Pregnant?

[ambersisson]

I adopted a female dog from a shelter a few months ago. I was not planning on having any puppies at all. When I adopted her I was told she was three months old. About two months after we brought her home she went into heat. I only knew this because my husbands grandmother breeds english cocker spaniels and I asked her what was going on. We were going to spay her when she was six months old. We took her to get some of her shots and they did a physical and told us she was at least a year and half old. We were shocked because she is a small dog. We figured it must be the jack russell in her. Well a little over a month and ago she started to get enlarged teats, and her back side is swollen, but there is no change in her stomach size at all. However her teats have continued to grow. I took her to a vet to be looked at and they said she looks pregnant, but still no large tummy. I am told that she may not show until she is about to give birth. Is there any other reason for a dog to look so pregnant and not be?

[wolfsoul]

Many dogs who go through a heat develop a "pseudo" or false pregnancy. :) The teats swell up, she may even produce milk, she might start nesting or using stuffed animals as her puppies. It can be psychologically stressful, so try and make her environment as stress-free as possible. Keep in mind that many dogs do not get a big belly for several weeks into their pregnancy, sometimes dogs barely grow a tummy at all. The only way to really know if she is pregnant is to get an ultrasound. Some vets are also very talented at feeling around the stomach and seeing if there are puppies.

Good luck :)

[JennSLK]

It could be a false preg. I would get a diff vet and ask for a x-ray/ultra sound to be 100% if you are expecting pups

[Zoom]

Was she exposed to any males during her heat? Just going into heat alone does not a pregnant dog make.

A trip to the vet is the best and easiest way to tell.

[ambersisson]

My dog went into heat a little while before we went on vacation. We had left her in the care of my neighbors. She had a problem with jumping our fence so I asked them to please put her inside or keep her on her lead. When we got back she was no longer bleeding, and they did tell us that they let her off her lead and she had jumped out of our yard and disapeared for a day. I have now chosen to leave her with more responisble people, but that is beside the point. I KNOW that being in heat alone does not make a dog pregnant. I am not stupid. I know a thing or two about the reproductive process. So yes she most likey did lock up with another dog while we were gone.

[ambersisson]

Thank you , this was very helpful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many dogs who go through a heat develop a "pseudo" or false pregnancy. :) The teats swell up, she may even produce milk, she might start nesting or using stuffed animals as her puppies. It can be psychologically stressful, so try and make her environment as stress-free as possible. Keep in mind that many dogs do not get a big belly for several weeks into their pregnancy, sometimes dogs barely grow a tummy at all. The only way to really know if she is pregnant is to get an ultrasound. Some vets are also very talented at feeling around the stomach and seeing if there are puppies.

Good luck :)

[summitview]

I'd get her spayed ASAP, it'll solve the problem either way.

[Serena]

As others have mentioned the only way to know for sure if she is or is not pregnant is an ultrasound.

I would recommend scheduling one immediately...and having her spayed regardless of what the results is.

The truth of the matter is the spaying should have already been done.

I honestly am surprised that the shelter you got her from placed her without first spaying.

[ambersisson]

we had to sign a consent to have her spayed by 6 months of age. When we adopted her we were told she was 3 months.... so we had three months to do it, we are a week away from that date, but if she is pregnant they will takes the pups and place them with homes and allow us to spay her then, after having the pups. Since we were told she was three months we had no reason to suspect she may become pregnant, however, she was over a year and a half old, as the vet informed us. We have decided to go ahead and take her in to the vet and have them do a test to make sure, if she is just about to birth then we will wait to spay, if she is just pregnant or not at all we will go ahead and spay her immediately. Thank you for all of your advice..

[Citrus007]

Hmm sounds like a load of trouble. Take her to the vet for the ultrasound is all I can say.

Just wondering, what will happen to the pups if you spay a pregnant dog?

[summitview]

Just wondering, what will happen to the pups if you spay a pregnant dog?

.............. What do you think happens? I really don't know how to answer this without being very blunt and that will no doubt cause a ton of angry posts. Just think about it. Are you familiar with abortion?

[wolfsoul]

You remove the uterus when you spay a dog. Since the puppies are in the uterus, the puppies would die. There is no reason to spay a pregnant dog. Obviously ir can't become any more pregnant, and it won't breed again until it's next heat, which gives plenty of time to have her spayed. It also shouldn't be spayed right after gving birth. It's just too stressful on the body and the dog needs those hormones while nursing.

[ihartgonzo]

=( I'm curious how anyone could not notice a 1 1/2 year old dogs teeth/appearance/disposition are completely different from a 3 month olds... both the shelter and the new owner.

Good luck with the puppies & Mom, I hope everything turns out ok.

[Citrus007]

Thanks wolfsoul, thats what I thought, it just sounded so mean.

[BlackDog]

My dog went into heat a little while before we went on vacation. We had left her in the care of my neighbors. She had a problem with jumping our fence so I asked them to please put her inside or keep her on her lead. When we got back she was no longer bleeding, and they did tell us that they let her off her lead and she had jumped out of our yard and disapeared for a day. I have now chosen to leave her with more responisble people, but that is beside the point. I KNOW that being in heat alone does not make a dog pregnant. I am not stupid. I know a thing or two about the reproductive process. So yes she most likey did lock up with another dog while we were gone.

Whether she is pregnant or not have her fixed. Fixes your problem either way.

[BlackDog]

=( I'm curious how anyone could not notice a 1 1/2 year old dogs teeth/appearance/disposition are completely different from a 3 month olds... both the shelter and the new owner.

Good luck with the puppies & Mom, I hope everything turns out ok.

Agreed. And I'm wondering what kind of shelter adopts out intact animals?

[Serena]

There is more about this story that doesn't click.

The OP said she got the dog and was told it was three months old with a contract to spay by the time the dog reached six months.

Two months later the OP found out her dog was in heat. She was informed the dog was older than suspected.

One month later the OP noticed possible signs of pregnancy.

Why was the surgery not scheduled when the OP was made aware her dog was in heat?

Why the surgery not scheduled when the OP was informed her dog was older than the shelter said.

The pieces to the puzzle don't fit and as was pointed out the teeth of an adult canine and puppy are totally different.

In regards to spaying a pregnant dog...If the pregnancy is diagnosed early enough I am 100% behind terminating a pregnancy if the breeding is an unplanned and irresponsible one.

[JennSLK]

Why was the surgery not scheduled when the OP was made aware her dog was in heat?


Some vets whont spay a dog during the heat. It is arguably safer to wait for a month after the heat's done. Depending on your vet.

[Serena]

Some vets whont spay a dog during the heat. It is arguably safer to wait for a month after the heat's done. Depending on your vet.

To clarify I did not ask why the dog was not spayed when it was found she was in heat.

I asked why the surgery was not scheduled.

[summitview]

There is no reason to spay a pregnant dog.

If a large male breeds to a female that is way too small, you'd better spay while pregnant or you'll end up with a dead bitch.

There are other reasons, all of them related to overpopulation and ethics.

[ChiBree]

Who's Vet lets you just walk in and order a spay, anyways? I think she's doing her best by calling the Vet 1st thing Monday morning.

[BlackDog]

Who's Vet lets you just walk in and order a spay, anyways? I think she's doing her best by calling the Vet 1st thing Monday morning.

Maybe they run their clinic resturant-style where the vet tech goes over to you with a little note pad, pen, and takes your order.

***So you want a spay? Would you like some heart worm preventative with that?"

[Boxerowner]

Maybe they run their clinic resturant-style where the vet tech goes over to you with a little note pad, pen, and takes your order.

***So you want a spay? Would you like some heart worm preventative with that?"


LMFAO!!! Tooo funny:D

My vets here don't do spays on any days but Tuesdays, and Thursdays and yo usually have to make an appointment 2 weeks in advance unless its an emergency.

[Roxy's CD]

I know that my vet's office only does major surgeries on Thursdays. But if I showed up when they opened with my poochies, they would definitely cater to my needs. Or, if she doesn't need surgery right away they would sign me up! LOL

I've called my vet many a times after hours, early in the morning etc, and she has come to my house once, and talked me through it over the phone.

If she does have to get them aborted *immediately* I would think that her vet would do so for the health of her dog.

[mjb]

As for what kind of shelter adopts out intact animals, there are some. The shelter that we got our cat from does not let any animals leave intact. Our kitten was 10 weeks old, and they neutered him before he left. (Our vet indicated he thought that was too young, but he understood that's what the Humane Society does). The shelter that we adopted our dog from did not have him neutered before he came home with us. He was 2 months old, and we signed a contract agreeing to have him neutered by 6 months old, and we were given a voucher to pay for it. They did follow up by phone to see why they hadn't received the voucher from our vet as proof he was fixed. At the time they called, he was 4 months old, and we told them that the vet wanted to wait until he was 6 months old. I suppose our vet requested payment after it was done, so they never called again. I don't know if they would have neutered him before adopting him out if he had been an adult or not.

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Our shelter adopts all their animals out unneutered and unspayed. If they come in intact they go out that way. You pay $30 for a dog and they give you a form that says when you go to have the animal spayed or neutered they will pay 2/3s of the bill. It doesn't say anything about that you HAVE to. There are too many people that just throw the sheet away because they don't want to even spend 1/3 of the price. The shelter is rediculous.

Just a quick question....how long have you had the dog for? Im just wondering.

I would ask for an ultrasound. You can only get x-rays done in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy.

[BlackDog]

As for what kind of shelter adopts out intact animals, there are some. The shelter that we got our cat from does not let any animals leave intact. Our kitten was 10 weeks old, and they neutered him before he left. (Our vet indicated he thought that was too young, but he understood that's what the Humane Society does). The shelter that we adopted our dog from did not have him neutered before he came home with us. He was 2 months old, and we signed a contract agreeing to have him neutered by 6 months old, and we were given a voucher to pay for it. They did follow up by phone to see why they hadn't received the voucher from our vet as proof he was fixed. At the time they called, he was 4 months old, and we told them that the vet wanted to wait until he was 6 months old. I suppose our vet requested payment after it was done, so they never called again. I don't know if they would have neutered him before adopting him out if he had been an adult or not.

When I asked that question I really meant "what kind of good shelter adopts out intact animal?" And that's just the thing, no good shelter would adopt out intact pets. (expect maybe small animals) the point of having shelter pets fixed is to avoid more being put into the same situation. The shelter pets aren't breeding quality anyway. Leaving them intact just isn't worth the risk of the dog getting pregnant, or getting another dog pregnant, if you don't want to breed them and just want an unfixed animal.

[txdachshunds]

Sad to say, if you spay a pregnant dog, you will also abort the pups.

[mjb]

The shelter I got my puppy from, unneutered, was the Humane Society in a small town. My kitten was also adopted from a Humane Society shelter in a city, and he was neutered. I had previously adopted from that same city shelter, years before, and they gave out vouchers to get the spay/neuter done at a later date. Maybe the small town shelter has just not caught up with the newer method of doing things. Even my vet was surprised that my kitten was neutered at such a young age!
I do understand that the only way they can be sure the animals they're adopting are getting spayed/neutered is doing before they leave the shelter.
All-in-all, though, I thought the Humane Society that we got Spanky from did a good job. They animals there were very well cared for, and they did a good job of communicating with the surrounding area about the problems of overpopulation and of advertising the pets they had up for adoption. I still look at their website often. I would definitely get another pet from them. But then, I always spay or neuter my pets.
It will be interesting to see if they adjust to the newer way of doing things and start having their adoptees fixed before they leave. They already have the vets who do the spay/neuters for free for the adopted pets after adoption.

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

Sad to say, if you spay a pregnant dog, you will also abort the pups.

Yes but sometimes when you know nothing about who she was bred with when she got out or whatever the case may be, or what sort of diseases the male may have, etc, sometimes it is much safer this way. I hate when vets insist on waiting until 6 months old as everyone knows by then animals can get pregnant and mate and that is way too young. I honestly would look into a vet that does not do pediatric spay and neuters and reconsider taking your animals to a vet who is a little more up to date with the times and aware of the overpopulation problems. A vet that refuses to do pediatric spay and neuters is most likely an older vet who went to vet school years and years ago when speutering was almost unheard of let alone done under 6 months.

I am also wondering too why the shelter or the OP/owner of the dog did not notice the CONDITION OF THE TEETH. Baby teeth are very obviously different from adult teeth and a 3 month old dog would have them still. Then you would notice them fall out and the pup would go through a teething stage and by 6 months would be getting adult teeth in. No baby teeth and not teething would be a dead giveaway that the dog is older then 6 months.

[LizzieCollie]

Its weird for shelters to not spay/neuter before adopting the dog out, at least I have never heard of it (doesnt mean it doesnt happen I just havent had that experience)

Anyway, take your dog to the vet to see if they can do an X-ray or Ultrasound to determine how far along she is, and if the pups are fine for her to carry. I know many people will bash me for this but I do not believe in spay/aborts. Maybe too large life threatning pups would be different, but if I ever have to make the decision I will let you know.

Also I find it a bit weird that a Shelter would not be able to tell a dogs age, given that a 3 month old has puppy teeth while a 1 1/2 year old dog will have fairly clean adult teeth. I can understand a first time dog owner, but come on, a shelter?

[StillandSilent]

Around here, some shelters fix and some don't. Our shelter spays and neuters everyting before it is adopted. The shelter one county over gives out certificates for when the animal reaches a certain age. I personally couldn't see doing it that way, because you know many people won't bother and then you have more unwanted babies.
When we adopted our cat from a shelter in a different state, she was unspayed. They gave us a coupon that could only be redeemed at the vet of their choice. We took her a week later to be spayed and declawed (before we understood declawing). She ended up getting a bad infection form the vet that the shelter refused to cover the antibiotics for. I later heard that that particular vet was an absolute butcher. I would have rather payed our vet the money and kept our girl healthy.
I do find it odd that the shelter misjudged her age. Although some dogs can look like pups on the outside, teeth don't lie.