False pregnancy in my dog, or not?

Question

I have a few questions...heh.

I have a female black lab who is going on 8 months. She had her first heat cycle about a month ago. As of right now, she has swelling up the teets and her abdomin seems to look like its getting a little larger. I don't know how to tell if this is a real pregnancy or false pregnancy. I know the best answer will be by an examination by a vet.

1)Is it possible for an 11 month old male to get my dog pregnant in just a few short minutes without even getting tied up? (Being that this was his first time mating, aslo)

2) Is it common for dogs to experience false pregnancies their first time in heat?

3)Do signs for pregnancy and false pregnancy show up in the same time frame? If so, how long after heat will they show these signs?

if anyone could give me some advice, i'd greatly appreciate it! thanks!

For those who read this-
I'm not adding to any euthanization problems that we have in america. My dog didn't end up like this due to lack of knowledgment on how to care for a dog while in heat.

I watched her like a hawkfor her 3 weeks while being in heat and a little after just to be safe. But I had someone dog sit for me, and I'm not sure she followed my rules and guidlines with how to watch her.

so my problem is,i'm just not sure if they got tied up.

i plan on getting her fixed AFTER her first litter.

Answer 1

A dog can have false pregnancy any time following a heat cycle.
A vet can not feel pups through palpation until about the forth week.. From what I understand it is rare but possible for the male to impregnate your female in the circumstances you described but you are unsure as to whether they tied or not.
Well seriously if you do not want to be part of the problem the solution would be to take her and get her spayed before it is too late. If she is pregnant you can prevent the pups from being born.

Eight months is way too young to breed a dog. The dog is still a puppy herself and she has not matured phsically or mentally. Sure it was an accident. I am sure it is just a coincidence that you want your dog to have one litter and now she may be pregnant. I suppose you plan on getting all your advice on the pregnancy, whelping and puppy care here on YA. I guess you do want to be part of the problem because just one litter from a byb is a problem.
All I can say is poor, poor dog to have to have an owner like you!!!

Answer 2

Are you sure the 2 dogs were only together that one time? If that was the only time and they did not tie, she is probably just having a false pregnancy. It is fairly common. I have had several dogs with false pregnancies. I had one dog that gained weight altho her teats did not swell and I knew she was not pregnant as I had her seperated from the male during her cycle. When the 2 months was up, she just lost the weight she had gained(wasn't that much, maybe a lb). Not sure how her body got rid of it but it did just as if she had delivered pups. I had another dog with a false pregnancy that developed milk at the 2 mo time frame, and I lost a mama dog and had 6 pups to care for. The dog with the false pregnancy took the puppies and raised them as her own.

Answer 3

-a dog hit sexual maturity at 6-8months. so it possible.

- a false pregnancy can occur anytime in a female dog life. they go thru everything a pregnancy dog goes thru except, the birthing of puppies.

- the process for a dog pregnancy take about 2 months (or 56-63 days to be exact).

they best way to be sure if your dog is pregnant is wait a month (when the pup skeleton is developed), before taking her to the vet for a x-ray or ultrasound test. U can also wait to feel for the pups movement at 1mth and 1/3.

other than that, take care of your dog and make sure she get everything she needs. if you want more info just go to the site i posted for more information. the breeder there is very informative.

Answer 4

False pregnancies are quite common. In month, a vet can tell for sure. It is unlikely if they didn't tie, she is pregnant.

Please either do some serious research and learn about responsible breeding or get both of them fixed. It tears my heart out to know we slaughter millions of dogs every year for lack of homes. Please don't add to the problem. Check www.petfinders.org and see how many Labs in your area need homes.

Answer 5

Our dog did this and we gave her a few small filled animals from the carnival (little buck recreation prizes) and a tennis ball she stored all of them along with her for approximately two weeks then she might pass directly to whatever else this might occur each and every so traditionally, she might best whine little bit normally she might simply lay with them close her stomach and sleep

Answer 6

My dog had the same symtoms. I just figured she was going thru puberty like people. You know, getting breasts and gaining a lil weight. My doggy did it too. Her boobs got big and her nipples started protruding and she gained a good 8lbs or more. She wasn't pregnant