Pug may be pregnant, What do I do to be prepared and help her???

Question

My 7 and a half month old female pug and 2 year old male pug have mated. They just did it this week so I am not sure if it has taken but I want to prepare for it just incase. They both have perfect health back grounds and bread from show dogs, but this is Maggie's first heat and she is so young I am worried what this will do to her physically and if she will be ok.
I called the vet and they said it was fine, just to feed her good food but I need more information. I need to know when to take her to the vet for a check up and what to ask. I need to know what food to feed her and what to do when she delivers. I need to know how to brake the sac if she cannot and what to do if she cannot break the cord. How will I tell if she needs a c-section? As you can tell I am scared. We have been keeping them apart but he got her while they were eating and once they were stuck it was too late.
If anyone could help it would be more than appriciated!! Thank you so much!

Answer 1

Don't be scared... Your gal may not be pregnant. But if she is, you can see her through things by remaining calm and collecting as much information as you can before her pups arrive.

You'll be able to tell that your dog is most likely pregnant when her nipples enlarge and darken in color. Her belly will swell over a period of about 60 days, and she may begin “nesting behaviors”: tearing up and rearranging blankets, papers, pillows and whatever else is available to make a nest for her puppies as their birth nears. Usually dogs start "showing" they're pregnancy when they're about 45 days along.

The general period of gestation for dogs is 58 to 62 days. Most puppies born before 58 days may not survive. The mom will need someplace quiet and safe from other pets, children, cross-traffic and distraction. You can use a whelping box or a large dog crate for this purpose. Or you can just let the dog whelp wherever she is comfortable. Birthing is messy, so also have clean-up supplies around so you can clean up the birthing area as soon as possible after all of the puppies arrive. Also keep a cellphone on hand in case you need to call the emergency room/ vet.

About 12 to 24 hours before the birth, the dam’s temperature may drop a couple of degrees. If her normal temperature is, say, 101°, it may drop to about 99° or 98°. The only way you’ll know if her temperature is dropping, of course, is if you regularly take her temperature. Twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening during the latter part of her pregnancy – is usually sufficient.

The onset of labor is usually accompanied by heavy panting, pacing, and “nest building” behaviors. The dog may whine throughout the process, shriek at the birth of each puppy, or be completely silent. When hard labor starts, the contractions become more severe. The dam’s panting will escalate a bit, and she may “hunch” over and/or lift her tail with each contraction. Just before the birth of each pup, you’ll see the puppy as a “bulge” just under the dam’s tail.

Usually the dam will remove the sac and bite the umbilical cord by herself, but new mothers may be overwhelmed and unsure of what to do when the first pup arrives. If you have to break open the birth sac, do it gently, and pull the sac away from the puppy’s head first. You need to make sure it can breathe. If you have to cut the umbilical cord, cut it with sterile scissors about ½” inch away from the puppy’s belly.

Puppies can come at different intervals. Some will come 15-20 minutes apart, others may be hours apart. It's not uncommon for some pups to be born feet first.

If you see any heavy discharge of blood… If the dam has been trying to birth the same puppy for 4-5 hours and the puppy isn’t coming out…If you see foul-smelling blackish-green fluid emit from the vaginal area (this usually means a still birth puppy is inside of her)… If the puppies are premature or undeveloped or any time you feel things just aren’t going right call the emergency room/vet and get your dog immediate assistance. C-sections can be rough on dogs; it's best to let her have her pups normally if she can. Your vet can assist you with this decision when she's nearer her due date.

Otherwise, stay calm and just be there for your pug. Good luck!

You can e-mail us if you need more information or assistance at [e-mail]

Answer 2

Pugs, especially well bred ones with nice heads, almost always need C-sections. And being she is a baby herself, I would certainly plan on it. It is better to schedule it than to have to go to some emergency Vet you do not know and trust, not to mention a C-section can be $1000 and up, I cannot imagine how much it might be as an emergency.

Sounds like you need to contact the breeder for advice. If she is a good show breeder, I can't imagine she will be happy, but she has a right to know and will be helpful to you.

Buy some books and learn all you can. There is a very nice selection at Dogwise.com

Bit ches in season cannot be with a male, at all, even for a moment.

Answer 3

Take her to a vet that can do ultrasound at 55 days, to learn if she can deliver without C-section. Meanwhile feed a premium kibble, such as Canidae, Innova, Solid Gold or Natural Balance to keep her in the best health, without gaining excess weight. Also, give her prenatal vitamins, to help her have enough calcium to support her own growth, as well as the puppies'.
Here is a great site, with photos to help you know what to do now, and how to help as she is whelping> http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/whelping.html

BUT, I can tell you for certain..If it was my own pug, I would have her spayed within the next 2 weeks, while it is safe..and not risk her health and growth, and the danger of puppies at her age..However, it is your choice, and a tough one.

Answer 4

I know accidents happen and I would never breed any of my dogs on their 1st heat. If you want healthy puppies start her on Purina Puppy chow now, it will make her have plenty milk too. I hope you wrote the date down, it takes 63 days for puppies to be born. She should start showing when she is around 5 wks. pregnant, hopefully it didn't take since it was her 1st heat and she is so young. When she goes in labor she won't eat, she will scratch in her sleeping area to prepare her bed for the babies, and they should be born head 1st. Please keep the male away from her and the puppies. Keep feeding her puppy chow after the puppies are born and start them on soaked puppy chow (water) when about 4 wks. old along with nursing. I've been raising dogs for about 25 years and if needed email me at [e-mail] and put pug puppies in subject line so I won't think its spam. Good Luck!

Answer 5

You can help her by giving her a very easy life don't let the male pug bug her because, It can really hurt her and may hurt her tummy. And if you going to treat her well treat your male pug the SAME. Trust me because, I have 2 gogs a puppy and a adult dog. They fight all the time when they see one another get treated like royelty. Give both some treats so they both feel impotant. And to be prepared be very helpful to her and keep the male pug able to see her but not by her so he can see her. Also have a towel when she has them. Good luck!!!

Answer 6

For shame...she's so young, like a young 12 or 13 year old girl getting her first period and BAM! She gets prego!

Get her spayed! You obviously don't know anything about breeding and the breeding should be left for the pros.

I expect hell for this, but oh well. With MILLIONS of dogs being euthanized in the US every year, why bring MORE dogs into the world when there isn't enough people to go around?!!!

Answer 7

She is still a baby and is going to have babies. It would be like a 7 yr old girl getting pregnant. Seriously, I would take her to the vet and have her spayed.

Answer 8

GET HER SPAYED. Giving birth that young could kill her, and your vet seems very irresponsible to not suggest it. If your vet won't do it, find one who will. She's way too young. Why was the male not neutered? If you are not a reputable breeder, you need to spay/neuter your dogs. There's too many unwanted dogs already, purebred AND mixed. Please get her spayed immediately, for the safety and health of your dog.

Answer 9

Well first off, get her a vet. MAKE 110% sure she's pregnant. Make sure she has a open top box/cage to nest in.

Answer 10

http://www.petbitsforyou.com/heat_cycle.html
If it did take, that's too bad, she's like a 7yr old child, you should have been more cautious. Feed them separately from now on.