Canine Pregnancy

Can someone that has experience in breeding small dogs please tell me what would be the signs to look for that says she is getting ready to deliver (and) What happens during the last week or two of pregnancy?

Thanks....
LoVe,
Rhapsody -

My uncle used to breed dogs. Here's a little bit of info. The female licks her %#@&#! and genital area very often, as well as her abdomen when she is close to labor. She seeks calmness. Some female dogs tend who are always inside the house tend to locate themselves under furniture, while the ones that are always outside recover their wild behavior and dig a hole on the ground. Some female dogs stay still and calm before this miraculous happening, others groan and rip their blanket apart. During the first contractions the female urinates constantly. From the time labor begins she will not accept any stranger near her, but can call for her owner.

Her teats will get swollen about 24 hours prior to birth. Her vulva will swell, and her abdomen drops.

Hope this helps a little bit.

hugs, Lisa

When does a female dog tend to put most of her weight on? - is it during the last week of pregnancy?

Thanks....
Rhapsody -

What is the breed? When do you believe the ***** was bred?

I really only have experience with big dogs, and I'm not a breeder so I don't have much experience. I have only assisted friends in the whelping process.

You need to prepare a whelping box with clean bedding for her. Have plenty of bedding available to change it out with.

Large breeds put on the weight slowly, but certainly look the biggest at the end of the term.

Was this an accidental breeding? There are so many unwanted puppies out there, I hope you will consider spaying your pet when you home the puppies.

When was the last time you had your girl to the vet? You absolutely need vetrinary help with this. This can be very dangerous especially for small breeds.

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Gemstone said:
Was this an accidental breeding?

When was the last time you had your girl to the vet? You absolutely need vetrinary help with this. This can be very dangerous especially for small breeds.

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YES..... if my Chihuahua is pregnant then it would an accidental breeding, for I have 4 dogs: 2 Chihuahuas, 1 Lasha and 1 Pitbull (and) I always keep them away from each other when the two girls are in heat (in 11 yrs we have never had any pups) - but I do know that last time my female Chihuahua was in heat my older son forgot and placed her in the crate with the male Chihuahua... this is where she usually sleeps for the night.

I am asking how one can tell that a small breed is pregnant for I just recently took my Pitbull to the vet for her yearly check-up and it cost me $175.00 - therefore - I will have to wait until next pay day in 2 weeks before I can take the Chihuahua to the vet to have the vet check her.

Reasons I believe she might be pregnant..... last Sunday when we were giving our dogs their weekly baths we noticed that the female Chihuahua was fatter in the stomach area than she usually is and she has continued to grow.

So, now with that INFO can someone tell me if it true that dogs put on most of their pregnancy weight during the last week or two of their pregnancy? And, if there is any discharge that takes place prior to whelping?

Thanks....
LoVe,
Rhapsody -

Never mind..................... I just found my precious doggy DEAD!!

I NEED A (((( HUG ))) - I am home alone and very sad.... I have had her for eight years.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

OH Rhapsody! I am so sorry! I know how sad you must be!
i am at a loss for words here.

(((((((((((((((((rhapsody)))))))))))))))))

ohhhh sweetheart I'm so sorry, what could have happened?
there is an wonderful poem that might help, Rainbow Bridge maybe someone from here can find it for you, I'm a computor dummy on finding things

Oh Rhapsody, I am so very sorry. My heart goes out to you!

I have a Mexican Chihuahua, and she is often the only reason I get through a day.

I am truly and deeply sorry for your loss.

All my thoughts are with you!!

And I send you many, many hugs!

(((((((Rhap))))))

Thanks everyone...... I am going to lay down for a while, for I cannot stop crying.... I just keep on seeing her little brown EYES and how trusting they were in ME (she had to be any ever I was in the house) - (she loved & trusted me so) and now I feel as though I let her down - she was suffering and I did not even know it. Well I felt maybe something was off, but I was not for sure other than I thought she might be pregnant.... I guess her little tiny body couldn't take it.

And, my other three dogs keep on looking for her and sniffing where I last laid her in a bag while I wiped down (cleaned) the doggy crates. My male Chihuahua keeps on whining..... he misses his friend.

Thanks for caring..... I will be OK - it will just take some time and I must remember that I still have my beautiful baby Zulu.


LoVe,
Rhapsody -

Oh my goodness! I am crying for you!

Cry as much as you want and can!

My love to you!

OH Rhapsody! I'm so sorry. Don't blame yourself for what nature did, without you she wouldn't have lived as long, she probably wouldn't have had a home and the love you gave her... You made her days here special, you cared for her and loved her, you did so much already. We cannot always understand the sighs of our animal friends, and you cannot blame yourself for it.

I know how hard it is to let something so precious down when they trust you with their life, but here's the thing, you didn't let her down!!! You gave her life, you already extended her days.

Tanya, your words are wonderfully meaningfull!!

((rhaps))) so sorry

rhap I am so sorry!

hope all goes well

Oh dear, I'm really sorry to read about this. Hope you are holding on...

((((((((((rhap)))))))))))),

I am so sorry that your little doggy died. There is nothing worse than loosing your little buddy that is just like loosing a child (at least for me it is).

I am a little curious if she was really pregnant or maybe the swelling you felt was actually a tumor? It is hard for us to diagnose our 4 legged children since they can't tell us when something is hurting that bad.

Don't feel that is was your fault......it is just something that we can't always know the answer to & sometimes things just can't be helped.

It's ok to feel bad & to cry....you lost your 4 legged child & that is a big loss to deal with,
Debbie

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eskielover said:
I am a little curious if she was really pregnant or maybe the swelling you felt was actually a tumor? It is hard for us to diagnose our 4 legged children since they can't tell us when something is hurting that bad.

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YES.... I too am now wondering if she was pregnant or if it was some thing else, but I try not to think about it to much for if I do then I will cry even more (and) she is buried now and in peace and safe from any more harm...... I am not for sure if it was a tumor for she really grew fast in just five days - can a tumor do that, grow that fast?

Right now I am just trying to move on with my life and to enjoy the other three dogs that I still have, am blessed to still have. I have had dogs for the last 11 years of my life and I have always taken good care of all of them.... but I do know that they have to die one day - I just did not think it would be her for she was just 8 years old and I have two other dogs that are older than her and one that is younger.

LIFE has its on agenda and it is not always what you want or think we need.

LoVe,
Rhapsody - (( hugs ))

It really hurts when we lose our best friends, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I have no words to comfort you,but do know you will forever be in her heart too.
You did nothing wrong,it's not your fault,that's a common thing we feel when we have no answers to what and why something bad happens to them, after all we are "dog moms" and they are our children with fur.
I have a plaque that says "dogs leave footprints on our hearts".
Yes, certain cancerous tumors can grown quickly, stillborns can happen too, but there was no way you knew what it was, a vet may have been of help, but again quick growing tumors are quick killers, in my life we lost a few dogs to a certain cancer, I think it is called hemangioma carcinoma (can't remember exact term) which attacks the organs quickly. It is extrememly sad. Breast (mammary) cancer can occur too, spaying a ***** at a young age decreases her chances of developing that, a ***** should be spayed if she is not going to be used for breeding, for so many reasons
Males should be neutered for the same.
No sense of putting them at any additional risks,or unwanted pregnancies, everyday more and more dogs and cats are euthanized, I've witnessed that in domestics and the raptor and wildlife center, it is heart wrenching.
Never feel spaying/neutering is mean, and it doesn't change the dog's behaviour, that's all hogwash.
Sorry, off topic, I apologize.
Rhap, my heart goes out to you, us animal lovers can understand how much we feel about our pets.
Animals do miss their loss, we had several pets that seemed to mourn. It is important and I know you'll do this, give them comfort,extra attention for a little while, you can all console one another,not even realizing it.
I'm sending you well wishes for strength,healing and hope.
Please take care now,
DE

(((((((( Rhapsody and family ))))))))))))