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How can you tell if your dog is pregnant? How long will...

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Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 2/1/2004
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OK Since I don't know how to answer all these questions I'll just answer the basics. If a female goes into heat her teats will enlarge and her vulva will enlarge too. People often mistake this for pregnancy. A Dog has to be in heat to be pregnant. If they breed assume that they are pregnant. They are pregnant for 58-66 days(9 weeks). The earliest you can tell they are pregnant is 3-4 weeks when you can go to the vet and get a dog pregnancy test that costs $20-$30 dollars.(repro check) Small breed dogs will start getting big around 5 weeks along. Bigger dogs may wait to show much until the last 2 weeks. Other signs of pregnancy are more interest in food and water, and possible increase in urinating due to enlarged uterus that squishes the bladder. They may begin to get lazier and lay around more. You need to be able to tell when they're ready for labor and know what to expect so during laor so you can be there and call the vet if something goes wrong. This is important because sometimes the complications can cost you the lives of the dogs. Other signs she is almost in labor are no interest in the most tempting food, restlessness, and "nest making." A good preparation website is http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/reproduction.htm Also be ready and read up on the many responsibility of taking care of pups. There is whelping, weaning, feeding, vaccinations, etc. You won't regret being prepared!!!! Good luck you all!

Answer by shibby
Submitted on 2/22/2004
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I'd just like to say that if your dog is pregnant, about the 58th day you need to pay close attention to her! Make sure once she has the puppies that they get her milk within 24 hours of birth, since she has special milk that strengthens their ammune system!!! If she is pregnant than within a few days of the birth she will have fluid coming out of her nipples. Check to see if she is NESTING by diging and making a comfortable place. If you find that she is pregnant give her a box within the first few day of birth so she can NEST in it, BUT DO NOT MAKE IT TO HIGH! It should be about 8 inches high or if you give them rags make sure to wash them frequently!!! There are a few stages in birth and you need to know WHEN and HOW to help your pet, so search online for different sites so you are well informed!!! Type in preparing for puppies or something simular to that, they have many tips!

Answer by shibby
Submitted on 2/22/2004
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I'd just like to say that if your dog is pregnant, about the 58th day you need to pay close attention to her! Make sure once she has the puppies that they get her milk within 24 hours of birth, since she has special milk that strengthens their ammune system!!! If she is pregnant than within a few days of the birth she will have fluid coming out of her nipples. Check to see if she is NESTING by diging and making a comfortable place. If you find that she is pregnant give her a boox within the first few day of birth so she can NEST in it, BUT DO NOT MAKE IT TO HIGH! It should be about8 inches high or if you give them reags make sure to wash them frequently!!! There are a few stages in birth and you need to know when and how to help out you pet, so search online for different sites so you are well informed!!! Type in preparing for puppies or something simular to that, they have many tips!

Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 2/22/2004
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She could be pregnant if she is getting fatter around 6 weeks. My dog bled some about that far along too but then it turned out to be a false pregnancy. I don't know what the diarreah means but it could be that she is not getting enough nutrition. Make sure she is getting fed 25% more each week of pregnancy from now on and that it is puppy food. She should be fed puppy food throughout pregnancy and nursing. It would be very helpful to you to go to the vet and get a dog pregnancy test because if she is not pregnant you don't want to overfeed her. She should get steadily fatter and if she is having pups expect them within 3 weeks. Read up all you can on whelping, know what to expect during that time, and know how to respond in case of an emergency. Failure to do so often results in the death of the mom and pups. For info on whelping go to: http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/reproduction.com Good luck!

Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 2/26/2004
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To chanel ladner(and Malanie at the end) You can't be sure when your dog mated but if she was in heat she probably did. The last time you thought she was pregnant and she wasn't was a false pregnancy. If you want to find out if she is really pregnant this time you can get a dog pregnancy test at the vet from $20-$30. You need to know how far along your dog is in her pregnancy so you can know when she is ready to have pups and be with her as she has them. Often if you are not there or don't know what to expect even if you are, the dog and the pups die due to complications! To find out the signs of pregnancy and tell how far along your dog is go to: http://www.schaferhund.com/pregnancy.htm and to find out how to tell your dogs time has come and what to expect go to: http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/reproduction.htm It is vital that you know what you are doing. You need to know how to care for the dog and the pups. If you have ANY questions please don't hesitate to email me (my email is right above your question) and I'll try to help. You can't be too careful with a pregnant dog! Also PLEASE spray your dog. You don't know what a huge responsibility a litter of pups is until you have them! You will have a nightmare keeping her away from males during heat too. If you won't do that then for her sake learn all you can about pregnancy, pre/post labor care, and then puppy care. Again I will be more than willing to help. Good luck!! Malanie: Did your dog start heat or end it two weeks ago? If she started it then the enlarged teats would make sense since that is one of the signs of heat. Did you see her breed yet? Some dogs won't breed until three weeks into their cycle so she may not be receptive yet. If you want info on signs of pregnancy, how soon, care, puppies,etc email me. (My email address is two answers up) Good luck to you!

Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 2/29/2004
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Whelping is a natural thing and the dog usually can do it alone but problems often arise and you need to be there if they have them to help. However in your case this could be a very dangerous situation for you and your dog maricela! First of all chihuahuas almost always have birth complications due to their size and more often than not a pup or the mom will die! Not only that but 10 months is waaaay too young too have pups for any breed. Their bodies aren't mature enough. I'm sorry if I'm scaring you but I want you to know how dangerous this is. You need to 1. Know how far along your dog is 2. know how to tell she is ready to have pups so you can be with her as she has them 3. Know what to expect in labor so if something abnormal comes along you can call the vets emergency number or if time doesn't permit that, help the pups yourself! For the sake of your dog please be prepared and learn all you can. Next time if you don't spray her please learn all you can on breeding, pregnancy care, signs of pregnancy, labor, etc. Your dogs life could depend on it! I would love to help you in any way I can!:) Email me at stanishas@aol.com. The best of luck to you!!!!!! Bye:) Tanisha

Answer by Tanisha
Submitted on 3/10/2004
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If he keeps breeding her then yes she, more likely then not, will get pregnant. You have no idea what you are heading into though! First there is pregnancy with all the care and attention it needs then there is whelping in which complications sometimes arise that can cost lots of money or worse the dog and pup's life! Then the pups with their shots, messes, food, selling, etc. It is a BIG responsibility! For the signs and care of pregnancy go to: http://www.schaferhund.com/pregnancy.htm and for the signs, stages, and situations of whelping and post-whelping care go to: http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/reproduction.htm If your dog gets pregnant try to separate her and the male especially over whelping time. The male could kill the pups. If your dog does get pregnant I wish you the best of luck but if not you don't have to be too disappointed! Bye! Tanisha P.S. If you have other questions you can email me at stanishas@aol.com

Answer by immortal
Submitted on 4/18/2004
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Hi.These are the simple things to look for to see if your dog is pregnant or not. 1.your dog is loosing her appetite. 2.her stomache is getting bigger. 3.the dog wobbles while walking or running. 4.your dog sleeps alot. 5.your dog also lays down alot. 6.the dog will look for warm places to stay alot. 7.also,your dog will change her attitude 8.your dog's nipples will be bigger,and will have milk in them. 9.you can feel the babies move in the stomache about a week or 2 before giving birth.So that will give you a hint.(that hint is you will know that it is due very soon). 10.your dog will be due 3 months 10 days or less. 11.last,your dog will need to eat some other different kind of food to be real healthy.(but you don't really need to). and that's how you check if your dog is pregnant or not.have a good day.

Answer by Thankfully Informed
Submitted on 8/4/2004
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This is for Bella, and just about everyone else posting questions on this site. Please,Please, educate yourselves, and get your dogs fixed! Unless you own a dog that is worth breeding and understand all that is involved in the breeding process as well as the what it takes to raise puppies, I beg you to get your dogs fixed. As far as Bella goes, the chances that she is pregnant are fairly high. When in heat females are usually bred at the 11th - 14th day. After which their chances of becoming pregnant begin to decline. Since the period of gestation (ave. of 63 days for a dog of her size) is short, you will begin to signs that she is pregnant around 2-3 weeks. Her nipples will be the first indication, along with mood swings and appetite changes. You might want to discuss all of this with your vet and also have your vet make recommendations for her diet during pregnancy as well. If this is her first heat, I would then assume your dog is pretty young. This can also come with issues. Being a young Mother very similar to that of humans. I would also discuss this with your vet if this is the case. If your dog does have pups, please seek as much help as possible, make sure they are clean and safe. After 8 weeks, send the puppies on to their new homes and get your dog fixed. She will thank you for it.

Answer by Sunnysmom
Submitted on 8/8/2004
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I believe my dog is pregnant as she has been in heat for about a week now. She got out of the house the other day (we are still trying to break her of running as she was a stray before we got her). She was gone for like 7 hours and then came back home. She has never done that before. We usually have to go looking for her. She has never just come back home. Anyhow, my question is that if she did "fool around" while she was out and is pregnant, she is only like 3 or 4 days pregnant. Can you still use the topical flea agents like Advantage, etc. on the dog. All the packages say not to use on a pregnant dog. I do not know for sure that she is pregnant but I do not want to take a chance on hurting her. My vet is currently out-of-town and my local pet store thought that it would probably be okay for this month but not after this month until after she delivers. I would appreciate any advice on this. Thanks a bunch.

Answer by Lynne
Submitted on 8/29/2004
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I think that everyone believes that when dogs breed they become "lock" or "stuck" together and the female yelps. And that is the only way the female dog can become pregnant. Well, speaking from experience my dog did not get stuck or locked to the male and she never yelp either. However just as as it is for a woman, female dogs can only get pregnant during a certain time of their season, 14 to 21 days after the first day. The average season for a female dog is 27 to 30 days and they should go into season every 6 to 7 months. Once pregnant it will take 63 days before she will deliver.However if you suspect that your pet is pregnant or she is showing the signs of being pregnant, i.e. wanting to sleep more, eating more, going potty more, increased color change and size in her teats and gaining weight. Then it would be most important to take her to the vet to find out for sure. There you can learn important ways to help better her care during her special time. I as the mommy to a small breed of dog, recommend that instead of waiting for your dog to go into labor and risk complication and the possibly losing not only the puppy's but your beloved pet as well. That you contact your vet and schedule a planed doggy C-section. That way you can help cut down the chance of losing any of them.I desire that the information I have provided has been helpful to someone. As I truly understand how upsetting and confusing this can all be when you don't know what to do or what's going on. Gook luck.....

Answer by Adam Strickland
Submitted on 10/3/2004
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I have a big-boned German Shepherd that is only a year and a half old. She is outside on a chain(plastic chain with a nice collar). I had been hearing all my outside dogs barking a lot recently (My big-boned German Shepherd, My full-blood German shepherd and my boxer pit mix.) Well, recently I found out the barking was from a neighbors dog coming over and mating her. I have no idea which time she became pregnant but now she is. Her teats are big and lactating. My problem is she loves to jump around when she gets excited. Will she hurt her pups by jumping? Also, is there any tips on how to tell when she is about to have them? Answer here or email me at Kiddokiddykid@yahoo.com.

Answer by Brandy
Submitted on 4/4/2005
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hi... i have a question about my boxer puppy....She is about 13 months old and has gone into heat cant remember the exact day....we have kept her in the house everyday up until today and we thought she was done bleeding and let her outside...when we returned home she was stuck to a german shepard...we are not sure how long they were stuck but we broke them up with hot water.....im just curious if she may be pregnant...i know its a possibility but i dont know how long it takes when they get stuck together to get pregnant....???? Also wanted to know is it possible she could have gotten pregnant by this other dog that jumped on her on a few separate occasions....he got it in but didnt stick to her? please help if u can...Your help is very much appreciated.... Thank you

Answer by mstawana
Submitted on 4/23/2005
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I have a 2yr old staff terrior, we tried to mate her feb 27,now her teat are bigger,and her rib cage is bigger but i cant tell if i feel puppie, and i dont have a vet fee, she is a very friendly dog to everyone strangers and all, she is a inside house dog, if she is pregnant i guess she is about 50 something days, she has still been acting the usual laying around in my daughters bed, but the other day, we tied her up in the back yard which we have done probably about 15 times since we had her and she watch people come and go she comes to them wags her tail licks them, the neighbor came over whom she plays with through the fence sometimes,to do her garden on my side of the house and my dog bit her and she doesnt bite she is over friendly. does this sound like a pregnant dog?

Answer by KonstantineK
Submitted on 6/21/2005
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How old are some of the people posting questions here? I hope not out of elementary school because I question your spelling and grammatical ability. I know this FAQ is for generally asking questions, but be mature about it. I thank the people posting here who actually know what their talking about, or have genuine inquiries. My family has a walker hound/beagle mix of about 5 years, and we're guessing she and our new 8 month old Siberian husky mated about a month ago. Her teats have gotten bigger, as well as her tummy, but I was wondering if it's safe for a small to medium sized dog to give birth to a possibly large litter of a larger breed dog, such as a Siberian husky. Would someone of actual knowledge of facts, rather than just estimations or guesses please reply, Thank you.

Answer by Tina
Submitted on 9/17/2005
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Sixteen days ago my mom found a dog on the side of the road who had been hit by a car. We have only had her in our care for the past 2 weeks. Now I'm not sure but I would think she would have miscarried her litter because of the accident if she in fact were pregnant, but over the days I have noticed some signs that other people have posted. She pees a lot, and she can get moody. She also seems lazy and her genital area and nipples look pronounced. A lot of these symptoms I know could be just effects of the trauma of the accident, and the assumed cracked pelvis observed by 3 vets. It would mean a lot if you could tell me your thoughts. The last thing that I want is for her to be pregnant AND have a pelvic injury.