I found a stray dog that is either in heat, or very pregnant. I have felt her tummy and it feels like there may be a puppy in there. However, she is spotting, which makes me think she might be in heat. She is a Lhaso Apso and I have Shih Tzus. I am trying to find her owner, before I hand her over to rescue. But in the mean time, I don't want her to get pregnant if she is in heat. My biggest concern is that she is pregnant and because she is in a strange environment, she isn't comfortable enough to have the puppies.
I also should add the I have a litter of 4 week old Shih Tzu puppies here too, which seems to make her very nervous. She shys away from them when they are out of their crate. She also won't let my dogs near her without growling.
Can someone help? I am at a loss here!
2006-11-26 01:41:21 · 11 answers · asked by Katslookup - a Fostering Fool! 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I may have been hasty saying she is a stray. She has been well groomed and was wearing a collar. ( She possibly only outside for a day or two.) By checking her eyes, she looks to be about 7 or 8 years old, but by checking her teeth, you would guess her age to be only 3 or 4. (They are not stained at all!)
Because of the holiday, there aren't any shelters or vets open, so that is why I kept her here. I have posted flyers all over the place, thinking she just got separated from her family and they are looking for her. She is separated from my litter, so I have no fear of her harming them in any way. She knows when they are out of their crate and she goes and lays down far away from their area. I would never risk my babies.
I know when my dog is in heat and in labor, because I know what she looks like when she is not. This is a different breed and I don't know enough about them. I have contacted rescue for her, but they can't get her for a few days.
2006-11-26 02:22:04 · update #1
It seems that some people want to judge me for bringing in a dog to my home that I don't know. What would you have done? Let her outside? There are no shelters open on the weekend here.
Shame on those of you who don't have a heart enough to care for a creature who needs it.
2006-11-26 03:49:28 · update #2
It is sometimes hard to tell if you aren't use to the dog. If it is spotting, it may be in either the beginning of heat or the beginning of labor.
The most important thing would be to make sure that you keep this dog away from your dogs, but it sounds as if you are doing that. She is probably scared since she is not with her family and at her age, doesn't know what is going on.
It was a great idea contacting rescue for her. She will get the more personalized attention there than she would at a shelter, just make sure rescue knows that she was running loose.
Also, since it is a holiday weekend, the owner may have had someone watching the dog and doesn't even know she is gone. Keep an eye out for signs for a lost dog, and all of your worries might be over.
Good luck with her! There should be more people like you out there taking care of these poor creatures than judging you for having such a big heart!
2006-11-26 06:27:51 · answer #1 · answered by Chrystina S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you ever want her to have puppies? If not, have her spayed within two or three weeks. If you do eventually want puppies, then take her in for an abortion shot. One product went off the market, but vets still use Dex. Take her in before Monday for the best, safest results. Even if she is pregnant, the sire's size is not as important as the litter size. If she has four puppies, they will be small enough for her to pass even with a larger sire. One puppy litters are the most problematic regardless of sire size. So don't become too stressed about the sire size. In the worst case scenario, she would simply have a section. You could have good prenatal care, get a good x-ray from your vet to confirm head size versus pelvis size, and go from there. A pregnancy is certainly not a death sentence. Calm down. This is going to be ok, whether you spay, abort or choose to let her deliver.
2016-03-12 23:20:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have young pups, then you should know what a pregnant dog looks like. Rounder tummy, larger nipples. I don't see how you can confuse the 2. A pregnant dog getting ready to have pups shouldn't be spotting blood.
Shih Tzus and Lhaso Apso have the same type build/hair. The signs of pregnancy/heat would be the same regardless of breeds. Signs of pregnancy and signs of heat are so completely different. Does she have milk? Are her breasts large? Is her belly round?
2006-11-26 01:57:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Shes probably scared to death. Keep her in a separate room away from your dogs until you can find the owner. If shes spotting, shes probably in heat. If she was pregnant her nipples would be getting big and she wouldn't be spotting. She would also have a hard round stomach if she was close to having babies. She will be shy around puppies most dogs are.
2006-11-26 01:50:06 · answer #4 · answered by wildcat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't seriously believe that you haven't already put your puppies at definite risk by bringing a strange dog in there!!!
And you actually let her in the same room - you're incredibly lucky you didn't have a major fight on your hands.
You claim to be a breeder yet can't tell the difference between a dog in heat or a pregnant one. Get this poor dog to a shelter where she'll be safe. And hopefully you're planning on spaying your dog
2006-11-26 03:28:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
honestly.. take her to your SPCA at once (or humane society or pound - who ever handles the strays in your area)
you dont know her history if she is vaccinated or not... too much of a risk to your pups...
they can check her for microchip and may even have a lost report from her owner already... typically 90% - 95 % of small dogs are claimed by their owners.. those who are not claimed were intentionally abandoned..(much higher rate of small dogs are claimed than big ones)
So I wouldnt worry about taking her in.. I would be more concerned about your dogs....
2006-11-26 02:11:22 · answer #6 · answered by CF_ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check her nipples, is she producing milk? If so then the spotting more than likely means she is in labor with full term pups or could be having a miscarraige. The swollen abdomen makes me nervous, if she's that huge something isn't right. Or is she just fat? Can you feel her bones? If that's the case and she really is fat then perhaps it is her period. Gosh, it's really hard to tell without seeing her. Good luck, and be sure to call first thing in the am when the vet opens.
2006-11-26 03:09:00 · answer #7 · answered by dolly 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you are mad risking the health of your vulnerable puppies by bringing home a stray dog which may be carrying a disease. You should have turned her over to the appropriate authorities and not brought her into your home. I would ask why you are breeding puppies when you cannot even tell if she is in season or pregnant.
How will you feel if she is carrying parvo and your pups all catch it and die? How will you feel if she attacks and kills the pups???
You have been totally irresponsable both in breeding a litter when you are sooooo inexperienced, and in bringing a stray dog into your home.
2006-11-26 02:09:12 · answer #8 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 6⤊ 4⤋
bring her to the vet and let them decide and if she is pregnant then take your dogs into another area where they cant get out of, put blankets where the dog is and make her comfortable she should deliver when she is comfortable and doesnt have any other dogs around
2006-11-26 01:47:02 · answer #9 · answered by xobeccaxo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take the stray to the vet so you can find out what is going on.
2006-11-26 01:49:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋