away while your dog is delivering puppies, and also give mom some privacy with her pups away from other dogs until they are around five weeks old. Some new moms really don't like having other dogs near their litter and can be quite protective.

Hope this info helps. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have two female dogs who are both in season, I think that one may be pregnant. How will my pregnant dog act to the other dog when she is pregnant or vice versa?

-- Contributed by: cait

Hi Wendy,

It sounds as though one of the placentas might have separated a bit from the uterine lining. The best thing to do right now is try to limit your dog's activity a bit and give your vet a call to find out if she needs to be seen. My guess is that the vet may want to take a look at what's going on, but hopefully everything will be alright. Keep us posted.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my labrador is 38 days into her pregnancy, she started bleeding table spoon amounts of blood x 3 yesterday. Should this be assessed by a vet immediately?

-- Contributed by: wendy

Hi Gina,

Most flea products are not designed to be used on pregnant dogs, so you'll want to do some further checking to find out how the medication may affect your pet and her litter. Do you still have the packaging from the pill? If so, it should say whether to refrain using it on an pregnant animal. If you don't have the package, you could try giving your vet a call. The vet may know what the active ingredient is in the product and be able to look up the possible side effects.

I don't know how often you are supposed to dose your dog with the particular brand you are using, but it would be wise to refrain from giving further doses until after the pups are weaned.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I gave my dog an Advantage flea pill and now that she's been groomed, I think she may be pregnant. Will the flea pill hurt her puppies. She weighs only 6 pounds.

Thank you, Gina

-- Contributed by: Gina

Hi David,

At seven weeks gestation, the abdomen is usually crowded and this makes it difficult for a female to eat a full meal at a single sitting. Right now, it would be best to keep kibble available to her at all times and let her feed freely as she wishes. This is fairly typical in most dog pregnancies, so I don't think there's any cause for worry.

Keep us posted. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello kelly,

its me again.and i wanna say thank you for all ur advices and answers to my previouse questions.but i have another question this time it makes me worried really.i noticed that my dog has lost her appetite again.she doesnt eat much now.even i feed her with her favorite food she didnt eat much.so it makes me wonder why and im so worried really.this is her 7 weeks pregnancy.is it just normal?please let me know.

-- Contributed by: david

Hi David,

In cases where a female only rejects one or two pups, there's a strong sense that something is wrong with them internally. Moms seem to be able to sense these things, and they usually weed those pups out to make sure the healthiest pups survive. If you find this happens in the next litter, you may want to take any rejected pups to the vet right away. The vet can check for any obvious abnormalites and teach you how to tube feed if necessary. Tube feeding puts the milk directly into the tummy to avoid the hazard of choking or getting milk into the lungs. Sometimes a couple days of tube feeding is enough to strengthen a pup so it can begin nursing from mom again.

Hope that advice helps. I'd also like to invite you to our Dogs forum. We can keep in touch there through the Breeders Corner where we share advice about every aspect of breeding and pregnancy. Hope to see you there. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello again,

thanks for u previouse replies to me.my dog is not obviousely pregnant her stomach is more bigger now than before.i only feed her twice a day now i cut out the lunch and the pork.but i got another question.i am just worried that if my ... will abandon her pups.what will i do to make them survive?my ... before also rejected two of her pups she stop feeding them.everytime i put the two pups closer to her she always move it far away from her.though she didnt do that to the other pups.so those two pups didnt survive and died.though i feed them with a bottle milk.they still didnt survive.so im afraid that it might happen again.what will i do if that will happen again.how can i make the pups survive?

-- Contributed by: david

Hi David, and welcome back.

Although a pregnant female does need more food to support herself and her pups, it does sound like you may be overdoing it a bit. I'd suggest cutting out the lunch and definitely cut out the pork. The rest should provide sufficient nutrition.

Now, on to your question about the two possible sires of this litter. Patching is undesirable in Dalmations, so I'd suggest having that male neutered so he can't pass on the trait. If he sired some of the pups in the litter, they could have some patching and could produce it in their own progeny. This isn't something you want to breed for if you want to keep the true characteristic spotting of the breed. Right now, all you can do is wait to see how the litter turns out. Just keep in mind that you'll have to do DNA testing if you want to sort the litter out for registration.

Thanks for your questions. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello kelly

thanks for your reply to my questions.it gives me a better understanding about my dog's situation.but i got another question.if my dog is really pregnant is it ok that im feeding her as much as she want?i have heard that some people say that u should not feed ur dog too much when she is pregnant as she will gets fat.and the fat can cause stillborn puppies.is it true?recently i am feeding my dog as much as she wants really as she seems to get hungry always.i am feeding her an adult dog food with 2 eggs in the morning.and adult dog food with pork in lunch time and adult dog food with liver at dinner.is it ok?isnt it too much?and does those meals can provide enough vitamins for the puppies inside?and i have another question i am just worried because i have two male dalmatian at home too.but one of them is a patched dalmatian.and they bought mated with our female dalmatian.i am worried.does it have a big chances that the litter of my female dalmatian will be patched too?my female dalmatian is black spotted and the patched male is black spotted too.and the other male is a liver spotted.if i both let them mate my female.what should i expect the litters would look like?can it cause tri colored dalmatian or more patched puppies or what?please tell me

-- Contributed by: david

Hi David,

Some of the signs you describe do indeed make it sound like your dog is pregnant. I wouldn't worry about the size of her abdomen at this point. The pups don't really begin to grow in size until they are between five and six weeks gestation. Until that time they are only the size of peas. You should begin to see some rapid growth from this point forward. Also keep in mind that this may be a small litter with just one or two pups. If this is the case, your dog wouldn't grow as large as a mom expecting a larger litter.

For now, just continue caring for your dog as though she is pregnant. We have a great article you might want to check out called Canine Gestation. It has a week-by-week guide to the changes mom and the litter go through leading up to the birth.

Thanks for your question, and don't hesitate to come back if you have more. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hello kelly

i have a female dog that was mated last july 27th.but the only signs that i noticed was the increase of her food intake.she easily gets tired for the first 3 weeks but now she is high strung again.i also noticed that she gets fat her shoulder area is so wide but the waist area is not so big really.the stomach doesnt looks like pregnant.though it is supposed to be weeks now.and also the breast only gets slightly bigger.it is not really hanging like the other pregnant dog.so it makes me confused if she is really pregnant.and i also noticed that she have some odorless discharge lately.it just looks like pee.and when i touch her stomach i can feel something that is round.but until now i am still not sure if it was really a puppy inside because it was not moving.this is her second pregnancy but and i also had dogs that get pregnant before.but this is the only one that makes me confused.because her stomach is not big it just looks like normal.please tell me if those are really signs of pregnancy.and please tell me what the 6 weeks pregnant dogs may look like.my dog is dalmatian.

-- Contributed by: david

Hi Ed,

A lot of things affect fertility. First, the number of puppies in a litter largely depends on how many eggs are released from the female's ovaries. Second the timing of the breeding is crucial in order to ensure the sperm are present to fertilize the eggs as they are released. Third, a male must have healthy, motile sperm if they are to reach the eggs and accomplish fertilization.

So, we have a good article that covers the Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding. That is a good place to begin to get an idea of the optimum time for breeding during the heat cycle. Beyond that, it may be a good idea to share your dog's reproductive problems with your vet. I personally do not know of a way to increase a female's natural fertility aside from timing the breedings well. If you are using the same stud for all three of these breedings, the problem might actually lay with him instead of with your female. This is probably worth exploring. The vet could take a sperm count on the stud in question to check his fertility.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this info helps in some way. Good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my ... has had a miscarriage two concecutive time and the third head resulted in a puppy born with a gestation period of 69 days and very healthy and strong. what might be the cause and what can i do to stop it from subsequent miscarriage and help her yeild high number of litter.

-- Contributed by: Ed james

Hi Adriana,

I'm not sure the fishy smell is connected to this dog's pregnancy. That smell might actually be coming from the anal glands. It could be a sign they need to be expressed. We have a good article on this topic that you should check out, Dog Anal Glands.

As for the pregnancy, we also have a list of articles that cover the topic very well. I'd like you to read through them because I definitely think the info will help. After you read them, don't hesitate to come back with more questions.

Thanks for visiting, and let us know how things go. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, we rescued a chihuahua looking dog from the streets. We've come to realized that she came preganant to us. We are very new w/anything that has to do w/dogs. Haven't been able to take her to the vet...so we're winging it at this time. We are assuming that she is about 7 wks preganant...My question is, do they start giving off a certain fishy smell? It's different than her regular dirty dog smell...Can you help me out? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Adriana

Hi Laura,

Having back-to-back litters can really put a strain on a dog's health because she doesn't have sufficient time to restore her own depleted resources before she must support the next litter's development.

The number of the pups in the litter depends on how many eggs are released and the timing of the breeding. If the breeding occurred later in the cycle well after ovulation had begun, it would likely be a smaller litter because some of the eggs would have been missed.

Although there is some risk to your dog's health involved here, there shouldn't be too much danger with just two litters in a row. However, if your female continues to have a litter every heat cycle, it could shorten her lifespan. It would be a good idea to have her spayed after this litter is weaned. That way you'll never have to worry about the situation again.

Best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi im just wandering how dangerous is it for my dog as she has been cought preghnant two seasons in a row and im wandering if shell have more pups or less thanks laura poole

-- Contributed by: laura

Hi Megan, and welcome to the site.

Yes, your puppy is now capable of having puppies herself, but a seven-month-old puppy should not be bred. This is because she is still a growing baby, and she needs her nutrition for herself. Otherwise, the embryos will take it for their own development. This could actually make her weak and could even possibly cause problems during the delivery.

For your puppy's own health and development, I recommend that you wait until at least her second heat cycle before deciding whether or not to breed her.

Thanks for your question, and please don't hesitate to ask if you have more. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my lasa apso ... is 7 months old shes started her cycle and the vet says she can have puppies but i dont no how to find a stud dog and will her have sex hurt her ???

-- Contributed by: megan

Hi Isqrz,

Each male that breeds a female in heat during a single cycle could likely father puppies, leading to a litter with multiple sires. How many eggs are released depends largely on the size and breed of the female involved. Smaller dogs tend to release fewer eggs, while larger dogs tend to release more. That said, there isn't any information about the precise number of eggs released during a heat cycle for any breed.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this provides the information you seek.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

please responde soon

-- Contributed by: how many eggs and how many dad could be in a dog heat cycle

Hi Paula,

There is the rare female that immediately goes into a fertile cycle after giving birth, but most don't have another heat cycle until four to six months later. That said, your male dog may still find her post-pregnancy hormone scent interesting, so keep an eye on them. He can't impregnate her if she isn't cycling, but he could give her an infection if he attempts to ride her.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

thanks kelly what i wanted to know is that though she has had a pup is she fertile now is it safe to let her mix with male dogs as we have one living with us and am finding it hard to keep them apart thanks

-- Contributed by: paula

Hi Paula,

I'm so sorry to hear the pup didn't make it. That's always a heart breaker. As for preventing another mating, your female won't likely come into heat again for another four to six months. When she does come into heat, you'll want to keep her separated from your male for the entire three-week cycle just to ensure a breeding doesn't take place. Better yet, you might want to have your female spayed in about a month if you don't want to breed her anymore.

You can read more about all of this at Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding. Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my ... gave birth to one pup 8 days ago sadly the pup was stillborn how long do i have to keep her away from a dog to stop her mating

-- Contributed by: paula

Hi Angela,

The milk usually dries up within a week or two of weaning, although the breasts will never quite regain the size and tone they once had. If your female is still producing milk, you can cut back her food just slightly if she is currently in good weight. This will help end milk production.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

how long does it take for a dog to loose her milk after puppies have gone?

-- Contributed by: angela

Hi Tonya,

I found your original questions at Dog Pregnancy and Signs Of Dog Pregnancy and answered them there. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog maybe prgo.Well I'm about 65% sure she is.I was wondering how long after her milk starts will she have the pups?I actually talk to the vet last week concerned cuz most chihuahua's have csections and he said to wait 2weeks and see what happens(the dad is alot smaller than mom) he doesnt seem to concerned so I'am trying to be patient and calm!The vet said he is available if needed.and if after the 2weeks I was still not sure he would do an xray.Does anyone know about how long from the first sign of milk till birth???

-- Contributed by: T

Hi MeMe,

Yes, it is highly possible that this young male could impregnate your female, so you'll want to separate them to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my 1 year ...zu has a 7 month old male bisoc freeze staying with us she started her period two days ago now he is humpig her can he at 7 months get her pregant please reply soon i need advise thank you meme

-- Contributed by: meme

Hi Sarah,

I found your original question at Breeding Questions and answered it there. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi,my 11 month old ... came in to her first season,i had managed 2 keep her away from my male,it was hard work alot of crying from my male,her sweling went down and her bleeding stoped even the male lost intresed in her so i let him join the ...es again as i thought it was safe,he never even sniffed her,then 3 days later they were all playing in the garden when i looked out my male was tied with her and now im worried as she is so young,after the tie he hasnt botherd with her,could she be pregnant or would her season have finished?the tie lasted for around 20 mins althought my male is 10 years,is there less or a chance he can produce?im just worried for my ...,pls help!!

-- Contributed by: sarah

Hi Brandy,

It's just to soon to tell, but you have about a 50/50 chance that the breeding will result in a litter. Check out our article on Dog Pregnancy Symptoms for a list of what to watch for.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog got hooked on May 1st, she had only been in heat for about a week, her tits have gotten a little bigger expecially the back two and her stomach has gotten a little bigger she was lazy and has calmed down a lot but now she is starting to get her energy back and her stomach is hard and warm, do you think she is pregnant?

-- Contributed by: Brandy

Hi Patti,

This does sound like an unusual behavior change for your pet. I can't really say whether it's evidence that she's experiencing a false pregnancy, but it would be a good idea to watch her for physical changes as well. Many females will experience some breast tissue development after a heat cycle, but females going through a false pregnancy often produce milk for a short time. You may even see her belly increase slightly in size. As long as you're sure that attempted breeding wasn't successful, there's no cause for concern. A false pregnancy will go away on its own. In the meantime, try to give your dog a little more exercise. This will help take her mind off her current obsession with her treat.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for the future breeding.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I am wondering if my dog is weathering a false pregnancy. We have researched and decided to breed her once and are awaiting her second heat. Her first heat happened just over 2 months ago and a puppy tried to mate with her, but I was successful in preventing it. she has been her usual self except for at night time, she "roots" in the bedcovers, as well as at day time - this has happened in the past week or so. She also has started a rather unique trait - rather than eating her morning treat - she carries it with her all day and everywhere, refusing to eat it. She will lay it down right in front of her, and sleep - if a sound wakes her up,

-- Contributed by: Patti

Hi Julie,

At day 10, your dog should be coming into the fertile portion of her heat cycle. I definitely wouldn't let her off lead for another two weeks, and only then after checking to make sure the heat cycle has ended.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Kelly, my Shar Pei ... is currently on her first season at 9 months old. She is now 10 days into it. Can you tell me how many days it will be before we can let her off her lead safely?

-- Contributed by: julie

Hi Kelly,

Although this isn't the ideal time for a second litter, I think chances are good that your female will come through alright as long as you pay careful attention to her nutrition. Since she may still be a bit depleted from the first litter, you should ask your vet to recommend a good prenatal vitamin for her.

Does she look in good condition now? If she does, I don't think you'll have a problem. I'm definitely glad to hear you've scheduled an appointment to have your persistent Cassanova neutered because you wouldn't want to put your female through a third breeding on the heels of the first two.

Thanks for you question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, i have a male & female Kelpie. The ... has just had her 2nd heat cycle. She will be 2 in September. I had our male locked up but where there is a will there is a way & he scaled the fence to get to her. They were locked together before i could get to them. She had a litter when she came on heat the 1st time ( 1yr Old ). She successfully gave birth to 6 healthy pups on 26/11/07, 1 of which needed a little extra tlc. She is now fine & running happily with mum & dad ( i couldnt part with her ). My concern is that she won't cope with the 2nd pregnancy ( assuming she is ) because she is still young & it is so close to the last pregnancy. The male is booked in to be desexed ( all a little late i know. ) Do you think i should be concerned. She would be around 10 days pregnant due around 1/7/08. Thanks for your help. You gave some great advice 1st time around with her 1st pups.

-- Contributed by: Kellyw

Hi Mary,

This isn't necessarily a bad sign, especially since the discharge is clear. However, it wouldn't hurt to give your vet a call just to make sure. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my shih-tzu is having puppies may 12th ,and she has been disgarging a clear ligiud for a couple of weeks now. should i be concearned?

-- Contributed by: mary

Hi Sharlyn,

The only way to be sure about what's going on is to have your vet examine your .... The vet can perform a blood test for pregnancy about three weeks after the heat cycle has ended. If she is pregnant, at least you'll know she needs extra care during this time.

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

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi there,

I have a young collie who has just gone through her first season, this is the first ... I've ever had so I'm a bit clueless as to dealing with ...es. We have done our best to keep her away from our dogs during her season, but we are aware that our other collie mounted her when we turned our back for a matter of minutes and our retriever x collie had an attempt - although this was quite early in her season just before she stopped bleeding. Now the dogs seem to have been loosing intrest in her. We are now unsure as to whether she may be in pup or not - having puppies is not the end of the world here though. I have noticed that her nipples are slightly swollen and I am wondering as to whether this is normal when ...es are in season? I am also aware that she may have a false pregnancy, could this be the case?

Sharlyn.

-- Contributed by: Sharlyn

Hi Cassie,

Your dog might be pregnant, but I can't hazard a guess as to how far along she might be. However, vets can use a sonogram to detect the puppies, estimate how big they are and predict a due date according to their current development. I think it's worth making an appointment for an exam.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, i have a laborador, about a month ago she wouldnt eat at all it would sometimes take about two days for her to clean out her bowl. (thats about 4 cups) Then all of a sudden she just started eating twice as much every day, it was unlike her normal behavior. She must have gained at least 5lbs in a little over a week. Then it dawned on me she could be pregnant, her stomach is firm and she is lactating. She has been having a lot of accidents lately. Is that a part of the pregnancy cycle and if so about how far along should she be?

-- Contributed by: Cassie

Hi Jade,

If you're certain your dog was never bred, then the nipple enlargement is just due to the hormone flux that signaled the beginning and end of her heat cycle. She may always have a bit more breast tissue from now on, although it may recede in size without a pregnancy.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello, i was wondering if you could help me?

I have a 1 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She has finished her 1st season but her nipples are still really big.. I don't think she is Pregnant because she is never left on her own and she does not allow them to even try. Why are her nipples so big?

Thanks

-- Contributed by: Jade

Hi I got a yorkie from my dad for my birthdayand the dog belonged to his sisther that past away so he let me keep it as a gift.the dog is constanly throwing up and when I feel her stomach she has like a weird ball and im scared please help

Hi Jelly,

I think it would be well worth it to take your Yorkie to the vet for a checkup to make sure the lump you feel in her tummy isn't something serious. If this is a growth, it could be interfering with her digestion and causing her to vomit. The vet will take a look at the entire situation, and offer treatment options for your pet.

Thanks for your question, and I hope there's nothing serious going on.

-- Contributed by: jelly

Hey I have a pitt bull and I was wondering about how long does it take for a dog to have a litter of puppies. I had left her in the back yard when I came out of the house there was a dog in the yard and it was stuck to her every since that day she has been getting bigger and her nipples are starting to hang so i just wanted to know about how long before i can ecpect the puppies.

Hi Candrell,

Most dogs have their pups about 63 days after the breeding. I think you'll find the following articles very helpful.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck.

-- Contributed by: Candrell Buckner

I think my st.bernard is pregnate we didnt want a pregnancy last time she had one pup and it died that next day. we had a death in the family and the dog sitter didnt watch close enough anyways she has a milky discharg and i was wondering what it could be she would be about 2weeks now if the sperm took

Expert Reply

Hi Lawren,

Where exactly is the milky discharge coming from, her breasts or her vulva? At just two weeks gestation, you would see enlargement of her breast tissue, but this would be awfully early for milk.

If the discharge is coming from her vulva, she could be pregnant, but may also have picked up a urinary trat infection from the breeding.

I think it would be a good idea to let your vet examine your bitch, for an infection as well as to confirm the pregnancy.

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

-- Contributed by: Lawren Vance

Hi, My miniature pinscher just recently went into heat and she is now 8 months old and my other miniature pinscher and her mated so quickly and i hope she is not pregnant. I have heard at such a youbg age that they may or may not get pregnant. My dog's nipples are big and she is real big; however I seen these signs before she mated so I don't know if she is pregnant or not. Thanks, Nonie

Expert Reply

Hi Nonie,

The first heat cycle signals sexual maturity, even though the bitch usually isn't finished growing before one year of age. This does make it possible that your eight month old dog is pregnant.

If you'd prefer to find out if she is pregnant sooner rather than later, Your vet can perform an ultrasound at 21 days gestation, or actually palpate her uterus at 28 days.

Whatever happens, I hope everything works out okay for you.

-- Contributed by: Nonie

Hi, how you can prevent that your dog eat the puppies at the time of birth

Expert Reply

Hi Denice,

Actually, this is more of a rarity. Most moms will only eat the afterbirth, but not the pups.

That said, I did have a Chihuahua bitch that ate her pups. When it happened in the first litter, she had torn open one pup's tummy, and we chalked it up to inexperience when biting through the cord.

However, we bred her again, and she savaged another pup. From that moment on, we did not leave the pups in alone with her. We kept them in a warm box, and only put them in to nurse every two hours, staying right there the entire time. We also had to clean them with a warm wet wash cloth to help them potty. Once that litter was weaned, we never bred her again.

The best way you can prevent this from happening is to make sure you are there for the birth. Keep things calm and quiet so your bitch doesn't become overly nervous. Assist only when she needs it.

Once she is finished whelping, offer her some tasty canned food with a little warm milk. This should satiate her appetite and give her a bit more energy.

Thank you for your question, and hopefully you won't have any problems.

-- Contributed by: Denice

Kelly, Hi, having a hard time finding anything on the exact amount or a estimate of food intake during a pregnancy. Princess did have around 2-3 weeks that unless hand fed her her ground chicken that had ground bones, spinach and squash in it she would not eat. finally we are past that, knock on wood. She is on BARF so non- pregnant she gets between 2% to 2/2% of her body weight per day in food. How much should that increase? If go by her first tie date she is due the 27th. Few nights ago, kind of just fed her until would not eat anymore and that was after eating 2 leg/thigh combos as well as a chicken back and some butternut squash. I also read that vanilla ice cream is ok, helps with calcium. Do have her on both a powdered calcium supliment as well as a multi vitamin, which on whether pregnant or not. Normally she will eat plain yogurt as well as cottage cheese but if it is not chicken or squash she will just refuse to eat it these days. Hubby thinks that by letting her eat till she won't anymore, I am over feeding her. In the last week we have finally been able to notice her weight gain, which has been about 6 lbs so far. Is there a right amount? I'm just worried because of her not willing to eat period and want to make sure both her and the puppies are healthy. Thanks for all your help, you have been a great source for me during this my first canine pregnancy. Will be more prepared in about 18 months when breed our Cane Corso Mastiffs (which, have like 15 people that want pups when breed, some wanted to give me deposits when our female was a mere 9 weeks old!) needless to say, they are all going to be waiting, some much longer than others!

Expert Reply

Hi Debbie,

First, I want you to relax about your bitch's diet. It sounds as though you are providing wonderful nutrition for her.

Many bitches go off their food for a couple of weeks, but they seem to make up for it with a vengence later.

I am very old school, and I don't get into calculating percentages. I allow my bitches to eat as much as they want, because they know when they are full.

Even if they seem to be overeating, they won't have room to during the later stages of pregnancy when there's simply not enough room. Then they'll have that fat reserve to draw on. The pups will also quickly deplete the excess body wait while nursing, so don't worry if your bitch seems to be getting fat.

Remember, dogs were going through pregnancies on their own long before we humans began involving ourselves in the process. Let Mother Nature do her thing, and don't worry unless you truly see signs of something going wrong.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck!

-- Contributed by: Debbie

hi i have an 18mth old shih tzu daisy may and also a 1yr old shih tzu jake when she was last in season (she finished around 4-5wks ago)my male dog was trying to mount her while outside in the garden he didnt stay on for long and im not sure weather anything really happened, but she seems to be showing signs of pregnancy (or a phantom one) shes been sick daily, swollon nipples, eating more, more quiet, more affectionate, and hiding treats away from the other dog, and snapping at him when he comes near them (which is unusual for her as she usually just lets him have them if she doesnt want them). her tummy around the rib area is starting to get a bit bigger and is very firm to the touch, could she be pregnant even if they didnt lock together for very long?

Expert Reply

Hi Elaine,

Yes, it is possible that your bitch is pregnant. A tie isn't necessary for fertilization, but it does increase the chances when one occurs.

Go ahead and treat your dog as though she is pregnant. I recommend adding a spoonful of cottage cheese to her meals to boost her calcium intake. This will help the pups to develop strong bones, and prevent them from leaching calcium from mom's own bones.

Best of luck, and visit us again if you have more questions.

-- Contributed by: elaine

Hi, If this is my Kelpie's 1st heat & it has been confirmed that she is pregnant, how many pups would i be expecting in her litter. I have been told that because this is her 1st heat & she is so young ( just turned 1 ) that she wouldn't have the average litter. Is this true? How many pups are in the average Kelpie litter? My female has been mated by another Kelpie ( 2 Years Old ). Thank You for any info you can give me.

Expert Reply

Hi Kel,

The number of pups your bitch might have depends highly on when she was bred and how many eggs were released from her ovaries. I don't believe her age has as much to do with it, younger dogs typically being more fertile than older dogs.

On average, you can expect anywhere from one to five puppies, but asking your vet to perform an ultrasound at about six weeks gestation will reveal exactly how many pups she has. It can be especially good to have this information during the delivery in case things get difficult.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog has a beatiful litter.

-- Contributed by: Kel

Dog pregnancy bleeding

My Brussels is suppose to be pregnant but is having bleeding from her valva. I took her to the vet, he said she was in heat. I still think she is pregnant and I believe I feel at least one pup. She was suppose to have been bred but this is not comfirmed. She was put in with a Brussel Stud. I think she would be due Nov. 11 or there abouts.

My question is can my dog be pregnant and have bleeding? If so if my Vet wasn't concerned should I be? I do have her on anitbiotics, that would cover an infection, if she were to have a urinary tract infection? I asked him to give her these in case it was a UTI.

I can't seem to find any information on this question? Any help is appreciated. Thank you

Andre'

Expert Reply

Hi Andre,

Hopefully your vet was thorough about the examination. Did he actually feel for the pups? It concerns me that you think you're feeling something and he didn't.

Honestly, it's probably worth the peace of mind to request an ultrasound. This can be used to determine whether there are any puppies, but it could also reveal the presence of an ovarian tumor, which is what I suspect since it's far too soon for your dog to be in season again.

Whatever is going on, I hope your dog will be well soon. Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: magichalo1

Hi, I have a male & female Kelpie. Our female has only just turned 1 in the midst of her first heat cycle. Our male got 2 her on a number of occassions where we seen them physically locked together. She would be 28 days pregnant today ( 20/10/07 ) from the first time they were locked together. Should i at this stage be able to see any physical signs that she is pregnant.The only obvious signs to me at this stage is that all her nipples have become slightly enlarged & that she has remained swollen around the genital area. She is off her food & has become slightly more protective of my husband in particular if our male Kelpie is paid extra attention. She doesn't look to me like she has gained any extra weight. These all could be coincidences & i am reading to much into it. My husband thinks she is pregnant but i'm not so convinced. If she is pregnant what dietry changes should i be making ( trying to get her to eat would be a good start i guess ). Thank You..Kelly

Expert Reply

Hi Kelly,

At 28 days, the embryos are about the size of a single green pea. You wouldn't likely see a change in the size of your bitch's abdomen unless she was a vorascious eater. The increase in her breast size is a good indication that fertilization has taken place.

Since she is a little young for breeding, nutrittion is going to be very important to her as well as her pups. Her appetite should return with a vengence very soon, so let her eat as much as she wants when it does.

In the meantime, try to coax her to eat by offering her some boiled chicken and brown rice. You can also offer her some cottage cheese to increase her calcium intake. This is important so that the pups get enough for proper bone growth without leaching from mom's own supply.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with everything.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Judy,

I am not a vet, but it seems to me that the puppies' bone structure would have shown up on an x-ray. You can go ahead and continue to care for your bitch as if she is pregnant just in case, but the vet is probably right.

There's a real possibility that your bitch was pregnant at some point, but the embryos reabsorbed. This happens when an embryo is too imperfect to survive, and also when conditions in the uterus are not right for supporting a pregnancy. This would explain why you saw such significant changes in your bitch even if there are no pups now.

Time will tell if your bitch actually has a pup or two tucked up high. At this point, all you can do is wait and see.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I bread my dog and she has all the signs of pregnancy she is due between 10/15 and 10/19 I took her today for her xray and the vet said she had a false prenancy I told him she is a small dog 4.6 pounds and I know my dog she is pregnant maybe the pups are too small. By the way this was a new vet dr. at the clinic I go to. I told him I see the physical and mental change in my dog. She has had pups before.... Can someone tell what is this and a vet would say there are no pups in the x-ray is it possible it's too early and maybe she conceived at the end of the week 10/19 so she actually three weeks away and it's just too early to see in an xray. Please help.........

Judy

-- Contributed by: judy-candy
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