1
We have an 8-month-old AKC registered black Labrador Retriever. My spouse wants her to have puppies. I'm not too sure if I'm prepared for all the work after the puppies are born. Should we have her spayed? If we decide not to - how do I go about looking for a male black lab for her to mate with?
2
Do female dogs menstruate like women? I have a Lab that is not spayed and during certain days in the month she has a bloody discharge.
3
My dog Haley had puppies 4 weeks ago. The puppies are very healthy, and this is her first and last litter. My question: One of her mammary glands is hanging down real low. It looks like it has milk, but I have felt it, and it feels really hard. She is not letting the pups nurse from that one. She acts like it doesn't hurt her when I rub it, but it doesn't look normal. Is there anything that I can do? It has me worried, mainly because it is the only one that is large and hanging down. Thank you.
4
How can I tell if my dog is in heat?
5
How can I tell when my Boxer goes into heat?
1
We have an 8-month-old AKC registered black Labrador Retriever. My spouse wants her to have puppies. I'm not too sure if I'm prepared for all the work after the puppies are born. Should we have her spayed? If we decide not to - how do I go about looking for a male black lab for her to mate with?
I would encourage you to evaluate carefully whether or not you breed your puppy. First, she is too young at this time to be bred. Second, a Labrador will have rather large litters, 4-8 puppies, which will all need homes. There are already many dogs that do not have homes and finding homes for all the puppies may be difficult. Third, raising puppies is quite a bit of work and not without expenses, which may or may not be recovered with the sale of the puppies. Finally, finding an appropriate mate for her might prove difficult since you want a dog both with a good temperament and medically sound with good hips and free of other problems. This is not a decision to be made casually or lightly, so please give it a great deal of thought.
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2
Do female dogs menstruate like women? I have a Lab that is not spayed and during certain days in the month she has a bloody discharge.
Female dogs will go into estrus commonly called "heat" about every six months. The onset of the heat cycle is usually signaled by a swelling of the vagina. Midway through the cycle the dog will discharge some blood from the vaginal area. During that time they are willing to breed with the male dog who may come from great distances to woo your dog! The complete heat cycle lasts approximately 3 weeks. If your dog is discharging blood from the vagina on a monthly basis this may be a sign of a uterine infection and should be checked by a veterinarian right away.
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3
My dog Haley had puppies 4 weeks ago. The puppies are very healthy, and this is her first and last litter. My question: One of her mammary glands is hanging down real low. It looks like it has milk, but I have felt it, and it feels really hard. She is not letting the pups nurse from that one. She acts like it doesn't hurt her when I rub it, but it doesn't look normal. Is there anything that I can do? It has me worried, mainly because it is the only one that is large and hanging down. Thank you.
Mammary gland blockage or infections can happen when a dog is nursing. Often this is manifest by swelling, redness and pain and the dog may refuse to allow puppies to nurse. The best way to deal with the problem is to visit your veterinarian. She will likely prescribe antibiotics, which should clear up the problem.
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4
How can I tell if my dog is in heat?
One of the first signs of a dog entering heat is a swelling of the vaginal area. This often is accompanied by a bloody discharge as well. The heat cycle usually last 3 weeks. During the middle week is the time a dog will be most attractive to male dogs and can easily become pregnant. If a female dog is in heat she must be walked outdoors on a leash to prevent any unwanted breeding and subsequent puppies.
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5
How can I tell when my Boxer goes into heat?
One of the first signs of heat in most dogs is a swelling of the vaginal area. During this period of time the dog may also have a blood-tinged discharge. The next stage is characterized by the dog being receptive to mating and it is during this time that the dog can become pregnant. Think very carefully about breeding your dog. Keep in mind that you will need to find homes for all the puppies. If you are not planning on breeding her, you may want to consider having her spayed to prevent unwanted litters of puppies.
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