my dog, Lucy

Question
My dog for some time now always looks like she is going to have puppies.  She has not been spade and has never had puppies.  She is five years old.

Answer
Hi Ken!

Signs of Pregnancy
Dogs give me signs, shortly after breeding to let me know that they are pregnant. Yours will too. You just need to know how to recognize the signs.

1. Her vulva will stay slightly swollen after their heat ends.

2. Her teats ( nipples will be more pronounced and hard.

3. You will notice a big change in her temperament. She may get quieter or lazy or more loving

>4. 2 weeks after breeding they may experience morning sickness. It can last a week or so. Give her saltene crackers before she gets out of bed and a few throughout the day

By now you know they are pregnant.

Your vet has to wait until day 28-32 of her pregnancy, to palpate the abdomen.

To do this lay your dog on her side, slide one palm beneath her and your other palm over her other side, just below her ribs. Gently squeeze your palms together and feel for little golf balls, these are puppies. If you become good at this, you will be able to count the puppies.

5. In the 4th week you may notice thickening of her sides, between her ribs and hip bone.

6. She may start to show any time after 5 weeks. Larger breeds may carry the pups up in her rib cage so it might not be so easy to notice.

7. Most dogs show at 6-7 weeks. You may notice a normal discharge somewhere in the last couple of weeks. The discharge is clear and has the consistency of thick vaseline and is oderless.
If you notice a discharge that is green or bloody and fowl smelling seek a vet.

8. In the 8th week you can fell the puppies kick and turn around.


9. If you own a stethoscope you can hear heartbeats in the 8th week. It sounds like short quick tic,tic,tic,tic,tic. I have learned to tell a sex of pup this way. Males tic faster. Like in Morris code, males are the dot, females are the dash.



>10. Its safe to get an x-ray in the 8th week, but not just to count pups. Do it only if you suspect she may have a small birth canal which may present a problem. 11. In the 9th week her belly will start to change shape. It appears to lay lower to the ground. This is caused from the pups lining up in the uterine horns. In a human is called when the belly drops.
The 9th week lasts forever, by now you should have started recording her temperature, and have all your whelping supplies on hand. Her bed needs to be ready for the big day.

Also,you can check out this website for more pictores!

http://www.debbiejensen.com/signs_of_pregnant.html

I hope this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck! Please keep me posted and give that Lucy girl millions of kisses for me!Sending wagging tails your way!
Nicole