My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

??pregnant dog!!

15 replies

happygardening · 02/05/2012 18:44

My new bitch came onto season about seven weeks ago, my dog whose frankly not got much idea looked a bit blank about the whole thing but we separated them. Then as the season got stronger (?right term) the penny dropped my dog realised what this was all about and went frankly mad. So my friends had the bitch for about 8 days and returned her when other dogs she met were not showing any interest. When the bitch came back we still kept then separated because he was still very interested but my DS accidentally let them in together for about 20 mins whist he was in the bath!
Now the bitch is exhausted can even climb steps, obsessed about food she raiding the bins and eating bird food and pees on the floor at night (she's never done this before). But rather than gaining weight i would say she's sort of lost it but her rib cage has sort of expanded. She's a very long back dog and some helpful person at work was telling me that long back dogs carry puppies "high up" and often don't look pregnant and just their rib cage looks well sprung (hers does) and even scan aren't always conclusive!
Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Report
EdlessAllenPoe · 02/05/2012 18:48

dogs often don't show pregnancy.

their rear becomes swollen, but that can happen quite late...

the behaviour sounds strange and like a pregnant dog - is she following you around?

can you phone your vet to see if you can give her an abortion jab?

Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 18:53

Is it too late they got together about 4 weeks ago (my son only told me at the weekend)! She always follow me around but when she sits down she seems to sort of spread out just behind her ribs. I am going to take her to the vet on Friday but I wondered if anyone had any experience of false negative scans in long backed dogs? Sort of hoping work colleague was making it all up!!

OP posts:
Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 19:23

Oh meant to add she's panting all the time but she looks well; her eyes are bright and she's wagging her tail and jumping around when people she likes come in the house, and trying to chase the cat but as soon as she walks for more than about 20 mins she's absolutely exhausted although this is slightly improved 3 weeks ago I had to drag her along when we went for a walk.

OP posts:
Report
D0oinMeCleanin · 02/05/2012 19:27

Go to a vet. Pronto. What if it is something far more serious?

And start saving your pennies, just in case. Pregnant bitches and properly rasing a litter is not cheap, by any means.

Do ask about alternatives. Not having the puppies would be much safer and much more pleasent for your bitch. Cheaper too.

Report
EdlessAllenPoe · 02/05/2012 19:33

"Not having the puppies would be much safer and much more pleasent for your bitch. Cheaper too."

this is VERY true.

Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 19:39

I dont want puppies and thats why I sent the bitch to a friend. I planned to have her spayed ASAP I've only recently got her.

OP posts:
Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 19:43

I suppose I put the initial tiredness down to a new home and settling down. When she arrived she was definitely more active but also more anxious. If she hadn't been in season I wouldn't be worried because she looks really well; lovely shiny fur, bright eyes, very interactive and friendly (especially with the cat!) these to my mind are not the symptoms of an ill dog.

OP posts:
Report
3cutedarlings · 02/05/2012 20:23

The fact your bitch is panting all the time and knackered after 20mins of exercise is a MASSIVE sign she is ILL, honestly call your vet asap! tonight if possible!.

Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 21:57

Many thanks I will take her first thing in the morning

OP posts:
Report
daisydotandgertie · 02/05/2012 22:00

Can you take her temperature?

Is there any discharge from her vulva? Put a white sheet into her bed if you're not sure to check.

Is she licking herself a lot?

What about her nipples and boobs? What do they look like?

Report
happygardening · 02/05/2012 22:24

No obvious temp spoke to vet as she's happy wagging tail very interested in everything greeting people coming to house with enthusiasm etc eating drinking piddling pooing they felt it wasn't urgent. Nipples are about 3/4 inch long but she has had 1 litter of puppies in the past frankly i hadn't really looked at them before I worried she was pregnant she long haired. We've never had a bitch before so don't really know what I'm looking at but they are significantly bigger than the dogs! No discharge and now she's stretched out on her back fast asleep she not panting breathing same rate as the dog. I understand dogs can have phantom pregnancies wondered if it's that. I can explain explain change in shape a symmetrical rounding/expansion at end of rib cage is the best description I can come up with. No pain discomfort. This expansion is more obvious when she sits down.

OP posts:
Report
EdlessAllenPoe · 03/05/2012 10:58

dogs do have phantom pregnancies. i wouldn't have thought 20 mins would have been long enough to mate (unless they were found tied) - though i wouldn't rule it out either...dogs can be fertile before/after the obvious period too.. this behaviour should be treated seriously - and the end-of rib-cage rounding.

did the vet advise on the usability or otherwise of abortion jab?

and after this: book the spaying. no more worry after that!

Report
happygardening · 04/05/2012 11:37

Thanks for all your advise its a phantom pregnancy.

OP posts:
Report
EdlessAllenPoe · 04/05/2012 11:41

phew

Report
happygardening · 04/05/2012 12:01

Vet says has to wait till mid cycle for spaying cant wait to get it done.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.