1
My Corgi is pregnant and I was wondering if you have any directions for a whelping box? Also any care tips would be helpful because this is her first litter and mine also!
2
What do you recommend feeding a pregnant dog that would not only provide good nutrition for the mother and developing pups, but would also help to stimulate milk production?
3
I have a Miniature Dachshund. She was in heat for the first time at the end of April. Since then she has engorged mammory glands and even has produced milk. She isn't very big and at times looks as if she could be pregnant and sometimes she doesn't. Is there anyway to tell for sure? I would have thought she would have had the puppies by now. She was out of heat by the first of May.
4
Our German Shepherd Dog, Heidi, is 8 months old. Two days ago, she showed drops of blood. Is she going into heat? We wanted to take her on vacation, but maybe it will be better to leave her with a friend or in a kennel?
5
How long does a female dog carry her puppies for and when can I find out how many she is carrying?
6
Please tell me what to expect from my black lab when she goes into heat for the first time. I would like to know physical and mental expectations.
7
My one year old Dachshund has gone into heat once all ready. She wasn't caught by a male, but she's lactating. If you squeeze a nipple, a milky fluid comes out. What is this?
8
Do female dogs go through menopause and if so at approximately what age?
9
We work in Nepal and our German Shepherd was in her first heat about 68 days ago. Ten days ago she started passing some dark brown discharge which now has turned yellow in color. Five days ago her milk/colustrum has come in. She doesn't look large and is still quite active. Her appetite has decreased some this past week, but I'm worried something has gone wrong with her pregnancy. I'm a family practitioner but I have no idea what dog signs/symptoms of pregnancy failure or delivery are. If the pregnancy has failed, what should we do and watch for?
10
How long does a dog stay in heat?
11
We have a dog that is 10 months old and just came in heat for the first time and a roaming dog mated with her. How long will it be before we can expect her to have puppies?
12
I suspect that my dog is pregnant. She is about 71 days along. Is it possible that dogs could have false pregnancies? I have heard of it but I don't know how true it is.
13
Hello, I was wondering how long a dog's pregnancy last? Since I have a Poodle (toy) is it safe to have puppies? How many pups would be normal for a small breed dog?
14
Is there a way to tell when a dog is due? I have no idea just when my beagle got pregnant!
15
How often will my Labrador Retriever go into heat?
1
My Corgi is pregnant and I was wondering if you have any directions for a whelping box? Also any care tips would be helpful because this is her first litter and mine also!
Please make sure to have your dog examined by your veterinarian early in her pregnancy to be sure everything is okay and to get advice on feeding and vitamins. A whelping box should be large enough that your dog can fully stretch out and move both during delivery and nursing. The location is also important. Pick a place that is secluded, warm and dry and free from drafts or excessive heat. Line the box with newspapers that can be easily changed as they get soiled. I would not recommend adding towels, since puppies are unable to move well at birth and could get under a towel and get stuck with serious consequences. When your dog delivers, most likely all you will need to do is watch and let nature take its course. But, if at any time she seems distressed or the delivery is non productive, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
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2
What do you recommend feeding a pregnant dog that would not only provide good nutrition for the mother and developing pups, but would also help to stimulate milk production?
A well balanced complete diet is the best food for a pregnant or nursing mother. Any one of the adult formulas of Purina ONE™ would supply good nutrition for your dog. Once she has the puppies her caloric requirements will increase as she provides milk for her puppies. At that time she may need to eat more often to meet her caloric needs. You also might want to speak with your veterinarian about additional vitamins during pregnancy and nursing.
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3
I have a Miniature Dachshund. She was in heat for the first time at the end of April. Since then she has engorged mammory glands and even has produced milk. She isn't very big and at times looks as if she could be pregnant and sometimes she doesn't. Is there anyway to tell for sure? I would have thought she would have had the puppies by now. She was out of heat by the first of May.
Pregnancy in dogs is approximately 63 days. Some dogs will experience a hormonal fluctuation called a false pregnancy after their heat cycle. The hormones do not return to normal and the body acts like it is pregnant even though no breeding took place. The dog will get milk in their mammary glands and some dogs will even attempt to care for inanimate objects like they were puppies. All these signs will occur within the same time frame as a normal pregnancy, about 2 months after the end of the heat cycle. Your veterinarian should be able to determine if your dog is pregnant or having a false pregnancy so please schedule a veterinary visit as soon as possible.
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4
Our German Shepherd Dog, Heidi, is 8 months old. Two days ago, she showed drops of blood. Is she going into heat? We wanted to take her on vacation, but maybe it will be better to leave her with a friend or in a kennel?
Our domestic dogs will usually come into their first heat cycle between 6-12 months of age. The early signs include swelling of the vulva and some discharge and/or drops of blood. It is likely that your dog is coming into heat. Taking her on vacation does present some problems. A female dog in heat will attract male dogs and may even seek them out. This would likely result in puppies which ultimately will need homes. If you can kennel her or have a friend take care of her, that might be best. They should be aware she is in heat and keep her away from male dogs to prevent her from getting pregnant. Once her heat cycle is over please consider having her spayed to prevent unwanted litters of puppies.
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5
How long does a female dog carry her puppies for and when can I find out how many she is carrying?
The typical length of pregnancy in dogs is 63 days from conception. A positive diagnosis of pregnancy can often be made about 6-7 weeks after breeding. At that time it may be possible for your veterinarian to feel how many puppies are in the uterus although it may not be an accurate count. Once the skeleton of the fetus has formed it is possible to get an idea of the number of puppies by radiographs of the mother's abdomen. This is not routinely done in dogs, but you could discuss that option with your veterinarian.
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6
Please tell me what to expect from my black lab when she goes into heat for the first time. I would like to know physical and mental expectations.
A female dog will come into heat between 6-12 months of age. Smaller dogs will come into heat at a younger age, while larger breeds of dogs like your Labrador may not come into heat until they are a bit older. When a female dog comes into heat the heat cycle will last about 3 weeks. The first sign is often swelling of the external genitalia and this stage lasts about one week. The middle week is the time when some discharge may be noticed and it is also the time when the dog will become attractive to male dogs and can be bred and thus become pregnant. During the final week the discharge may begin to decrease and the swelling diminish and breeding is less likely. When a dog is in heat they must be carefully watched and only be outside while on a leash to prevent breeding and unwanted puppies. Since there are so many puppies that cannot find homes, please consider spaying your dog.
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7
My one year old Dachshund has gone into heat once all ready. She wasn't caught by a male, but she's lactating. If you squeeze a nipple, a milky fluid comes out. What is this?
A dog can display the physical signs of pregnancy and perhaps even the maternal behavior without having been bred; this is called a "false pregnancy". The signs will usually appear 2-3 months after their heat cycle. The symptoms can include lactation and behavioral changes such as nesting, mothering activity directed towards toys etc, restlessness and even self-nursing. The underlying physiologic mechanism for these signs is not well understood. Usually treatment is unnecessary, and most cases resolve on their own. It is often suggested that dogs experiencing false pregnancies that are not going to be used for breeding be spayed to avoid further episodes after subsequent heat cycles.
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8
Do female dogs go through menopause and if so at approximately what age?
To the best of our knowledge, female dogs do not go through menopause and if intact are capable of getting pregnant well into old age. Certain factors such as overall health will effect whether or not she gets pregnant and if the puppies are carried to term. Besides the possibility of getting pregnant, older female dogs are also at risk for uterine infections, which can be extremely serious and perhaps even fatal. Therefore, unless the dog is to be used for breeding, spaying her is medically prudent and prevents unwanted puppies.
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9
We work in Nepal and our German Shepherd was in her first heat about 68 days ago. Ten days ago she started passing some dark brown discharge which now has turned yellow in color. Five days ago her milk/colustrum has come in. She doesn't look large and is still quite active. Her appetite has decreased some this past week, but I'm worried something has gone wrong with her pregnancy. I'm a family practitioner but I have no idea what dog signs/symptoms of pregnancy failure or delivery are. If the pregnancy has failed, what should we do and watch for?
The best way to determine if your dog were pregnant would be either by palpation of puppies in her uterus or a radiograph to look for puppies. If you did not witness a breeding, then it is also possible that she is experiencing a "false pregnancy". This is an endocrine condition in which the dog's body reacts as though it is pregnant even though the dog has not been bred. At about the appropriate time the dog may show signs of delivery, restlessness and even milk in the mammary glands. On the other hand, if you did breed your dog and she is now having a yellow discharge, she may have a uterine infection and possibly have lost her puppies. I would suggest a veterianary examination to determine exactly what is going on with your dog.
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10
How long does a dog stay in heat?
The heat cycle of the female dog has three parts and lasts about 3 weeks. The first part lasts anywhere from 3-14 days during which a bloody discharge and swelling of the vaginal area are usually seen. Next the dog will become receptive to being bred and actively may seek out a male dog. This is the time when she can become pregnant. The discharge may change color at this time and become lighter. Finally, the discharge will become clearer, the vaginal swelling will diminish and the dog will no longer allow herself to be bred. While your dog is in heat you must watch her carefully to avoid unwanted breeding and subsequent puppies. If you are not planning on breeding your dog, please have her spayed to help prevent unwanted puppies.
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11
We have a dog that is 10 months old and just came in heat for the first time and a roaming dog mated with her. How long will it be before we can expect her to have puppies?
The length of pregnancy in dogs varies from 51-63 days. Pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound 28-30 days after mating. Your dilemma underscores the importance of strict supervision of dogs while they are in heat and having them spayed if puppies are not desired. While your dog is pregnant she should be on a good diet such as Purina ONE Growth and Development to help her meet the increased nutritional needs of pregnancy and lactation.
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12
I suspect that my dog is pregnant. She is about 71 days along. Is it possible that dogs could have false pregnancies? I have heard of it but I don't know how true it is.
Pregnancy in dogs is usually about 65 days. A veterinary examination would determine if your dog was actually pregnant and puppies were in her uterus. If your dog has not had any puppies by now, she may well have what is commonly called a false pregnancy. The cause is a change in hormonal levels that triggers the body to act as though it were pregnant when no puppies are in the uterus. Dogs will often show signs of restlessness, nesting, and enlarged mammary glands. In mild cases the problem resolves on it's own. In other cases veterinary intervention is needed to help resolve the problem.
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13
Hello, I was wondering how long a dog's pregnancy last? Since I have a Poodle (toy) is it safe to have puppies? How many pups would be normal for a small breed dog?
Pregnancy in a dog is about 65 days. Almost any size dog can be bred but small dogs may have problems during delivery. The average size litter is 2-4 puppies. Good veterinary care prior to pregnancy and during the pregnancy is essential. When pregnant a dog should be provided a diet that meets all her nutritional needs such as Purina ONE Growth and Development.
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14
Is there a way to tell when a dog is due? I have no idea just when my beagle got pregnant!
The length of pregnancy in dogs is 63-65 days. There is no reliable blood test to detect pregnancy in a dog. An experienced veterinarian can often detect fetuses in the uterus between 20 and 30 days of pregnancy after that time it is less reliable. After 42 days fetal skeletons can be detected on radiographs. Enlargement of the abdomen occurs at about 5 weeks. Milk production begins at about 58-60 days. A dog that is experiencing a false pregnancy may also have some of these signs so a veterinary examination is the best way to proceed.
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15
How often will my Labrador Retriever go into heat?
A female dog will usually begin their heat cycles between 6-12 months of age, with smaller dogs beginning earlier, and larger dogs later. Once they have their first heat cycle, they normally have a heat cycle every 6-8 months which averages out to twice a year. Female dogs will continue to go into heat their entire life and as long as they are not spayed, can get pregnant, and have puppies.
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