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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

i think my dog's pg, do i need to do anything?

99 replies

MrsRhettButler · 30/08/2010 00:18

hi, i think my little staffie is pg, she was jumped on at least 3 times by my other dog last time she was in season (about 4 weeks ago) and she is looking portly around the belly and her nipples are swollen

will she be ok if left to do her thing? do i need to do anything special? i've always had dogs but never a pg one so just need to know what if anything i need to do, thanks

OP posts:

midori1999 · 06/09/2010 10:14

I can't imagine not rearing a litter indoors, considering most go to pet homes and will be expected to live indoors. They need to spend the bulk of their time indoors to get used to normal household comings and goings and sounds, as most pet dogs spend the majority of their time indoors. I also can't imagine giving puppies unlimted free access to a garden, I would be far too worried about chills, illnesses and injury. Plus, if they have free access to the garden, they are not really being toilet trained, they are just happening to go outside to toilet some/most of the time.

ALL the good breeders I know raise their puppies indoors with supervised garden/outside/kennel and run access when suitable and I have never heard of one puppy as a result having heart, bone or lung problems. After all, we are merely taking about puppies being kept indoors the majority of the time where they still have access to clean air, plenty of room to run and play etc not being kept in some cramped, filty, stuffy conditions.

I feel it is very important to point out what I believe the correct way of doing things and in such a way that the OP understands the work involved as how these puppies are raised will affect everything about their future. I also personally think that unless someone can be with a litter 24/7, or have help that can do so at the times they can't, they shouldn't be considering having a litter. But then, I am extremely particular.

Bella32 · 06/09/2010 11:44

Midori - the gold standard breeder

Said in all honesty.

If you ever start breeding anything not quite so long-haired, Midori, please let me know

midori1999 · 06/09/2010 12:16

LOL, hello Bella! I'm just OCD, I am like it with everything, except housework, luckily, considering my long haired, mud loving monsters!

I love, love, love my Goldens, although I have always fancied a Pug, much less to wash for shows, and you get to plonk them on a table in the ring...

Bella32 · 06/09/2010 12:19

You're just being mischievous now - Pugs indeed

Good to see you too - and quite seriously, I am always so incredibly impressed by how well you do everything for your girls and your pups. Amazing

p.s. what is 'housework'???

midori1999 · 06/09/2010 12:23

'housework' is something all my non doggy friends do, but I am too busy having fun to care about...

I'm no different to any decent dog owner really, and you know that. I just happen to breed occasionally.

EdgarAllInPink · 06/09/2010 12:42

indeed midori one breeder almost lost an entire litter in the space of about 2 hours - they went from fine - to snuggling up to mum for warmth (not feeding) - and only an emergency vet visit to get Anti-bs saved the lot. If the breeder hadn't had been there they'd most likely all have perished.

they really do need round the clock attention. I wouldn't ever breed because i don't like the work, don't have the knowledge and wouldn't have a reason to (not being a show/agility/etc body) - not to mention spending the next ten plus years after each litter wondering if the puppies are ok in their homes...

litters must be somewhere warm - and a warming mat alone isn't going to fend the elements.

AnakisT · 06/09/2010 12:58

Just wanted to second everything Midori has said it really is excellent advice. I'm now an ex-breeder but did breed for 10 years. I wanted to second that 5 is really very old for a first litter (I've never done it) and your girl will need very close watching.

You should invest in a heat lamp for the pups that was always what i used. Also if your bitch is preg (do get her scanned) you need to be aware that the 63 day rule isn't exact she could go earlier.

Southwestwhippet · 06/09/2010 16:45

Thats interseting Midori, however i cannot imagine breeding a litter indoors and my mum who has been a KC accredited breeder for 10 years and all the friends of hers that I know all breed in a similar way with the pups staying in the house until they are mobile and then moving to a secure, warm, safe outdoor area with free access to an enclosed garden the majority of the time.

We have never had any problem with our puppies getting illnesses or accidents, the garden is carefully dog proofed and kept clean. The puppies are given plenty of superivised time indoors and are part of our large, busy family. With regards to housetraining, one of my pups has not yet found a home so, as he is the last one to go, he is now indoors with the rest of the pack all the time. He has not yet had an accident in the house as he goes outside with the others. So I really don't think keeping them outside causes a problem with housetraining, nor is it a risk to their health and welfare or compromising their socialisation.

Like you, I feel it is important to point out what I believe is the correct way of doing things. However, personally I also believe that there is more than one way of doing something and what suits one may not suit another. I clearly do not have your 'reputation' on here as a dog breeder par excellance but I am confident that in RL - which is where it really matters, my mother and myself under her guidance rear our litters of puppies to a very high standard. I feel slightly as if you are trying to discredit my puppy rearing methods in your posts which I do not think is either necessary or fair as my intention was only to offer my experience to the OP to illustrate she needed to be prepared for the amount of work ahead.

Bella32 · 06/09/2010 19:36

I don't think anybody's trying to discredit you, SWW. We all have our own opinions and some of us (you included I'm sure) are very passionate about our animals.

The differences of opinion on here can get a bit dispiriting at times - I've been away for a while - but we all have pretty much the sane goal: the welfare of our dogs It never ceases to amaze me how somebody who holds a different opinion to you in one area can agree with you 100% in another. We're all different - just like our dogs

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 08/09/2010 21:08

hi all, thank you all so much for your input and experiences, i took her to a different vet who felt her tummy, weighed her and checked her heart etc, she is definitely pg, 5/6 weeks he thinks, have got the worming stuff and have started her on puppy food, also have the number for the out of hours vet and he gave me loads of information about how to help her (most of which midori had said, so thank you :) ) he gave me a print up of info also and i am keeping a baby monitor now with me at night just in case, luckily dp goes to bed very late so he is keeping an eye on her, in about two weeks though i will start sleeping on the sofa.

this vet also said no need for a scan as she is def pg and a scan wouldnt show how many there were, which i was most worried about (i would have liked to be sure so i knew when she was finished birthing)

once again thank you all and i will keep updating, we're expecting about another 3 weeks so maybe beginning of sep :)

OP posts:

midori1999 · 13/09/2010 01:03

Glad you got a better vet, wormer, puppy food etc. Hopefully things will go well.

Can't remember if I wrote it before, but 4 smaller meals a day is better for Mum at this stage, she might not have room for big meals. If she is off her food with the wormer in, some tinned sardines in tomato sauce mixed in with her food (you only need a tiny bit) tempts most.

I hope this doesn't sound patronising, it really isn't meant to be, but I am aware it might come across like that. but although the circumstances in which your girl got pregnant are not ideal, you do seem to be doing what you can for her now, which is commendable. I see so many posts like your OP on different forums and the bitch owner normally just ignores advice and lets the bitch just get on with it, no vet visit, no consideration of what could go wrong, nothing. So it's a very ncie change to see someone making the bets of a bad situation and doing what they can for their bitch.

Please do keep us all updated. If you want some help later on regarding picking the best homes for your pups or sales contracts etc please just ask and I can email you things across.

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 14/09/2010 00:24

thank you for your help and advice midori

she has always been a snacky eater anyway, we fill the bowl in the morning and she snacks throughout the day, did you say sardines because its good for her or just to tempt her to eat? because she is eating (very well actually) but if its to her benefit then i will give her sardines also?

i don't feel patronised :) just thankful for your advice

OP posts:

midori1999 · 14/09/2010 00:48

It can tempt them to eat. If she is eating her food well though, I wouldn't add anything. Keep it in mind if she goes off food after she whelps though. Also, I always soak the dried kibble in some warm water for bitches that have puppies, as it keeps their fluid intake up which helps milk production.

Good luck.

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 14/09/2010 21:03

thank you, will keep that in mind :)

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 24/09/2010 18:02

hi, for anyone who's interested, she had her pups on tuesday night, we had to go to emergency vets as she was having trouble, she had a c-section and one of the three pups survived..

so she is here recovering nicely and with a beautiful little girl puppy

thank you all, particularly midori for all your excellent advice x

OP posts:

Vallhala · 24/09/2010 18:52

Oh, that's so sad, I'm so sorry that the other two pups didn't make it. :( :( :(

Glad to hear mum and the one survivor are okay though, it must have been a very distressing and worrying time for you all.

When mum's feeling amenable to the idea may we have a photo please? Although my heart belongs to GSDs and my Lab cross I have a very big soft spot for any type of Staffie cross.

kid · 24/09/2010 19:03

I am very sorry to hear 2 of the pups died. Glad mum is doing well and that she has 1 surviving pup.
It must have been a very scary time for you all.

midori1999 · 24/09/2010 19:42

I am so sorry that you had such a hard time with Mum and lost two puppies. Sometimes if there aren't many puppies it increases the risk of uterine inertia and therefore the risk of cesarian.

I am really glad that Mum and the last puppy are doing fine. Are you going to keep her?

Thanks so much for updating us, at least there's a partially happy ending.

Scuttlebutter · 24/09/2010 20:22

Oh, Rhett, this must be a difficult time for you. I'm so pleased that your bitch has come through and hope she recovers well and quickly, and how lovely that one pup has made it. So sad though that two little ones didn't quite get there. Hope mum and daughter continue to flourish.

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 24/09/2010 23:06

thanks for the messages, we can't keep her because we already ordered another pup before we knew ours was pg, due to come in a few weeks [too many dogs emoticon] but my friends dad is going to have her and he lives in the countryside and she is going to have a wonderful life :) (she is beautiful and i love her)

i have taken pics but can't find my lead to upload them :( but i'm sure i will find it soon!

have had hardly any sleep all week but its been worth it
tbh shes not the mothering type, so not sure she could have dealt with 3 anyway, shes been a bit growly towards the pup so i've been watching her 24/7 but she has accepted her and is feeding her, shes a bit of a princess usually and doesn't like being 'annoyed' by other animals, i think she thinks shes human!
(all our dogs are going to be spayed now)

OP posts:

kid · 25/09/2010 08:14

I thought your partner wanted a mix of the two dogs. Wasn't that the whole point of them breeding?
Couldn't you cancel the other dog and keep this little pup instead?

I adore puppies and I reckon if my dog were to
have pups, i'd have to keep them all as I'd be too sad to let any of them go. Just as well I have a boy dog so it's never going to be a problem

Vallhala · 25/09/2010 08:31

Wherever the poor little mite goes to, I just hope to god she'll be spayed before her first season to avoid a repeat of the trauma and pain which her mother and dead siblings went through.

PLEASE ensure that she is spayed and that her mother is as soon as she is well enough.

Original poster

MrsRhettButler · 25/09/2010 12:59

well he did but we thought it was never going to happen, i had sort of convinced him it was a bad idea when the dog jumped on her anyway... i want to keep both really but not sure i've got space for 4 dogs

we have put deposit on a new pup and dd has picked and named her :(

she will be spayed, she is going to a very responsible man who loves animals and knows how to look after them

OP posts:

CalamityKate · 11/10/2010 17:13

You allowed your dogs to mate because you wanted a mix of the two, but you can't now keep the puppy because you'd already ordered another one?!

Jeez.

Thank god you've spayed your poor dog now. Shame 2 puppies died. Let's hope you'll be more responsible with the new dog.

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