is it safe for a dog to have puppies at 8 years old if she has never had puppies before?

Question

my dog is 8 years old and in heat, she has never had puppies and she is in excellent health. is it safe for her to have puppies at this age?

my dog is 8 years old and a house pet who is loved very much. i have her mother and every one who sees her wants one, among the group of people who absolutely love dogs. this is not for just the sake of it, id love to have 2 more of her and i would keep them all if necessary. she has been protected for 8 yrs. shes a dalmation, brown and white with green eyes. i know that she may not have another of herself but i love my dog dearly. i have a hugh yard and would keep all if i have to but several people have also begged me for one of her puppies if she does. she is in excellent health and spoiled rotten. i wont take any chances with her, but i want to know from someone with experience.

Answer 1

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

1.Not all dogs are built to be bred.

Most pets, although lovable, are not of breeding quality because they have genetic defects and other problems that should not be perpetuated. People who breed dogs for a living are very careful about choosing which dogs they will breed together based on physical characteristics and behavior. Some people decide that it would be fun to breed and just start looking for a dog that has the proper equipment and is willing. This can be a huge mistake.

2. There are already too many dogs in the world.

Breeding your pet is a serious endeavor and should not be taken lightly. There are far too many pets that end up in shelters without good homes. If your breed of dog has large litters, what will you do if you are unable to sell the puppies? Do you really want to contribute to the massive problem of pet overpopulation?

3. Dogs that aren’t neutered face serious health risks.

Consider your dog’s own health. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to be hit by cars, because unaltered males have a very strong urge to roam and find a fertile female. Male dogs will go over or under fences, through doors and windows, and will pull leashes out of unsuspecting hands in quest of a mate.

Additionally, neutering greatly reduces the incidence of prostatic disease and eliminates testicular cancer in males, and cuts down on breast cancer in females. The possibility of uterine infections is also eliminated by spaying.

4. Female dogs used for breeding may have unwelcome visitors.

If you spay your dog, you will not have to chase persistent male dogs out of your yard. Also, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up messy heat cycles.

5. Be prepared to work like a dog when your pet goes into labor.

Many people do not realize just how much work and expense is involved with letting dogs have puppies. Getting the mother through pregnancy is the easy part, but labor is truly laborious for dog and owner alike. Dogs usually decide to have their puppies at the most inconvenient times, like 2:00 in the morning when veterinary hospitals are closed.

If your pet develops a problem during delivery, it means at least the expense of an emergency call. If the complications are life threatening, you must be prepared, especially if you have a breed of dog that has a broad head like a pug, to pay for an emergency C-section. It is very distressing to have to leave home in the middle of the night, worry about your pet, get a large veterinary bill and then try to explain to your boss why you cannot possibly come to work the next day.

6. It can be devastating when the puppies die.

There is always the prospect of the loss of some or all of the puppies. A neonatal mortality rate of 10 to 30 percent is considered normal. And, it’s easy to lose a puppy if you don’t have the experience or knowledge to care for newborns. Because puppies are not able to regulate their own body temperature initially, you may need to supplement their environment with heat.

7. Not all dogs make the best mothers.

If your female doesn’t have enough milk to feed all its puppies, or decides that feeding her offspring is not her cup of tea, it will be your responsibility to provide them with nutrition every three to four hours, round the clock. And how many mouths are there to feed?

Another aspect of puppy care that you can look forward to if your dog wants nothing to do with her brood is the manual stimulation of urination and defecation. Until puppies are three weeks old they will only void if directly stimulated. If mom isn’t doing this, you will need to take a moistened cotton ball and gently rub the urogenital area until the babes begin to urinate and pass stool. Failure to do this can result in some pretty unhappy puppies.

8. Good luck seeing a profit!

Your last responsibility before they go to a new home is to have them dewormed, vaccinated, and examined by a veterinarian. You will want to make sure that you have budgeted a sufficient amount for this purpose. Needless to say, if you decide to breed mixed breed puppies, you have no opportunity to recoup this expense.

Puppies are a lot of fun and it can be very exciting when they are born, but more often than not, owners find themselves in over their heads when they decide to endeavor into breeding.

Article republished here with permission from VetCentric.com
Copyright(c) 2000 by VetCentric.com

SPAY OR NEUTER!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I'm all for life, most of these people think that there are far too many people on the earth. But, they aren't volunteering to give up their space. Your dog will be fine just make sure that you get the names of these advisers. They'd probably have the dog put to sleep. I wonder if they are yet mating with the population being what it is. Love your pet and stop asking these people who watch too many episodes of the "hunger games "

Answer 3

It really depends on the breed, but generally I'd say no. There are a number of breed clubs whose code of ethics set age limits on breeding females and I've never seen age 8 in the acceptable range.

She might be ok, but if you really love your dog, don't take the risk.

Answer 4

u should really spay her after this. then can have babbys till 10 so she should be ok but um u know she could die from giving birth at that age even though she isnt that old i would say no older than 8 year old dogs should really not be pregnate so she should be fine i am sorry if i seemed rude before i know it is hard to think that your dog could die Good Luck and i hope she is well

Answer 5

yea, it's proubly safe, talk to your vet first. if you do breed her check then double check the stud to make sure the blood lines are clean. you don't want any undesireable trates poping up in your pups.
i would wait til her next heat, that way you have time to find the perfect mate.

Answer 6

No, she is too old for a first litter. In fact, I would never allow one of my girls to have a litter at that age, period, first litter or not.

Answer 7

The shock of pregnancy, never mind giving birth could kill her.

Answer 8

yes after 1.5 yrs is safe until they are like 10ish

Answer 9

PLEASE DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER ANIMALS D I E !!!! Enjoy the dog you have, sounds like you really care for her. She is an orginal and you should keep it that way. Please don't breed her!!

Answer 10

as long as shes healthy it should be fine