All About Dog Pregnancy
All You Need to Know About Your Dog's Pregnancy (or Almost All)
After your beloved dog has been matched with a handsome stud and successfully bred, the 63-day countdown begins. A mix of emotions pour over you, of course: lots of excitement, but also anxiety, as this is the first time you've owned a dog expecting puppies. It is normal to feel slightly overwhelmed at first, but take a deep breath and rela,x as things will very likely go pretty smoothly and nature will take its course.
There are a few things, though, that as an owner you must be aware of. The information below will help you get through the whole 63 days without worrying excessively.
Has the Countdown Started?
First of all, even though your dog was in heat and was bred various times, there is still a chance she may not be pregnant. And some dogs are prone to "phantom pregnancies."
As you already may know, there are particular fertile days to watch for when scheduling a breeding. If your bitch was bred during her estrus phase, and you witnessed a "tie" where the male stud and your female bitch were connected for some time, chances are pretty high that puppies are on their way.
A Look Into the Heat Cycle
Here is an explanation of the heat cycle, so you can better evaluate if your dog was bred at the right time.
The heat cycle averages about 21 days and is divided into three phases.
The first phase, "pro-estrus," lasts about 7 to 10 days. You will be aware of this phase because it is when vaginal bleeding and vaginal swelling occur. If male dogs are around during this phase, they will be interested in the bitch, but she will be reluctant and refuse to be mounted.
The second phase, the "estrus phase," is the fertile phase, lasting about 4-13 days. This is when the female is fertile. The bleeding stops and is replaced by a yellowish vaginal discharge. During this phase, she will be more tolerant of males, and will keep her tail to the side. She will allow the male to mount. If you witness "a tie" where they are both stuck together for a while, then very likely puppies are on the way.
The third and final phase, "diestrus," is a time when the female will again be reluctant to mate, because she is no longer fertile. The male, though, may still try to mount.
The estrus phase, therefore, is the crucial phase, the time you will be looking for if you want to breed successfully. Although it usually begins between the 7th and 10th day after the bleeding starts, there is really no very exact way to pick the best time to breed. This is why some professional breeders have their dog's hormones checked by a vet to improve their chances of breeding on the most fertile day, although even this is not enough to guarantee a pregnancy.
Early Pregnancy Signs: Third Week
Around the end of the third week and the beginning of the fourth, some bitches will develop typical morning-sickness symptoms (nausea, lack of appetite), just as humans do. This morning sickness may be hardly detectable in some dogs and pronounced in others.
Testing for Pregnancy
You can use a kit to do a test for the hormone relaxin (a substance produced only during pregnancy). This test can detect pregnancy in the first 21-25 days, as early as 20 days after the surge of luteinizing hormone. The kit is especially good for breeders, since there are five tests in the kit, and it's also great for distinguishing real pregnancy from pseudo-pregnancy. Results are fast; it only takes about 10 minutes. The kit may be available online.
The test requires a blood sample from your dog, which can be challenging for some owners, and it requires a centrifuge to separate out the plasma for the test. You can ask a vet to draw the blood and spin it for you, for a small fee, and finish the test yourself. Or you can have the test done totally at the vet's office.
A vet may be able to hear puppies' heartbeats with a stethoscope 25 days after breeding, and may be able to feel embryos by palpating your dog's abdomen 28 days after breeding. However, an ultrasound is a more accurate test and may even determine how many puppies your bitch is expecting. An X-ray can show the puppies' skeletons 45 days after breeding.
Considering Diet Changes
Once your vet has confirmed pregnancy, make sure to mention diet to your vet. Starting about 35 days after breeding, your dog will need to be fed more often and with a more nutritionally balanced diet. Your vet may recommend special diets and supplements.
Early Signs: Five Weeks
Usually, the first outward signs of pregnancy show about five weeks after breeding. They include slightly larger and darker nipples. It is always a good idea to take pictures of the nipples shortly after breeding, so you can compare color and size at five weeks. Also you may notice some slight weight gain, especially if you expect a large litter.
How Many to Expect?
Dogs may have just one pup, or as many as 14. The breed and the size of your dog do narrow down this wide range somewhat; as a general rule, larger breeds have closer to ten puppies, and medium breeds closer to five.
Later Signs: Eight Weeks
Eight weeks after breeding, the nipples are much larger and may start to secrete a whitish fluid. By now, the abdomen will be enlarged as well, and when the bitch is at rest, movement of puppies can sometimes be detected.
Getting Prepared
Now, you may start shopping for a nice whelping box. A whelping box should be big enough to allow your dog to stretch out easily with her puppies. You may fill the box with newspaper. A heating lamp may be helpful as well to prevent the pups from getting too cold.
Last Signs: Week Nine
Your dog may start exhibiting nesting behavior. She may rip up papers or other material to make her own whelping box. Fortunately, though, you have already thought about this and made her a very comfy one.
Last-Minute Preparations
Arm yourself with a thermometer, and starting around day 56, start recording her temperature about twice a day. Bitches normally have a rectal temperature of about 100.2-100.8 oF. About 24 hours before birth, this temperature should drop to about 98-99.4 oF.
Keep your veterinarian's contact numbers handy and have your car ready in case of complications. If possible, give your vet a heads-up when your dog's temperature drops.
Birth
Check your clock and note down when the first contraction starts. A first-time mom may not be able to tell the difference between giving birth and defecating, so she may want to go outside. You may take her, and, of course, monitor her. Your dog may be panting pretty heavily, shivering, and pacing, but this is normal in the midst of contractions. Sometimes simple movement such as walking around may expedite the birth process, which can turn out pretty lengthy, even up to ten hours!
You should notice that contractions are getting more frequent. Eventually, within thirty minutes of the beginning of straining, the water sac will appear. Shortly afterward, a puppy will follow, and then its placenta. Your dog may want to eat the placenta. Only allow this once, as eating multiple placentas may cause a bout of diarrhea.
Once a pup is born, your dog will clean it and chew off its umbilical cord. Do not be alarmed if some pups are born tail first; this is pretty common in dogs. A vaginal discharge after birth is normal. The discharge may be green or reddish brown, and should be odorless. This discharge may persist up to eight weeks postpartum.
Complications
OK, the above scenario looks pretty smooth, but what are the signs that suggest a vet visit?
In general, call your vet when:
- It is past day 69.
- No signs of labor begin within 24 hours of the temperature drop.
- PRIOR to labor, your dog excretes a greenish fluid.
- You suspect your dog has more puppies inside, but no more are born after four hours.
- Your dog strains with strong contractions for more than an hour without producing a pup.
- A puppy appears stuck in the birth canal.
- A placenta is not expelled after each puppy.
- Your dog is exhibiting unusual or extreme pain.
Of course, call when anything happens that worries you or seems out of the norm.
While all this information may seem overwhelming, it can be helpful for the first-time breeder. It is highly recommended to have the bitch and puppies seen within 24 hours to ensure the health of the new family.
If you are still concerned about your dog's wellbeing and the possibility of complications, here's a statistic to give you peace of mind: over 98% of all dogs deliver without assistance or complications. If you are still worried about that mere 2%, learn this article by heart and have your vet's contact number handy, and you should be fine! Best of luck!
Comments
As I read your hub, I feel bad. I remember my maltese pet. I spent money for a stud service but she didn't become pregnant. She's now on her tenth week since she was mated and there's no puppies coming...
I just wanted to say thanks for the info. I knew a few things about the birthing process for my dog, but was usure about others. anyway your information was very helpful and thanks for having it available to the public.
I have a Brussels Griffon bitch that is about to give birth to her second litter. I noted on Friday she started to have droplets of blood...NO MORE THAN 10 SPOTS A DAY. Today is now Monday and still labor has not started. I do not remember the bitch spotting with her last delivery. Is it normal to have a bit of spotting....days before delivery? (not exactly sure of delivery date, as she surprised us with this one.)
Thanks a bunch for this information... I was starting to panic about the birthing process with my Doberman. She is only a couple days into her pregnancy. and i am already stressed.
Your information has explained things so much better than any other sites...
Thank You
thanks for the help. After reading your info i now have 7 new healthy pups. which are doing fine at the moment
dogs are our best friends, I think human beings should take care of them and give them enough love. never give up them even they have some uncured diseases. I heard a story about two legs dog,which name is Faith. She was born with two legs and can walks like human beings. She brings hope to us and tell us never give up. if you interested, you guys can see my hubs to look at it.
when a dog gives birth and a puppy is stuck can it kill the mother and puppy
my bitch is on her 12th day of bleeding , i tried mating her yesterday but i don't understand as you say she shouldn't be bleeding now , and that it should be a yellowish discharge , yet she is still beeding , this is my 3rd attempt at mating her and no luck , many thanks
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Just as in the menstrual cycle for women, the heat cycle in dogs is quite individual. The bleeding portion can therefore last longer in some dogs. When she is ready she will allow the mating, and if she does not, it could be he is not the right match for her and would not force it.
If the bitch has complications after having the puppies and I own the stud and the stud fee is going to be paid with puppies, do i have any obligations as to the medical fees of the bitch?
If my dog had a false pregnancy and her tits dropped can I run her on coon while her tits are sagged?
We are fostering a golden retriever that gave birth six weeks ago. The humane society sent her to us the day before she gave birth. Unfortunately she is a puppy herself. My vet believes less than 5 months old when she became pregnant and not even done growing! It is believed that she will never reach her full size now , so people who have come to look at her have rejected her, we will probably keep her. Do you have any info on this? Are you also of the opinion that she will grow no more?
Anyhoo wish I'd found your article six weeks and one day ago. It is well written and full of useful information. We were lucky on this birth. Foster gave birth in the afternoon, by luck my husband was with her for that first pup. As I said she is only half size, the father was definitely a labrador retriever, the pups were normal size lab/golden pups. Number one, two, four and six had to be hand delivered. She simply could not get them out. Number six also had to have the afterbirth gently pulled out, at the point I was on the phone with a friend who is a vet and getting directions. So even though 98% of births go just fine Foster was nearly in the 2%. Sadly she has been your stereotypical teenage mom. Once they had teeth and could talk back she has wanted to leave them and go party. We've been joking for weeks now that she wants to wean them so she can go get their names tattooed on her back.
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Yes, this is why veterinarians recommend not to breed female dogs during their first heat cycle. Any earlier than one year old, generally would likely stunt the growth, since the energy of growing is now focused on the pregnancy. Thanks for taking the time to foster!
had greenish fluid came out 4 1/2 hours but baby is still kicking can there be still baby's ok
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Snow, I think your dog should see the vet to be safe. A green discharge may mean that a placenta has detached. With an unattached placenta the pup loses its oxygen supply and cannot really live for more than a few minutes. It is important that the pup is born soon after this discharge appears. Best wishes
please i hav a police dog(bitch) that was mated with a cokashan (stud) on the 12th and 13th day of heat cycle. its 5weeks nw and the only sign i can see is d nipple,large,dark pink.the abdomen is not enlarged yet please help me.could my dog be pregnant.
my mauxie was bred on October 16th and 19th so she would be 44 to 41 days depending on the day she took. My concern is that she has had one false pregnancy. So I am worried it could be false again, although this time she has done everything by the book as far as development. I have read a lot before attempting this breeding, (I continue to read read and even more reading) and it said that it is not impossible for her to become pregnant after a false but we are not feeling anything in there but think we are hearing heart beats. We did before as well and it was false. She is going back to the vet for an xray next week but in the mean time I am very worried about her. I will certainly never allow her to be bred again. She is going to be spayed as soon as this is determined. She has a wonderful temperment and so many people want her babies that would be wonderful pet owners and that why I bred her to begin with. Not knowing if this is false or not is driving me crazy because if she is going through this for nothing again it is awful her.
My bitch gave birth a week ago. She and the 4 puppies have been fine until last night. My bitch has started panting heavy, she restless and her belly is swole and she looks like she is about to give birth to a large litter. She is still eating fine and nursing her litter, but I am worried.
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Lisa, I recommend a vet visit at this point. It may be she has eclampsia or some infection. Here is a link about eclampsia:
My dogs 58 days pregnant and she's no ate that much dinner today she also keeps heavy breathing and then she will pant for a bit , then lie down n try n sleep her panting will stop but she continues heavy breathing , she has been heavy breathing for a few wks now . Could the panting mean she's in early stages or is it normal for this to happen . Thanks
the panting is normal and may indicate the onset of labor. You don't mention breed or size of the bitch. Has she delivered any pups yet, as your post was several hours ago, I am thinking that she should have gone into full labor by now. If not and her breathing seems more distressed than panting you may want to contact the vet.
Hi, on the 29th of Dec I got a dog for christmas (yay!). The bloke who bred her can't remember whens eh was born exactly, but we think she's about 7-8mnths old. She hasn't been spayed (yet, she will be when we have the money) and the guy had entire dogs running around with her. When I feel her belly, it feels bumpy a bit and I think her nipples are getting a bit bigger. She has been sleeping more recently as well. Oh, and she's a mutt, but her father was some kind of pointer (vizla/german shorthaired) and her mother is a border collie looking thing but my dog looks like a pointer xD.
I have a chauha I think she is pregnant cause her nipples are full and sagging she has got a bit bigger in her belly but I don't feel and movement or lumps is it because she is a small dog and she just started getting morning sickness. or do there nipples get full ans big if it is a false pregnancy
@ Emma If you haven't already you need to take your new little girl into the veterinarian. Living in the conditions you described she may have several common illnesses, including worms and mange. Does her vaginal area seem swollen and engorged? She may just be going into heat Also it is quite possible that the er "gentleman" mislead you, she may have already had a litter in the past. A bitch as large as vizla or pointer would have definite lumps for each puppy if she is very far along, not just a bumpy belly as you described.( but without seeing her I of course can't say) Also we could be talking about a false pregnancy, our golden retriever,suffered from those. Anyway she needs the vet exam. In the meantime you have a large breed dog under two years old, so I hope you are feeding her a high protein puppy food, because that is what she still is, not really a dog yet. Good luck though, and having just fostered a "teenage" puppy mom I certainly hope she isn't pregnant.
@ Tannisha You didn't mention if you actually bred her?? I can tell you that with our golden retriever her nipples and even her uterus would swell with the false pregnancies, she would even build a "den" in a corner of our living room. When the puppies didn't come she would then steal stuffed animals and keep them in the den. It was even worse when she suffered a miscarriage, instead of keeping the stuffed animals for a few days she kept them for weeks and carried one with her every where she went. You really need to take your girl into the vet though, especially if you didn't breed her and you're fairly sure a dog didn't get a hold of her. As her symptoms could also indicate other illnesses.Good luck.
That was really informative. I read it just in time and my lovely Lady Malibu had a text book delivery. Thank you so much for taking the time. It was like having you in the room.
my dog is 7months old and having pups will she be ok
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Here is a helpful hub:
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The heavy breathing and scratching are a possible sign of impending birth. She sounds like she is looking for a place to give birth. Have you prepared a whelping area? How many days is she at? here is a helpful hub:
I have a purebred male German shorthair, and I was interested in breeding him because he has phenomenal qualities. I brought the female home, and according to her papers she turned one year old in January of this year. Within a week of having her, she began a heat cycle, which was about a week and a half ago. She and the male have been caught tied to one another, and I'm not sure if she is old enough. Could her age effect the health of these possible pups? Also, I have a dog that has had the parvo virus and was told that the virus can live for up to 7 years in the home and yard. She has been vaccinated for the parvo virus, but I fear for the pups. Could possible exposure effect them?
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If you have great lines the best age would be minimum 2 ideally 3 years of age once her hips, eyes and other tests for the breed come clear and you male does as well. Here is a guide on breeding dogs:
https://hubpages.com/animals/Should-You-Breed-Your...
Here is a link about parvo:
My lab is 49 days into her pregnancy with her 2nd and last litter, she has been panting quite heavily on and off for the past hour or so, surely she can't be due to have the pups this early, is this possible? I'm probably over reacting but i want to ensure i'm with her all of the way like i was last time. She went 60 days into her pregnancy last time. Thanks in advance
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Panting may be caused by pain, nausea, infection, hot environment, or any other causes for fever. This is too early for a litter to arrive and be healthy, so if it looks like she is getting ready to whelp I would be concerned. Here is an article about panting:
ummm i have a dog and i don't know when she's due i squeezed colostrum from her nipples today and was wondering about whrn she would give birth
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Dogs generally take anywhere between 57 and 63 days to give birth and the rectal temperature is a good sign of impending birth, here is a guide: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/How-to-help-your-dog-g...
Aye have a staffy cross who has given birth today she had 5 and all seemed well until a wee while ago when she started heavy breathing and becoming restless is this anything to be worried about this is her first litter
I don't know but how is your dog now?
She still panting a wee bit but nothing compared to lastnight before she gave birth there was 2 sacs coming from her vigina it looked like the 2 were joined one of them had dirty mucky liquid in it and the other had like black liquid in it is that natural xx
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I wrote a hub about dog pregnancy complications after giving birth and it addresses the panting issue, you can read here:
Yes aye read it after aye put the post up it was very helpful thanku very much since then mum and pups have been seen from. The vet and all r doing great xx
my female pitt is 66 days preg its her first litter still no pups?yesterday she had a dark greenish discharge NO SMELL she was licking herself clean also her nipples were dripping alot she has her nesting spot and is resting today she is acting like nothing i called the vet and they said we were doing everything just fine not to be alarmed by the discharge that the puppies will arive soon....does this all seem normal??
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Jenns, sounds normal.Consider that a normal pregnancy in dogs lasts 63 days but that time is calculated from the point of ovulation not the breeding day. Best wishes!
Hi my chawhinnie 53 days pregnant i did mate her august 19 th we had three succesful ties but my problem is she has not gained any weight her nipples just started dropping i cant fill any pups my husband and i over the road truck drivers so finding a vet is not easy but not impossible she was given a clean bill of health 30 days after conception but pregnancy was not confirmed if this was false pregnancy would her nipples start dropping this late into the pregnancy
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Typically, pregnant dogs do not gain much visible weight in the first 4-5 weeks of pregnancy because the embryos remain quite small, so they really start getting big though in the last 3 weeks. If she was mated the 19th of August her due date would be anywhere (bearing in mind conception may not take place on that exact day) between Oct 17 and the 23nd. By now she should therefore be bigger and getting ready to whelp. You should also feel or see movement behind the ribs when she is laying down. Her temperature should drop and she should start nesting behavior. It doesn't sound like that though from your description. Please consider as well that ties aren't always a guarantee of pregnancy. However, I must admit that there have been cases of dogs giving birth, without gaining much apparent weight leaving the owners in dismay, so pregnancy can't always be excluded 100 percent and there is history of people who have lost bets on it.
My rottweiler is 8 weeks and shes bleeding is that normal
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Sorry, have been away for a while from my computer, how is your dog doing now?
hello i have a german sheperd pit mix who is 1 yr old she started bleeding on april 20(which was her first heat) she has tied with my male golden pit (age 9) on may 4,5,6 and then today the 13th i thought she was done being in heat since she wasn't really bleeding anymore but then after tying she started to bleed again.. do you think that she is pregnant and with this breed how many pups should i expect? i plan on taking her to the vets for an xray but in the mean time was hoping for a guesstimate. i did not intend for her to get pregnant she is my first female dog and i figured it was safe to let them out together since i did not see blood and they were not showing any signs of interest in each other actually every time my female breathed my male would growl at her or walk away to the other room.. haha guess i was very wrong and after this litter she will be spayex. thanks for the help in advance.
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With all those multiple matings, it's likely she'll be pregnant, but there's no way to know for sure until you see the vet. On average large dogs as such may have 7-10 pups, but it's not unheard of some having 1 or even a dozen.
I rescued a little girl almost 7 weeks ago, she was roaming the streets. When I brought her home she was a little lazy but came around and is so lovable now, just last night she began to pant heavily and has become more clingy. She is still very happy and playful and nothing else has changed. She has become a little fatter. Could she be pregnant?
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It's hard to tell because dogs may pant for many reasons, stress, warmth, exercise, pain, happiness and she could be fatter because she may be moving less and eating more since she's off the streets now. At the same time, a dog roaming the streets, is also likely to be pregnant if she wasn't spayed obviously and there are intact male dogs around.
Hello my Mini Dachshund is 67 day Pregnant she has this black fluid she been leaking for a few days but today it getting worse and her temp is 101.2 this morning she been nesting for a few days I took her to the vet yesterday and we did a x ray and she has puppies in her but the Dr not sure of anything it seems like he didn't know what he talking about maybe you'll be able to help me I'm just worried this is her 2nd litter she was on time last time do you think there something wrong?
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I am not sure how it can be your vet didn't know what he's talking about? May be time to change vet! There should be no colored discharge before the birth of pups. I would see another vet as soon as you can so he/she can assess the discharge and giving you a better idea of what's going on inside to be safe. This sounds concerning.
My dog is 44 days pregnant she is breathing heavy ,but she also was excited after seeing another dog walk by shoukd there be a concern?
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If the panting in contextual, meaning only upon seeing the dog walk and then stops after a few minutes, then you know it's triggered from the sight of the dog, if it keeps going on though even with no trigger or explanation see your vet.
My dog is having puppies but it was un expected know I don't know if she's havin her puppies soon or not she has had contractions for about 5 hours and no puppies are yet on there way I'm really stressed out and don't know what to do it's also her first litter I'm scared to go to sleep and she has her puppies help please.
My Golden Reteriver/ yellow lab is pregnant for the third time. She's 63 day's into her pregnacy! She ate her food at 11:15 this morning but I put food in her dish at 6:30am. I took her temp at 12:30 this afternoon and it was 98.6. How much longer will it be for labor. Thank you!
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Should be soon, I bet she had a litter of pups already!
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Please see the vet if there are contractions and no pups.
My dog is pg not sure when she is due she has been leaking water for 4 days and heavy breathing and painting off and on is she due anytime now
My rescue had puppies 5 weeks ago. She had 10, lost 2 a couple days after birth. Birthing was quick no complications. Puppies are healthy. She is but a pup herself she is only 11 months old. She started bleeding bright red today from her vagina. I don't have the money this week to get her to the vet due to an unexpected expense. Will definitely get her in next week but was wondering if she could be in heat again. Also she has stopped producing milk.
Had a progesterone test dog done on dog day 3 of coming into heat and was0.4 ended up taking her to stud on day ten they tied for 20 minutes. Only one breeding. It's day 19 and she was all excited to today and tried jumping my leg. Is there a chance she may be pregnant? Took her down by my male and he sniffed her but really didn't do anything else.
My dogs belly is tight is there any chance she is pregnat?She has been with the male for 1 year now.
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Sammie. it could be, but only your vet can tell for sure.
Help, my beagles is on her 60th day of pregnancy. She is having a brownish colored discharge then clear. Is this a sign something is terribly wrong. She acts normal.
My dog is pregnant but I didn't mark it so don't when could u talk to me
My german shephard had a miscarriage about 6 weeks ago when do I expect it to be on heat again
My dog is about 63 days the last two day she has been laying around in her box yesterday she was dischargeing brown reddish stuff so we kept her near by nothing has happened she still has a little bit of discharged I'm worried is this normal plz need info first time to have puppies for her and me
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Anthony, Most likely, she should go in heat again in the next 6-8 months or so.
Why do you call the dog B**ch???
my dog is still pregnant it has been over a year ?
I have a Female Parson Russell and she is about 3-4 weeks pregnant. Today we noticed that she is acting weird (tail between her legs and the hair on her back is standing up) and she is panting a lot. Could this be signs of morning sickness (she's not eating a lot either)? I'm really worried about her.
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Sounds more like pain. I would get her checked out.
My dog is a female lab and she has a stomach like a watermelon and it's stiff and her stomach makes weird noises and we saw here with another dog is she pregnant
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If this happened overnight rather than gradually, please see your vet, the signs seem concerning!
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