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!

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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

 

[lakotasong]

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?

 

[lakotasong]

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.

 

[lakotasong]

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.