Is it dangerous for my westie to have her first litter age 7?

Question

I think my young male westie has mated with her he is only 9 months old and i found them locked together this morning and she is in season.

Answer 1

It will all depend on your pets health, My dogs stop having pups at 6 years old, and They can have their first at around 2. 1/2 years. best speak with your vet, and go by what he/she advises. But please be warned that she is libel to more complications because of her age, also the pups could have problems.

Answer 2

Get her spayed right away. By 7 her hips will be set if she has not had a litter before. Natural birth maybe impossible for her and a costly c-section may well be needed. Tell the vet she has just bred while in heat.

It will cost a little more for the spay seeing she is in heat, but it's much better for her than for a well into middle age dog having a first litter. There may well be pregnacy complications for the female. Many breeding dogs have been retired by this age, not having the first litter.

While she is having her surgery get the male neutered too. Then you will have nothing to worry about. Best to have them both feeling rough together for a day than having a pup jumping all over the female when she's not feeling the best.

Answer 3

Yes, I think it is. To be on the safe side I think I would take her to see the Vet and see what he has to say about it.

I must say I am surprised that you didn't have a little more care in separating the male from the female while she was in season. A young male of 9 months is more than capable of mating with a female if given the chance.

If you don't intend to breed responsibly then I would advise you to have your female spayed now or your dog neutered.
It is the only safe way from preventing this happening again.

I never breed from my Goldens over the age of 5 years and I have been breeding for more than 20 years. I feel that it isn't fair to the dog to let her have a litter at 7 years old. I know some breeders might disagree with me on this point and it is only my opinion.

I believe the Vet can give the female an injection which will halt the pregnancy but you must get her there today or tomorrow morning at the latest.

Answer 4

She is quite old to be having her first litter at the age of seven. The best age for a first litter is between 2 and 3 years of age. The best thing you could do is to have her spayed now. In this way you would avoid any risks and complications which may occur and avoid having an unplanned litter of pups.

Answer 5

There is always some danger with pregnancy at any age. A first pregnancy at age 7 is vastly different from a 2nd or 3rd at that same age.

The fact that they "tied" is indicative of impending pregnancy.

At nine months he is most likely fertile (there is no "only" once they can they do). My assumption is, however, at that age you have not had him tested for whatever genetic/familial diseases/issues your breed has. (I'd help you out there but I don't know Westies).

My suggestion is you talk to your vet about various options.

1. It is not difficult to spay once she goes out of season.

2. If you opt to carry on with the pregnancy you will need to hurry up and get some research done.

3. If you opt to have the vet give her mis-mate please realize that you increase her risk of uterine infection so you MUST be on the lookout for it.

With both options 1 & 3 timing is crucial.. so don't just sit on it. With all options you will probably want your vet to assess your b*tch's condition.. so again.. don't just sit on it. With option 2, her nutritional state, physical and mental condition are crucial.

Answer 6

It's the equivalent of a 40+ yr old human having a 'first' pregnancy. Chances of complications are therefore greater! She may not be pregnant depending on where in her heat cycle she is but PLEASE TALK TO YOUR VET!!!!!! He may recommend termination if she is but it's your choice so you need to know everything you can first.
Why did you not get her spayed before introducing a MALE into the household? The least you should have been aware of is how quickly pups become sexually mature and when she would come in to season before he could be spayed. Still WE all make mistakes and I hope this is one you will learn from.
I personally disagree with any pet dog or cat being bred from so always make sure it can't happen!

Answer 7

why did you even let them near each other? its very dangerus for a dog of that age to have a litter. The KC recommend that a dog should not have its last litter after the age of seven and the first should be born before the dog turns four. Your b.itch is just entering her senior years...it would be a very bad idea to continue with the pregnancy if she is....seriously talk to your vet asap. You should never let entire animals together unless it is deliberate...why isn't the dog neutered? seriously..talk to your vet....

Answer 8

Um, yes, definatly. Especially a small breed at that and at that young of an age?? She is not even matured yet and her organs have not finished growing. This can cusae internal damage, increases her for mammory cancer and ovarian cancer, she also is at high risk during the pregnancy. Puppies should not be birthed when the mama is a puppy herself. Get her fixed, or keep a better watch on your animals, please. This is very unhealthy. The pups will be malnurished.

Answer 9

Yes it is dangerous for her to have a first litter at this age...also by still being intact at this age her risk of mammary cancer & pyometria are very high.

Why were these two even allowed to be together unsupervised in the first place while she is in heat???? Keep them SEPERATED for the remainder of her heat cycle (it is advised to go a week past the heat cycle in seperation) and hope that it didn't take, although odds are it probably did.

Answer 10

Having a 1st litter at 7 yrs is not ideal & can lead to complications. Why are you asking this here? You should take her to the vet & see what they say. There is an injection she can have, but that can also have side effects or can have her spayed in a few weeks time.