I think my dog is pregnant.

[Momof2Pups]

My dog Lucy is a small, just under 10 pounds. Little did we know, before her heat we didn't know she had started it that early then and had been with the neighbor's unneutered chow mix during a play date. This wasn't intended, and we are going to do our very best with the pups. No spay/neuter lectures please. She's going to be spayed as soon as she is through this. Now several weeks later, she's gaining weight, her abdomen is starting to swell, her nipples are slightly larger, she's sleeping more, and she's eating more. If she's pregnant, can I expect birthing problems because of the great size difference?

[Bailey+Ralph]

Did you speak to the vets?
I am not good with this sort of thing :(
Good luck with her!
Have you worked out her Due time yet?

[gaddylovesdogs]

A Chihuahua mix will not be able to give birth to Chow-sized puppies.

[Momof2Pups]

A Chihuahua mix will not be able to give birth to Chow-sized puppies.


That sounds right. So do you think she might need a C-section?

[Roxy's CD]

I don't know, but I've heard of false pregnancies..

I'd take her to the vet ASAP, then at least you'll know for sure and I'm sure your vet will be able to answer all of your questions :D

[Momof2Pups]

I don't know, but I've heard of false pregnancies..

I'd take her to the vet ASAP, then at least you'll know for sure and I'm sure your vet will be able to answer all of your questions :D


Thanks. ;)

[pup-man]

If she is prego, you need to take her to the vet to have the pregnancy aborted asap.

[dr2little]

If she is pregnant with pups from a dog that big, c-section would be the least of your worries. Rupture of the uterus is more the issue, best to discuss with your Vet. ASAP in case abortion of this pregnancy is necessary to save your little girl.

[Boxerowner]

I'm just curious to why you would think she was bred to him? Was no one supervising the play date?

[Momof2Pups]

Oh my gosh! I'm so scared now! Ok, so what is going on in her body that is dangerous? Like is it that she can't deliver big puppies, or they can't even grow in her uterus? What's happening to her?

[pitbulliest]

Was she not being supervised when this happened?
I would get an abortion...

[Bailey+Ralph]

Do you know for sure that she is pregnant? If she is you should know how far along she is going on the "play date" date?
I would suggest Abortion if it is risking her life to proceed with an unwanted pregnancy!

[Momof2Pups]

I would suggest Abortion if it is risking her life to proceed with an unwanted pregnancy!

Yes, I hear everyone's feedback, and it's all the same, but what is happening to her?

Since it's Saturday and my vet's office or any others are open around where I live, so first thing on Monday we're going to call, and judging by what the vet says, I'll take action on whatever is best for my girl.
I am very iffy about abortions! Do vets do it humanely with a shot like they do people, or is it really "puncturing the uterus" like someone said? I wouldn't do that to Lucy unless whatever could happen is worse.

[RedyreRottweilers]

Huge puppies in a tiny bitch.

Best choice most likely is to spay her NOW.

[Boxerowner]

We if you are seeing signs now of her belly growing and its late the pregnancy then I wouldn't abort them unless the pups just are way to big.

Again why do you thinks she is pregnant? Was the play date not supervised?

[Momof2Pups]

Huge puppies in a tiny bitch.

Best choice most likely is to spay her NOW.


I always heard it was dangerous to spay a dog in heat, let alone a pregnant dog!

[Bailey+Ralph]

Yes, I hear everyone's feedback, and it's all the same, but what is happening to her?

Since it's Saturday and my vet's office or any others are open around where I live, so first thing on Monday we're going to call, and judging by what the vet says, I'll take action on whatever is best for my girl.
I am very iffy about abortions! Do vets do it humanely with a shot like they do people, or is it really "puncturing the uterus" like someone said? I wouldn't do that to Lucy unless whatever could happen is worse.

I know that you hear what is being said...........the reason i ask the date that she had the play date is to know roughly how far along she could be......in order to know if she is in any immediate danger!

[Boxerowner]

Its dangerous either way to have or have an abortion.

[Momof2Pups]

I know that you hear what is being said...........the reason i ask the date that she had the play date is to know roughly how far along she could be......in order to know if she is in any immediate danger!

The play date was roughly 5 weeks ago. We left Lucy with her puppy friend Rocky, and the owners failed to tell us that his testicles had descended ( I knooowww, the situation is even worse; the father is a puppy about 8 months old!) and we didn't kow Lucy had entered her heat yet, but she had and now we're here 5 weeks later after she was alone in heat with a male dog for hours, and she's having symptoms of pregnancy. I feel so guilty! :(

[RedyreRottweilers]

Your bitch likely would not have accepted a male for breeding until after you had clearly noticed her being in season.

If this were my bitch, I would not do any more guesswork. She would be at the vets getting spayed FIRST THING Monday morning.

[Boxerowner]

Time to stop feeling guilty and just make sure she has the best.

I think it would be wrong this late in her pregnancy (if she is) to abort unless they become to big. She might need a section I would have her xray at about 7-8 weeks pregnant or when eve your vet advises you.

Good luck keep us up to date.

[Momof2Pups]

If this were my bitch, I would not do any more guesswork. She would be at the vets getting spayed FIRST THING Monday morning.

I already stated we are going to make an appt. on Monday.

[RedyreRottweilers]

It is about 2 weeks past the ideal time to have spayed her if she IS pregnant, however, it can still be done.

If it were my dog, there is no way I would let her have those puppies. Trying to let her have them, having to have a section, etc, would be much more dangerous than spaying her NOW, IMO.

Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

[RedyreRottweilers]

don't make an appt.

Take her in FIRST THING Monday morning, and if she were mine, I would withhold food Sun evening so that if they can do the surgery, she will be ready.

[Bailey+Ralph]

I am not too knowledgable with Breeding and all this but i am trying to work this out..............5 weeks is around 35days, i am sure that just from reading posts here that a preg lasts for 62 days??

Now that would make her around half way (if she is preg).......she is too small to carry pups from the dog........I would think that she is in danger now if she is carrying puppies.

However.........I do know that Bitches can have a psuedo/false pregnancy after a heat too.

Also, before i was advised not to put Bailey to stud i done some research on what age he should be.

Alot of sites i visited said that he should be at least 1-2 years b/c his sperm wouldn't be "Ready" before then!
But.........as i said, i am not that knowledgable and there are others here who could help alot more than i can.
I am just stating to you what i have learnt.....I could be right......although i could be way off, i am sure that i will be corrected if i am wrong with any of this.

Please try and get her to the vets as soon as you can.

Don't feel guilty, you will worry more if you do!

[Momof2Pups]

My gut says to call the vet first and seee what she has to say. I am doing the best I can with my dog. I think an abortions seems way to drastic. I don't want to hurt my girl! But I don't want her to be hurt delivering an impossible litter, either. We figured we'd get to the vet for a c-section if they couldn't be delivered. What's wrong with that?

[Bailey+Ralph]

My gut says to call the vet first and seee what she has to say. I am doing the best I can with my dog. I think an abortions seems way to drastic. I don't want to hurt my girl! But I don't want her to be hurt delivering an impossible litter, either. We figured we'd get to the vet for a c-section if they couldn't be delivered. What's wrong with that?

I think that what people are trying to say is not only would she most certainly need a C-section for delivery.........but there is a chance that her uterus/womb could rupture while carrying the puppies.

[dr2little]

I think that one thing that some people who have posted are worried about is not will she have trouble delivering, but rather will her uterus hold up while these pups grow too large. You said it was a chow mix and she's only 10 lbs herself, that's the biggest concern, her little body may not be able to accommodate such large puppies. An abortion (if it could even be done) would only be done to save her life...if it's even necessary. Only your Vet will know for sure which way to go with her.
You're right, as you said you're getting her to the Vet as soon as possible to see what he/she says. Who knows, it still may be a false pregnancy...although it sounds pretty real to me..
Good Luck and please keep us all up to date.
I wish more places had 24 hour clinics. There are three 24 hour animal hospitals within a five mile radius of where I live..

[dr2little]

I think that what people are trying to say is not only would she most certainly need a C-section for delivery.........but there is a chance that her uterus/womb could rupture while carrying the puppies.

As you can see I type too slow...we posted at the same time and with the same conclusion..;)

[Bailey+Ralph]

As you can see I type too slow...we posted at the same time and with the same conclusion..;)

Yeah, but yours looks so much better explained than mine :D :p

[Momof2Pups]

I think that one thing that some people who have posted are worried about is not will she have trouble delivering, but rather will her uterus hold up while these pups grow too large. You said it was a chow mix and she's only 10 lbs herself, that's the biggest concern, her little body may not be able to accommodate such large puppies. An abortion (if it could even be done) would only be done to save her life...if it's even necessary. Only your Vet will know for sure which way to go with her.
You're right, as you said you're getting her to the Vet as soon as possible to see what he/she says. Who knows, it still may be a false pregnancy...although it sounds pretty real to me..
Good Luck and please keep us all up to date.
I wish more places had 24 hour clinics. There are three 24 hour animal hospitals within a five mile radius of where I live..


Thank you so much for the perspective. I now understand peoples' advice of action as soon as possible much more clearly. I'll just do whatever is needed so it is as safe as possible, as soon as possible.
I wish there were more 24 hr. clinics too!

[summitview]

I think an abortions seems way to drastic.

You wouldn't think that if you'd seen some of the horrors that can result from poorly planned or unplanned breedings (during pregnancy, whelping and the first few weeks of life for pups). Nor if you had euthanized a few hundred dogs.

[summitview]

I always heard it was dangerous to spay a dog in heat, let alone a pregnant dog!

Get a good vet. At the shelters, we spayed plenty of pregnant bitches with no problem.

[Momof2Pups]

You wouldn't think that if you'd seen some of the horrors that can result from poorly planned or unplanned breedings (during pregnancy, whelping and the first few weeks of life for pups). Nor if you had euthanized a few hundred dogs.


Do the things you're referring to really happen to perfectly healthy dogs, or is it more common with puppy-mill type situations. I can understand what you mean, though.

[summitview]

Do the things you're referring to really happen to perfectly healthy dogs, or is it more common with puppy-mill type situations. I can understand what you mean, though.

The best, most responsible, educated and experienced breeder in the world can have horrid things happen in breeding, to their bitch and pups. It's always a chance. Some things cannot be prevented. Some things you cannot control - dogs are living beings and things happen with their bodies that are uncontrollable. There are always risks involved with breeding, that's why only very educated, experienced people should do it.

[Fran27]

Dogs get euthanized all the time just because of overcrowding in shelters. I'm sure 95% of them are healthy.

But in your case, your bitch can die if she is really pregnant and you're doing nothing now - imagine being pregnant with babies from humans twice your size or more... Where is the closest 24h clinic from you? Maybe you could just call them and ask for their opinion, even if you can't go that far.

Good luck, and keep us posted... might just be a false pregnancy.

[Momof2Pups]

But in your case, your bitch can die if she is really pregnant and you're doing nothing now

You make it sound like I don't care. I love my dogs as much as it is humanly possible, and I don't want anything to happen to her. I am trying to get her in to the vet ASAP, and I'm doing my best to seek out advice and help her. If I didn't care and I was doing "nothing" I wouldn't be on this site panicking, asking and challenging questions to get informed about pregnancies by the widest amount of experienced people I can.

[Saje]

You have gotten really good advice here but I'm not sure you have heard it. I hope you will consider having an emergency spay done on your bitch. Weren't your vet clinics open for the last five weeks?

[OutlineACDs]

First of all, an 'abortion' isnt quite the same in people as in dogs. Dogs also have a MUCH higher pain tolerance than humans do. If you were going to have her spayed anyway, why is it such a big deal??? Just withhold her food Sunday night and take her in for a spay FIRST thing Monday morning? They do spays on pregnant bitches, and even bitches in heat. It is possible, and it is not any more invasive than a regular spay. Some vets are hesitant to do it, but if you explain that you think she has been bred I'm sure he would be more than happy to perform the spay. It seems as though even if it was an 'accident' you are coming up with reasons to not take action. Get her in there ASAP.

[Momof2Pups]

You have gotten really good advice here but I'm not sure you have heard it. I hope you will consider having an emergency spay done on your bitch. Weren't your vet clinics open for the last five weeks?

I know, and i even mentioned that I am glad for everyone's advice and I'm considering all of it. Why did you jump to those conclusions? Of course they were, but at 5 weeks she started showing and we put two and two together.



First of all, an 'abortion' isnt quite the same in people as in dogs. Dogs also have a MUCH higher pain tolerance than humans do. If you were going to have her spayed anyway, why is it such a big deal??? Just withhold her food Sunday night and take her in for a spay FIRST thing Monday morning? They do spays on pregnant bitches, and even bitches in heat. It is possible, and it is not any more invasive than a regular spay. Some vets are hesitant to do it, but if you explain that you think she has been bred I'm sure he would be more than happy to perform the spay. It seems as though even if it was an 'accident' you are coming up with reasons to not take action. Get her in there ASAP.

I'm just anxious and worried. I was confident everything was going to be okay, and today there was a huge turn for the worse on what could happen to Lucy. My "reasons not to take action" are fear and worry on how it's going to go. It takes more than words from people I don't even know to change my mind so drastically about risky surgeries. And if you really think i just don't want to "take action," why on earth would I put my dog through something that could hurt or even kill her??? I'm doing the best I can. Just accept that.

[Saje]

I know, and i even mentioned that I am glad for everyone's advice and I'm considering all of it. Why did you jump to those conclusions? Of course they were, but at 5 weeks she started showing and we put two and two together.

Jumping to conclusions? It was a question dear that's why I put a question mark on the end. ??? I was wondering because it seems like the thought would have crossed your mind when she didn't go into heat or when you found out she was playing with an intact male. You could have found out yesterday or Thursday. It didn't have to be today, therefore the question. :p

[Momof2Pups]

Jumping to conclusions? It was a question dear that's why I put a question mark on the end. ??? I was wondering because it seems like the thought would have crossed your mind when she didn't go into heat or when you found out she was playing with an intact male. You could have found out yesterday or Thursday. It didn't have to be today, therefore the question. :p

You know what? I'm sorry. I was the one that just jumped to conclusions. I'm just waaay in defensive mode, I know I'm not a terrible dog owner, but from being uncautious I got myself and my dog into trouble and I'm probably coming off that way! ;)

[Saje]

Nah. Stuff happens to everyone. I just hope you get her to the vet soon.

[Momof2Pups]

Nah. Stuff happens to everyone. I just hope you get her to the vet soon.

Me too!!:confused:

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Hey, momof2, pseudo pregnancies and real pregnancies are very hard to tell the difference between. I don't honestly think that she is any grave danger at the moment. Its not like she is bursting at the seams. Does she seem distressed at all? If she is pregnant the pregnancy seems (from what you have told us) very normal for 5 weeks along. Unless of course I have missed something (I just kind of skimmed the thread). I don't see any reason why you can't wait to see the vet on Monday. Its not life or death right now.

[Bailey+Ralph]

Hey, momof2, pseudo pregnancies and real pregnancies are very hard to tell the difference between. I don't honestly think that she is any grave danger at the moment. Its not like she is bursting at the seams. Does she seem distressed at all? If she is pregnant the pregnancy seems (from what you have told us) very normal for 5 weeks along. Unless of course I have missed something (I just kind of skimmed the thread). I don't see any reason why you can't wait to see the vet on Monday. Its not life or death right now.

The reason everyone are saying to get to the vets is that her dog weighs less than 10LB and there is a chance of her being 5 weeks preggers with the puppies of a Chow mix. We are concerned that her uterus might not withstand the strain.

Momof2..........please don't feel that everyone here is "Having a go" at you.
We all want the best for your dog (as do you) and we are sat at the other end of a PC and some of us across the other side of the world...........Now and then it is easy to misread/misjudge people on here.
We all know that you are worried for your dog and want the best for her.
It's just that some of us wouldn't have waited for "signs" to happen after realising that our dog was in heat during a play date :)

[savethebulliedbreeds]

I completely understand why you guys want her to get to the vet now, but she said she her dog just started showing. I'm almost positive that her uterus will be fine until Monday if she can't get to a vet at this moment. I would say to get her in now if she was huge already but by the sounds of it she just started showing (again, correct me if I am wrong). She's not going to explode in a matter of a day.

[Aussie Red]

I am just going to say this and then opt out. Everyone has and will make mistakes. I feel bad that this has happened to you and if you learn then so much the better.
I too had this happen to my first dog a female lab because I did not know that at 6 months they went into heat and did not know what to look for.
We took her to vet to be spayed after a neighbor told us and she came through it just fine.
I hope that your dog comes through this allright as well and I am truly sorry you had to learn these things like I did.
Good luck to you and your little girl and please let us know how it turns out.
I am not going to condem you I just want you to know this your not the first one to have this happen and most assuredly wont be the last.
If you can educate just one other new dog owner then all is not lost.

[Red_ACD_for_me]

MOMof2, everyone has given great info to you and if anything take this as a learning experience. I also would recommend you talk to the owner of the chow mix for them to get him neutered. A mix breed has nothing to offer to the gene pool anyway so why is he even intact? Unless, he is owned by a man then I would get my answer :D I hope your girl is okay :)

[StillandSilent]

We actually had a similar situation at our shelter. We had a 12lb dog who had gotton pregnant by the neighbors Pit Bull. She ended up needing a C-section. She only had three puppies, but she ended up not having enough milk to nurse them all, so we had to bottle feed. That is something else to consider if you decide to go through with the pregnancy. Our shelter has also spayed pregnant bitches without problems.

[bubbatd]

Sadly enough ( I've posted this before, but this is for newbies ) I had to have my Golden aborted ..... because of a stupid pet sitter who let her out of her pen , or let my males in, when she was in heat. This would have been Father or brother or a visiting neighbor's dog.... neither acceptable when breeding seriously . Very sad and costly to me, but I couldn't bring " problem " dogs into the world. I've also had phantom pregnancies ... nesting, full utters, and a gathering of stuff animals at " due date " .....when I knew d@mn well that she wasn't within 10 feet of a male for the full 4 weeks.

[Fran27]

I hope we get an update today!

[Momof2Pups]

We called the vet this morning. She said she could see Lucy at 11:00 on Wednesday. That's not as early as I would like, but seeing how Lucy is doing now, I know she'll be ok until then. I am so anxious as to what the vet will say about her.

[Fran27]

Keep us posted!

[Bailey+Ralph]

Oops, i asked you in the other Thread how she was.
I didn't realise that you had said here she is going to the Vets on Wed :)

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Momof2, you will be just fine waiting until Wednesday to take her to the vets. Keep us posted.

[sportingdogs]

The play date was roughly 5 weeks ago. We left Lucy with her puppy friend Rocky, and the owners failed to tell us that his testicles had descended ( I knooowww, the situation is even worse; the father is a puppy about 8 months old!) and we didn't kow Lucy had entered her heat yet, but she had and now we're here 5 weeks later after she was alone in heat with a male dog for hours, and she's having symptoms of pregnancy. I feel so guilty! :(

At five weeks post, you can STILL have her spayed...but I would not wait any longer!!

[Momof2Pups]

Just got back from the vet. They said it could be a uterine infection but ruled it out because she's not slacking off of food or getting sick, and said she couldn't feel any puppies, but we decided it didn't matter if she was pregnant or not, she's going to be spayed a week from today.

[summitview]

but we decided it didn't matter if she was pregnant or not, she's going to be spayed a week from today.

Kudos!

[Bailey+Ralph]

Just got back from the vet. They said it could be a uterine infection but ruled it out because she's not slacking off of food or getting sick, and said she couldn't feel any puppies, but we decided it didn't matter if she was pregnant or not, she's going to be spayed a week from today.

Great :)

[bubbatd]

Clap-Clap!!!

[SummerRiot]

Thats SUCH a great decision! :)

Congradulations! :)

[Fran27]

Great decision! At least you won't have to worry about this happening anymore. Glad she doesn't seem to be pg though!

[Momof2Pups]

Sorry no update for so long. My phone line's been down.
We took Lucy to the vet and she was spayed. She's healing really well and we're taking great care to keep her comfortable. :)
The vet said when they opened er up she was in heat. She looked sooo pregnant and gained 4 pounds only to lose them again in a week. That's weird because at her highest she was at 13 pounds. :confused:

[bubbatd]

Glad all's well .... give her a Grammy hug and a lick from Ollie !

[BlackDog]

My dog Lucy is a small, just under 10 pounds. Little did we know, before her heat we didn't know she had started it that early then and had been with the neighbor's unneutered chow mix during a play date. This wasn't intended, and we are going to do our very best with the pups. No spay/neuter lectures please. She's going to be spayed as soon as she is through this. Now several weeks later, she's gaining weight, her abdomen is starting to swell, her nipples are slightly larger, she's sleeping more, and she's eating more. If she's pregnant, can I expect birthing problems because of the great size difference?

If she is pregnant and even if she does have a c-section if can be damagining to her health, if not kill her, to carry a litter that large to term.

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

If she is pregnant and even if she does have a c-section if can be damagining to her health, if not kill her, to carry a litter that large to term.

When threads are this long, you should skim through at least the last page and see what the updates are. She already knows this and her dog has been determined not pregnant and spayed :)

[BlackDog]

When threads are this long, you should skim through at least the last page and see what the updates are. She already knows this and her dog has been determined not pregnant and spayed :)

I just finished it now. I almost always skim, but of course the one time I didn't..::Snaps fingers::..I get called out.

[LizzieCollie]

Why wasnt this dog spayed from the day she became part of the household? You could have avoided a nasty scare had she been spayed from the day she was in your possesion. But yep Im glad she is not pregnant, tiny bitch and huge dog spells disaster no matter how you put it

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

I just finished it now. I almost always skim, but of course the one time I didn't..::Snaps fingers::..I get called out.

Hey no biggie, I noticed that between this and the other (cat) forum I am part of, a LOT of people don't! So I just wanted to point it out. I guess it really wasn't necessary of me to do that, but oh well!

[colliewog]

The genetics there could lead to pups so large that they could rupture the uterus. That is a very unnatural size difference. I agree that you need to get her in to the vet to verify that she's pregnant and that she doesn't have either a false pregnancy or begininng pyometra.

[AnimalLoverCatRescuer]

The genetics there could lead to pups so large that they could rupture the uterus. That is a very unnatural size difference. I agree that you need to get her in to the vet to verify that she's pregnant and that she doesn't have either a false pregnancy or begininng pyometra.

The dog is spayed already :)

[LizzieCollie]

....still waiting to know. Why wasnt this dog spayed from the moment she became part of your family? Would have avoided all this worry for you

[Bailey+Ralph]

....still waiting to know. Why wasnt this dog spayed from the moment she became part of your family? Would have avoided all this worry for you

No point in going over what could have been done in the 1st place, the OP learnt from her mistake and now the dog is spayed and all is good :)

[LizzieCollie]

oh dont get me wrong i wasnt trying to be mean, just really curious because I believe she was a rescue (shelter or elsewise?) so I would think she would have been spayed already

[Bailey+Ralph]

oh dont get me wrong i wasnt trying to be mean, just really curious because I believe she was a rescue (shelter or elsewise?) so I would think she would have been spayed already

I know you weren't trying to be mean :)
Just don't see the point in going over old ground now that all is fixed :)

[LizzieCollie]

lol no prob!

[mjb]

I'm not sure where her dog came from, but all shelters don't spay/neuter. I've had my dog for 2 years. I got him as a puppy from a shelter who had us sign a contract to have him neutered at 6 months of age. They gave us a voucher to pay for it, and they called when they thought our vet should have sent the voucher in and hadn't! (We had the neuter scheduled for a few days later).

We got our kitten from a different shelter, and they would not send the kitten home before they neutered him.

[LizzieCollie]

yep ive heard of shelters that dont spay/neuter right away but give out a voucher. I find that irresponsible. What if you decide you dont want to alter your dog? Will they take it away?

What if you schedule a spay a months away, dog goes into heat and she becomes pregnant? Now i know that many people will say 'well go ahead and spay/abort anyway' But there are also many people like myself that have been raised to believe abortion is wrong and will not spay the bitch.

Or what if your unaltered shelter pup gets lose and impregnantes 2 or 3 bitches?

Shelters should really change that policy. Ive been to two of our shelters here in Puerto Rico and both spay/neuter before having the pets go home. Some people are too lazy and irresponsible to get it done.

[colliewog]

The dog is spayed already :)

Oops! Guess I missed that post -- it was quite a few pages! I went back to check. Glad all went well!