Is my dog having a miscarriage

Question
QUESTION: My dog started mating last week when her bleeding was over,and yesterday she started to bleeding is was quite a bit of blood really red, and today no blood, what could this mean and do you think she maybe having or getting ready to have a miscarrage, it's like she was never bleeding.....help

ANSWER: Hi La Conta.  How long was your dog in heat before you started breeding her?  Are you completely certain she was finished with the pre-estrus (bleeding) stage?  If she stopped bleeding and then started up again the next day, then she might not have completed that phase of the heat cycle.

The heat cycle in most dogs runs for approximately 21 days as follows:

Days 1 - 7:  The vaginal area swells noticeably and within a couple of days bleeding begins.  During this stage the female usually will not allow the male to mate with her, and she will actually growl and possible bite him if he tries.

Days 7 - 14:  It is during this stage, the female is in what is called Estrus, and will now allow the male to mate with her.  She will normally stand still and move her tail out of the way.

Days 14 - 21:  If successful mating occurred during days 7 - 14, this is the stage where the embryos are forming.  No external signs are present.

Based upon the above information, most breeders try to mate their dogs within the 7 day time period.  Because not all female dogs come in to Estrus on day 7 (some a little sooner, some a little later) this is not an exact science.  

Some breeders try to mate their dogs on days 14, 16, and 18 from the moment they discover the enlarged vaginal area (or) days 7, 9, and 11 during the Estrus stage.  Hope this is not too confusing.


Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.  

Sincerely,
Penny DiLoreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much I not to sure how long maybe two and a half weeks maybe its been a while, but I think she is fine I see no signs of bleeding and her nipples are getting a little bigger, and she is starting to eat grass now. if I counted right sat. will be 21 day since we breed her last I should be seeing signs right,there wasn't anymore blood since that day and she is sleeping alot more now, if it was a miscarrage wouldn't she still be bleeding.

Answer
Hi LaConta.  It sounds to me, by your description of how she is doing, that all is well.  Please find (below) a link to a great whelping calendar that I use.  Just type in the date that you mated her, at the top, and the calendar will print out a complete listing of what to expect over the next few weeks.

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

Good luck, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Penny Diloreto
www.puppies-dot-com.com