Pregnant Boston???

Question
QUESTION: I have a 3 yeard old male Boston who is not fixed.  We also have a 1 year old female, also not fixed.  She has gone through 2 heat cycles.  Her 1st one was at 6months.  The last one ended 09/04/08.  Our male got ahold of her on 09/09/08.  We were keeping them seperated, he just got ahold of her somehow.  I'm thinking she is possibly pregnant.  Her nipples are very long and big, her belly seems to be getting really hard.  If she is pregnant, would she be showing signs this early?  I'm guessing if she is pregnant she will due around Christmas. What is the usual first litter amount?


ANSWER: Hi. If she was bred on Sept. 9th, then that would put her due to whelp at about Nov. 10th. Canine pregnancy only lasts 9 weeks, or 63 days. She's about 4 weeks along now, which means that the signs you're talking about is right on track. One question, after she was bred and went out of heat, did her vulva stay a little larger? If so, then many take that as a positive pregnancy sign. You can have x-rays done after day 50 to know for sure. And because she is so young, I would definitely talk to your vet about any health concerns he may have, especially since your breed is known to need c-sections. The average Boston litter is about 3-4. She could have more or less though. If I can help with anything else, let me know!

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QUESTION: Thank-you so much for getting back to me so quickly.  Her vulva has stayed a bit enlarged.  I talked to the vet today, they said the same thing about the x-rays.  technically she wouldn't be eligible I would think for another week or so. for accurate results.  I'm just afraid of her being so young.  How much does the usual c-section cost?

Answer
You're welcome. It depends on the area you live in, and your vet. My vet charges $400 for a regular c-section, $500 for an emergency section. My vet is a lot cheaper than most on that, but he's good. You'll just have to talk to you vet and ask him. Make sure you also ask about an emergency section, as these are usually more expensive as they tend to be late at night, or after hours. I'm not saying that your girl will definitely have to have one, just that your breed is known for them, and that you'll need to prepare yourself for one just in case. Let me know if I can help with anything else.