westie

Question
QUESTION: I think my westie is pregnant. She has shown many of the signs.She should be about 60 days by now and is scratching the floor. My male westie keeps licking her vagina. However, I cannot see any movement in her stomach and although her teats have grown, no milk. Do you think that she is pregnant?

ANSWER: Hi Nicky

Did you witness a tie and/or breed her on purpose?

You should have a whelping box layered with old towels and blankets in it so she can nest.  Make sure the whelping box is in a area that is draft free and where the male can't access.

If your male is cleaning her, it's likely that her mucus plug is draining.  

Some times milk won't come in until after a female whelps.  And if she has a thick coat, you may not see movement, or she may only have one pup.

You won't know if she is experiencing a false pregancy unless you take her to the vet for x-rays.  Which you can do now as the pup(s) would have calcified and would be visable.

Good luck.

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

QUESTION: Hi, it's Nicky again. Thankyou for the swift reply. I didn't witness any mating but when she was in season she was receptive to the male and he to her but the next day he didn't want anything to do with her(as if she wasn't in season). Since then she has been very hungry and did put on weight. She also had an episode of sickness earlier on and was sick again this morning.You may be right about not seeing any movement in her stomach as she has got lots of fur. Can you explain the mucus plug please? Look forward to hearing from you. Nicky

Answer
Well as my momma always said..."it only takes one time".  So you may not have seen them tie.  

The "plug" is just a thick clear fluid that usually starts to drip out a few days prior to whelping.  I would keep the two dogs separated until you have determined if you are having pups.  The easiest and most effective (also to give you piece of mind) is to do the x-rays.

Good luck.